11 February 2010

Interesting Local Supermarket

| Peter Holland
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I was in Mawson the other day, and stopped in at the Swinger Hill shops. The Friendly Grocer is only new there, and I was surprised to find items on the shelf that I thought were only found in my home state of South Australia – yo-yo biscuits for one. When i mentioned this to the owner, he advised me that they are trying to stock the shelves with products that are synonymous with each of the states and territories, to cater for the multitudes of people who are transferred here from around australia, and occasionally would like something to eat or drink that reminds them of home.

Ambitious? you bet.

He has been asking people what they would want to see in the store, I wrote down Bung Fritz and Mettwurst, after all, it is a lot easier to drop over to him for Fritz instead of wait for the rare care packages from my family. He is also trying to get Woody’s lemonade, which would be an accomplishment in itself.

Here is the thing. If there is a product that you could see yourself dropping into the Swinger Hill Friendly Grocer to pick up on a regular basis, that you can’t get here and reminds you of home, anywhere in australia, pop in and mention it to the staff. chances are, they either have had requests for it, and are getting it, or it is on the shelf already.

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Ohhh now I really want some Haigh’s Chocolate!! Getting my sister to bring some from Sydney this weekend. YUMMO!

Holden Caulfield said :

clp said :

Just discovered this post searching for something else – might have to head to Swinger Hill – this is fanastic if I can get fruchocs without having to wait for care packages.

Haha, I bought a heap of fruchocs back to Canberra last year. I didn’t think it was humanly possible to eat so many you no longer found them delicious. I have since discovered this is possible and still have a few packets left in the cupboard!

Might have to drop in to the Swinger Hill shop for some Yo-Yos though.

There’s a few Haighs outlets in Melbourne, and we get there a bit more than Adelaide these days, so a Haighs fix is generally not too far away.

Holden,

now there is woodys lemonade and fritz, in whole or half bungs…

mettwurst to come.

Yes it is in The Strand

Holden Caulfield1:06 pm 21 Jun 10

Haha, I notice the absence of green death (Southwark) on the Grocer’s list there.

I also agree with clp, Haigh’s is great for most things, but a fruchoc substitute is not one of them. I have a vague recollection of a Sydney store, too, is it in the Strand maybe?

There is Haighs in Sydney also – you can get your fix in 3 hours.

Haighs actually make a version of fruchocs nowadays – the chocolate is better quality but I prefer the Menz filling.

I guess this means they also have crown mints – if I needed a nanna reminder

Holden Caulfield11:10 am 21 Jun 10

clp said :

Just discovered this post searching for something else – might have to head to Swinger Hill – this is fanastic if I can get fruchocs without having to wait for care packages.

Haha, I bought a heap of fruchocs back to Canberra last year. I didn’t think it was humanly possible to eat so many you no longer found them delicious. I have since discovered this is possible and still have a few packets left in the cupboard!

Might have to drop in to the Swinger Hill shop for some Yo-Yos though.

There’s a few Haighs outlets in Melbourne, and we get there a bit more than Adelaide these days, so a Haighs fix is generally not too far away.

Holden Caulfield11:07 am 21 Jun 10

JessP said :

…Everyone knows you not a local the first time you askk for fritz at the deli section anywhere but in Adelaide!

Geez it’s a bit rough when even fellow crow eaters think Adelaide is the only place people in South Australia come from.

When I was a little tacker I used to get a free slice of Fritz every time Mum and I went to our local butcher. Which just happens to be some 450kms from Adelaide.

When I was “home” last year I had to drop in to the old family butcher. Sadly, I was disappointed to discover that free Fritz rights didn’t extend into my mid-30s, haha.

Just discovered this post searching for something else – might have to head to Swinger Hill – this is fanastic if I can get fruchocs without having to wait for care packages.

been busy, so not here for a while.

WMC, Good God Man, you don’t drink Adelaide water! that is what the rainwater tanks on each house are for…

My family decided to send me wintulluchs mettwurst and bung fritz recently, just to tide me over. I have since run out, and am waiting for Alex to get some in.

The friendly grocer network have the ability to get things the big stores don’t want to bother with. This is a great idea, as it allows the supermarket to tailor to the community.

Pommy bastard10:32 am 19 Feb 10

Since we moved to the area we have used the “Friendly Grocer” in Cook, as opposed to the Coles at Jammo. Nick, the owner, and his staff are courteous and attentive, the range of goods for a small shop is impressive. He has a far better wine selection than Coles.

