A new grocery store, inspired by an old fruit and vege shed, has officially opened on the Sunshine Coast.
White’s IGA Forest Glen is a blend of old and new.
Local history and family stories are sprinkled throughout the aisles, while fresh, innovative and sustainable design and technology have been integrated at every possible level.
Sunshine Coast retailer Roz White was inspired to open the store in the highway town, after she discovered an old and tethered black and white photo of a modest roadside shed that once sold fresh produce to the community.
The supermarket is ultra-modern, with all the extras, including a dedicated gift and homeware store complete with floristry, chocolatier and boutique goods.
There’s a full fromagerie, in-store butchery, coffee shop, delicatessen, and cold press juice and kombucha are available on tap.
There’s even a popcorn and lolly stand.
But there are also subtle nods to what once was.
One of the farming families honoured in store are the Gibbins’, who still live in the region.
‘Grandma Gibbins’ was responsible for naming Forest Glen many years ago and now her family has a special place in store at White’s IGA.
As customers enter the market style layout, they see a ‘street’ sign aptly named Gibbins Boulevard as a mark of recognition of the Gibbins family and other farming families of the region.
Roz said digging into the local history and integrating it into the store design was one of the highlights in creating White’s IGA Forest Glen.
“There are so many wonderful stories, particularly from farming families, which I have a real affinity with because I’m a rural girl at heart,” she said.
“I really wanted to bring the Gibbins family story through so we can reflect what they gave to the area.
“We really learned about the local history and we came to understand the local farming families would grow citrus and pineapples and set up these little roadside stores.
“So, that was the essence of what I wanted to recreate, blended with a modern market vibe.”
The in-store gift and homeware shop is named Grace and Grace in honour of Roz’s and Michael’s own grandmothers and is home to Roz’s own family dining table.
“We want our customers to feel welcome and feel like this is a heart for the community so we can bring people together to connect,” she said.
“So, we created a beautiful space to socialise, linger, a place where you can come in and immerse yourself as part of your shopping experience or as a destination for catching up with friends or to pick up gifts.”
Almost two years of planning, design and building went into the creation of the new store, which employs about 100 staff, many of whom live locally.
Local contractors and providers were involved in the build, including Advanced Refrigeration Technology, which delivered $1.2m of eco-friendly and sustainable handcrafted fridges and freezers.
“Every element at White’s IGA Forest Glen has been hand picked and chosen for a reason, with deep consideration,” Roz said.
“I truly believe retailing is storytelling and I think we’ve got some amazing stories to tell here on the Sunshine Coast.”
White’s IGA Forest Glen opened its doors just in time for Christmas with special guests, community activities and a wide range of festive favourites.
