Some stallholders at the Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets have geared themselves up for a fight to oppose Aldi's plan to build a supermarket next door.
Aldi has started an early community and stakeholder consultation to build a supermarket adjacent to the markets at 11 Nyrang Street. It is a move labelled as having no benefit by the owner of the Fyshwick Markets.
"An Aldi development plan being dumped in the middle of an industrial area, there's no reason for it to happen and there is no actual benefit for anyone in the neighbourhood," Fyshwick Markets co-owner Jack Irvine said.
"We have got five supermarkets in a five-kilometre radius and obviously what they see is the economic benefit for them is to piggyback on the back of Fyshwick Markets."
For stallholders, they are worried about what an Aldi store would take away from the market.
"I think if someone comes here and spends $20 at Aldi and $80 here, instead of $100 that's $20 for every customer," Wiffens manager Ruth Roxburgh said.
"You might not lose customers but your money is going to the supermarket."
Deli Planet owner Tim Couper said Aldi's discount model would "undermine" the markets.
"My objection to the Aldi is we don't want the markets to be undermined by a multinational, multi-billion dollar supermarket that sells like brands but cheaper," he said.
"The markets here are 100 per cent Australian-owned, all the businesses in the market here are owned 100 per cent by people in the community, local families.
"Aldi has 10,000 stores in 20 countries, we've got one Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets in one city - I think that speaks for itself."
READ MORE:
During the consultation, Aldi has said its proposed supermarket would complement not compete with the markets. Most vendors interviewed rejected this claim.
"Everything is competition, I don't see how it can complement," Rebecca Stone of Unique Meats said.
"I think it takes the vibe away from the Fyshwick Markets."
But not every stallholder is against Aldi's plan, Ziggy's Fresh fruit store owner Ken Irvine said the position of the store would be more convenient for customers who already went elsewhere to do groceries.
"My opinion is the way we see it is every customer that is already coming to the markets, every customer is going to a supermarket," he said.
Ken Irvine was not worried about the competition.
"The thing the other storekeepers are overlooking is we do a better job than those guys [Aldi]," he said.
"Competition makes you a better business... it keeps you on your toes."
In a statement to The Canberra Times Aldi said little about its proposed plans.
"While we are eager to bring our unique shopping experience to the Fyshwick community, we are still in the early stages of planning," an Aldi spokesman said.
"We have been consulting with relevant parties during the planning process, including local businesses in the area who are aware of our intentions for an Aldi store."
.jpg?w=600)
