Forget the supermarket giants, small local shops are where true quality lies

It’s probably safe to say conversations around overpriced groceries of sub-par quality won’t taper off anytime soon.

There are, of course, ways to get around the problem, but for those who don’t have the time to shop around, grow their own or scour local markets to find the best deals, what can Canberrans do to ensure they enjoy a convenient, high quality, fairly priced shop?

Matt Farrah, the driving force behind Farrah’s Liquor Collective in Fyshwick, says the answer is simple: support your local small-scale grocery store.

“Over the last few years, we have sadly seen independent grocers close down across multiple suburbs, particularly on the south side of Canberra,” he says.

“Monash and Richardson hubs are like a ghost town. It means the people living there have to go to Calwell, Erindale or Greenway to do their shopping, while their suburb centres fall into disrepair.”

Matt recently took the plunge and opened a SupaExpress in the Tuggeranong suburb of Gowrie. After months of renovations and plenty of talks with local suppliers, he’s confident it will provide a more ‘authentic’ shopping experience.

A scaled-down version of Supabarns, SupaExpress stores stock products selected by buyers to reduce waste and offer a more streamlined shop. Matt says Gowrie SupaExpress is already proving to be popular with local residents, alongside those from Fadden, Richardson and Monash.

“SupaExpress is a great alternative to major retailers. We, of course, stock the bestselling products you’d find at your usual supermarket, but as an independent, family-owned store, our focus is on creating good relationships with smaller producers from Canberra and its surrounds,” he says.

“The ‘little guys’ have a vested interest in creating top-quality goods at prices that are fair to them, to us and to our customers.

“For example, we stock traditionally made meats from Balzanelli Smallgoods in Fyshwick. These guys have been family-owned and operated since the 70s – it doesn’t get more local than that.”

The store already has a good bank of regulars who Matt says enjoy the range of fresh meat and produce, take-home meals, frozen goods, sugary treats, personal care items and pantry essentials.

“It’s become more common for shoppers to hit one store for fruit and veg, another for meat, one more for liquor, and so on to find the best deals.

“By having everything under one roof at fair prices and with a familiar, welcoming atmosphere, we’re hoping to change the way customers see and use local shops.”

Farrah’s Liquor Collective has seen great success since opening in 2019 by following a direct procurement model that cuts out supply chain costs and focuses on positive relationships with boutique wine-makers, brewers and distillers.

While SupaExpress Gowrie will stock bigger brands alongside small ones, the store’s foundations are cut from the same cloth.

“The vision is to be more than just another convenience store,” Matt says.

“We are the new local for Gowrie and its surrounds. We’ve spent a long time refurbishing the space to be modern, bright and welcoming.

“I want our store to be the kind of place where faces become familiar. In this day and age, creating a sense of community and friendliness is really important.”

SupaExpress Gowrie is open from 8 am to 8 pm Monday to Saturday, and 8 am to 7 pm on Sundays. Drop in to support small-scale producers at 1 Jeffries Street, Gowrie.