Discount stores reaching “saturation point”

Cheaper Buy Miles Footscray store manager Yuma Sano. (Damjan Janevski) 287482_04

Continuing increases to the cost of living and other societal pressures has seen a steady uptick in the demand experienced by a Footscray discount grocery store.

Cheaper Buy Miles offers discounts of up to 90 per cent compared to regular supermarkets due to ordering stock which is close to or past their best before dates, ordering in bulk and importing stock directly from the suppliers.

Cheaper Buy Miles managing director Grant Miles said demand has been on the rise over the past few weeks.

“It’s been a steady increase of five to 10 per cent a week,” he said.

“That’s obviously because of the exorbitant cost (of food).”

Mr Miles said the business changes its stock constantly, but supply issues have also begun to limit what is available.

“We’re a unique business because we sell close to out-of-date products,” he said.

“What it means is we don’t reorder stock.

“The products change every day and every week.”

Mr Miles said at certain times, the Footscray and Brunswick stores have had limited space to hold all of the visiting customers and are reaching a “saturation point”

“There is a finite sort of supply,” he said.

“Our stores are fairly small.”

Mr Miles said a benefit of the supply issues was they could still source gourmet and bespoke products.

Details: www.cheaperbuymiles.com

Matthew Sims