9 May 2022

Harris Farm Markets coming in to land at Canberra Airport next year

| Evelyn Karatzas
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Artists's impression of new Harris Farm Markets at Canberra Airport

Canberra’s first Harris Farm Markets will be located among several other major food and retailers at the airport. Photo: Canberra Airport.

One of the nation’s biggest homes for fresh food and local produce, Harris Farm Markets, is coming to the Majura Park in the Canberra Airport precinct in 2023.

The first in the Territory, it will join existing supermarkets and wholesalers at the precinct such as Costco, Woolworths and Aldi to create a one-stop grocery destination.

Canberra Airport head of property Richard Snow said the airport was delighted to be partnering with Harris Farm Markets to build the store, the latest of almost 30 locations across Australia.

“It is a fantastic addition to our growing retail precinct and they will complement our existing grocery offering,” Mr Snow said.

Harris Farm Markets in Canberra will be focused on locally-grown produce and operate seven days a week.

READ ALSO Discover the little-known themes of the Old Bus Depot Markets

“We’re going to have a real focus on high quality produce that is locally sourced and accessible in a really nice and easy environment,” Mr Snow said.

“I think they [Harris Farm Markets] are going to be something a little more unique compared to the existing Fyshwick Markets, which are typically run by multiple different tenants.”

All the retailers are going to be run by one operator.

“Canberra’s always growing, so I think you always need to have a growing retail offering to cater for it … so it’s really exciting for us to appeal to the Canberra market,” Mr Snow said.

The store will offer fresh fruit and vegetables with locally grown and organic options, a deli and fish shop featuring extensive seafood and meats and an artisan bakery.

There will also be a juice bar, a self-serve nut bar, a flower market and potentially a café, all under one roof.

Artists's impression of new Harris Farm Markets at Canberra Airport

A digital representation of the new Harris Farm Markets coming to Canberra in 2023. Photo: Canberra Airport.

The construction of the new 4500 sqm building will begin mid next year and add to 29 Harris Farm Markets across Australia.

It aims to open over the 2023 Christmas period.

Harris Farm Markets co-CEO Tristan Harris said he looked forward to working with so many wonderful growers and makers in Canberra.

“We’re so excited about finally opening in the ACT; we have been trying to get into Canberra for ages as it’s a terrific market,” Mr Harris said.

“There’s a lot of customers that are really into fresh food, and right now we sell online in Canberra and are shipping out of Sydney, so this will be our opportunity to get down there and serve Canberra.

“My dad used to have shops down in Canberra back in the day, so we know it’s a really good market.”

READ ALSO The best markets in Canberra

Mr Harris said while it had been challenging to find the right spot, Majura Park retail precinct location had the scale and accessibility they were looking for.

The market will offer upward of 120 jobs for the local ACT community, and Mr Harris said many of the products sold would be directly from farmers and producers from local farmers’ markets.

“We go around to the farmers’ markets and find people making great products and then ask them if they want to start with us, rather than just selling one day a week at a farmers market, as we’re open seven days a week,” Mr Harris said.

“The store at Majura Park will allow us to showcase local flavours and, being purpose-built, will also allow us to design and create a store of the future – to celebrate all this edible goodness, which is what we have been doing as a business for over 50 years.

“Majura Park is an exciting precinct, and we are proud to be involved.”

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Frank Spencer10:13 pm 10 May 22

Yay. An overpriced fruit and veg shop in Canberra

I am excited of the job opportunities created from this new place.

The last thing we need is more big box stores surrounded by seas of surface car parks. I hope they will build and maintain their own parking and that doesn’t fall to ratepayers.

I think you’ll find that the parking at Majura is on Canberra Airport land and is thus their responsibility to maintain. I’m looking forward to Harris Farm opening in Canberra because of their range. The nearest is currently in Bowral. They have things that you don’t see at the Fyshwick Markets.

The Majura precinct has to be one of the best maintained car park areas in Canberra. The grass and gardens are always lush and green, and there seems to alway be workers mowing and cleaning.
ACT govt could learn a thing or two..

Frank Spencer11:36 am 09 May 22

More competition is a good thing.

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