Maybe other Friendly Grocer franshisee’s could help source items for a better buying deal and create a niche marketing strategy.

Thanks Alex

Kirk’s Kole Beer from WA please!

Swinger Hill Friendly Grocer11:26 am 13 Feb 10

Hi all, this is Alex from Swinger Hill Friendly Grocer.

Firstly, thankyou to PETERH for his post relating to our Supermarket and the exiting plans we have for it!! Yes this this an ambitious plan to stock unique products from all across Australia but I am up for the challange!!

To the new faces I have already seen as a result of Peter’s post, thankyou for coming in. Currently we have the follwing products;

– Arnott’s YoYo’s
– Beerenberg Jams / Sauces / Condiments
– Maggie Beer Range / Adelaide Hills Cheeses
– Farmers Union Iced Coffee
– Menz Confectionery (Fruchoc’s sold out but on order)
– Balfours Family Pies coming on Monday 15/2.
– Large Selection of South Australian Wines

SA Products I am hoping to source over the next couple of months;

– Woodies Lemonade
– Balfours Pasties
– Golden North Ice Creams
– Amgoorie Tea
– Arnott’s Bush Biscuits
– And of course Bung Fritz!!

Looking forward to more suggestions of your favourite products I should source from other states.

Regards

Alex
Your Friendly Grocer from Swinger Hill

Farmers Union Iced Coffee is definitely sold somewhere around town already, I have seen many degenerate South Australian types quaffing it, including some that I’ve lived with.

Lolli Gobble Bliss Bombs are in Coles and Woolworths in Belconnen. Then again we do live in the past.

Does anyone know if you can still get Lolli Gobble Bliss Bombs??
I’m sure I saw them somewhere a little while ago, but can’t recall.

Hmmm Nippy’s orange juice is the best, i might have to pay my local Friendly Grocer a visit.

Fritz is what you local types called Devon…but not really. Really good Bung Fritz (when you have a big sausage of it) is divine. The fritz and sauce sandwiches of my youth were the best!

The name ‘Fritz’ come from the German influence in South Australia. Don’t even start me on cabana vs cabanossi, mettwurst vs salami wars!! Everyone knows you not a local the first time you askk for fritz at the deli section anywhere but in Adelaide!

If they still make Chicken Cackles I’d love some of those…

+1 for WMC’s lemonade.

Nothing like a good glass of urine/Adelaide tap water to clean the innards out.

WonderfulWorld10:15 pm 11 Feb 10

What a novel idea, I’m from Canberra though so I can’t think of anything we have to add – but I love Haigh Choc and Big M

Oh and what is Fritz?

Hope it does well, its great the buiness is still around with so many small local supers closed these days, I really miss the ability to pop in for milk and bread at Wanniassa shops instead have to go to the super market – I do pop in to swinger occasionally as its so easy to park etc

Coffee Big M. mmmmmmm

Woody Mann-Caruso6:36 pm 11 Feb 10

He is also trying to get Woody’s lemonade

I p.ss in every tenth bottle so it tastes just like Adelaide tap water.

Haigh’s chocolate from Adelaide please! Far, far better than Koko Black – but unavailable in Canberra alas …

androo said :

Hartz cola from Tasmania please 🙂

I’ll second that! The Hartz wildberry mineral water is awesome stuff. There was a cafe in Woden in Lovett tower (the 22 story office block) which use to stock the Hartz mineral waters. Not sure if they still do…

Trunking symbols4:54 pm 11 Feb 10

I’ll never forget my first summer holiday in Qld in early 1983 and the great stuff I bought from the chilled drinks fridges in the grocery stores and supermarkets – Ovaltine, Egg Flip, Natural as well as other drinks and goodies. I’ll also never forget the feeling of utter devastation when I returned to Canberra and checked the drinks fridges here and the only thing I found in them was Moove (flavoured milk). If the Swinger Hill supermarket can fill gaps like this then I’d say they’re on a winner.

Be nice to get some good fritz, and some black pudding. And a decent cornish type pasty

Hartz cola from Tasmania please 🙂

Bush biscuits…?

We need Kitcher Buns, Balfours chocolate donuts, Farmers Union Ice Coffee, Menz Fruchocs, Frog Cakes….oh lord the list goes on!!

luther_bendross1:22 pm 11 Feb 10

Umm… is fritz not devon? Did you ask him also to stock Stobie poles, droptails, spoggies and to start mis-pronouncing Lego as “laygo”?

As for me I’m from Queensland, so I’d like him to start stocking fish and chips to be served to me by a racist redhead.

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