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SPAR COMES TO OUTBACK KARUMBA The growing network of the SPAR brand now includes the former 5 STAR supermarket in Karumba, on the Gulf of Carpentaria in outback Queensland. BMy Lorna Gloria. artha and Mick Crombie bought the 5 STAR supermarket and adjoining caf in remote Karumba in 2007. As well as running the store, Martha is a part time physiotherapist for the town and also runs a 1500-head cattle station near Richmond, some 600km south of Karumba. The supermarket has been servicing Karumba (population 531, according to the 2016 Census) for decades and was rebuilt when the original store burnt down in the 1980s. “It became a 5 STAR in the early 2000s and now we’re excited to become a fully-fledged SPAR store,” Ms Crombie said. “We service the locals and also the travelling ‘grey nomads’ who really boost our business over the winter months.” Her aim is to “bust the myth that outback stores are tired, old and not fresh”. “We work hard to ensure that our fresh produce is as fresh and appealing as possible and that we range as many products as we can to compete with online shopping,” she said. SPAR Karumba is promoted as a one-stop shop for the community, with range of grocery, dairy, frozen food and fresh produce along with electrical appliances and a gardening section, plus the caf next door. The Crombies say the store’s friendly service and competitive pricing combined with convenient trading hours will ensure SPAR Karumba’s popularity with their customers. They plan to grow the business and continue to improve the store. “The last few years have been challenging, as various industries shut down in the town and the ‘wets’ \[wet seasons\] have been non-existent, plus with COVID-19 this all affects the fishing and the tourists,” Ms Crombie said. “We look forward to better times, continuing to improve our business and provide great service and products to our customers.” SPAR Karumba, at 63 Yappar Street, trades seven days a week: 7am to 5.30pm on weekdays and 7am to midday on Saturdays and Sundays. The locally owned and operated supermarket joins the “worldwide SPAR family” of more than 13,300 SPAR stores in 48 countries, which the group says provides more than 14 million customers daily with “great service and range, low prices and specials”. STORE PROFILE SPAR Karumba - Crista Bridge, Bernadette Nolan, Martha Crombie, and Linda Doyle. AUG, 2020 RETAIL WORLD 25