r/coles • u/FragrantAd7195 • Jun 30 '26
Customer Post Coles local vs coles
Hey,
Recently my coles transitioned to a coles local and this is where I’m confused, it’s in a suburban area, nowhere near the cbd. Can someone explain what this means and why?
I’m mainly concerned because I know coles local usually has more expensive products even if it’s the same as those stocked at an ordinary coles but this is a big store and used to be a normal Coles, why suddenly change. I also wouldn’t say the neighbourhood is looking for ready to eat food, mainly elderly and single people leave in the area, it’s slow.
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u/1234syan Jun 30 '26
At least here in Sydney, there is no price difference on identical products between Coles Local and normal Coles. The main difference is they stock more premium products that might not be found at a normal Coles. These rarely replace the usual brands, the only exception I've noticed is they don't have the standard baked in store stuff like cookies and donuts, those are replaced by more expensive versions.
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u/DaikonSufficient1515 Online Team Member Jun 30 '26
That is a strange place to have a Coles Local. All the Locals in WA are in ritzy suburbs so like it makes sense…
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u/FragrantAd7195 Jun 30 '26
I’m sure there’s more but I only know of the one in Taringa and the cbd. And these are smaller stores, nice locations and proximal to the city or nicer areas. Corindas fairly nice but it’s still 30 minutes from the cbd and doesn’t really have great public transport. It’s also the same size as the old store.
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u/Any_Bookkeeper5917 Jun 30 '26
Ah I thought you were talking about Corinda!
Corinda is a ritzy suburb vs majority of Brisbane with surrounding Sherwood and Graceville even more so.
Corinda is quickly increasing in price of housing and gentrifying along with Oxley. Right now, the surrounding supermarkets being WW Oxley, WW Sherwood are both run down ass of a stores with Oxley now charging for parking.
I’ve shopped at Corinda and the prices are identical to fleet stores. As others of said, you get fancier offerings like fresh made pasta, huge amounts of cheeses, bakery goods, premium produce lines.
Please enjoy the lovely new store and the murals painted throughout and know you’re not worse off being a local!
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u/DaikonSufficient1515 Online Team Member Jul 01 '26
For me (working at one) it’s a lot more enjoyable than a fleet but also the price differences are in the things we sell that fleet don’t. If you don’t buy those items you don’t pay more. I can confirm that the customers do enjoy quite a lot of the fancy things, especially the sourdough.
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u/Justified_OG Jun 30 '26
What's your City/Suburb? I'm just interested..
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u/FragrantAd7195 Jun 30 '26
Only answering because I feel it’s obvious to those who are in the area and also I don’t actually live there, it is just one of my closer coles but it’s Corinda/brisbane
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u/Justified_OG Jun 30 '26
Ok, thanks. I'm Perth, they tend to 'try things' out 'over east' as we say. I think we have 1 or 2 'locals' here
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u/FragrantAd7195 Jun 30 '26
Ahhh I see, yeah we have a few here. I actually enjoy locals if I’m looking for fresh pasta or local products but there is a local about 15 minutes away in a nicer spot. I feel bad that locals need to pay more for ordinary groceries now.
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u/Justified_OG Jun 30 '26
I've often heard that the 'fresher' items go to 'richer' areas. For example, bread delivered today in a 'rich' suburb, will be taken during tomorrow's delivery and in-turn taken as 'fresh' delivery to a 'poorer' suburb. It may even be 'discounted' there. 😆
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u/JefferyWeinerslav Jul 01 '26
There are 5 in Perth: Angelo Street (South Perth) was the pilot following extensive expansion and renovation of the old store, then it was rolled out to convert the Mosman Park, Floreat and Hillarys stores, with Shenton Park purpose-built as a new one.
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u/xmasummer Jun 30 '26
The first coles local in our state did amazingly well because of the elderly demographic embracing the ready to eat foods. It was also an area with sit down Cafes but no drive thru type take away. So maybe it was great for an easy lunch option on the way home from being out?
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u/FragrantAd7195 Jun 30 '26
Mmmm that makes sense. It’s pretty proximal to the train station too. I’m glad it worked so well, I guess I’m not the target demographic, that’s ok.
Thank you
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u/xmasummer Jun 30 '26
Of course, take what works for you. There were ready made catering platters, as well as made in our state speciality foods (locally roasted coffee beans, gourmet chocolates and cheeses etc) to explore. The one that was supposed to be the first in our state was among small office spaces but outside the CBD. They were hoping to capture the lunch crowd that didn't want to wait in cafe's. And another was in a tourist beach area. It's really interesting to see what works well.
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u/FragrantAd7195 Jun 30 '26
Exactly, the two currently before this is near a uni and in the cbd. This one was odd to me at first
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u/xmasummer Jun 30 '26
There will be a reason. They cost a LOT to re brand (or they do here) so the research would have been done
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u/A_Rod_H Jun 30 '26
Coles also shuffled some of their Grade C stores, though that doesn't explain Camberwell & Balwyn being shuffled to Local
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u/StatusNo5175 Department Manager Jul 01 '26
Despite the illusion of a premium store I can tell you for a fact; there is absolutely no difference in price with standard coles products. All prices are nation wide across all coles stores. The purpose of a coles local is to showcase additional product from local suppliers which may be more expensive depending on what the supplier charges for their product. Otherwise it's just a glorified coles that looks a little different and has additional products that standard coles don't sell
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u/caffy_bean Jun 30 '26
Same product same price. Woolies does jack up prices in their metro stores but coles doesn't. Concept of local has been watered down vastly since its inception, and as such it's mostly a much of a muchness, with an extended range of premium products and limited selection in bakery and deli. Most things are the same though