New-look IGA unveiled in Mt Barker after year of work from Co-op

After operating for more than a century, the Mt Barker Co-op is still helping its members and the local community, unveiling a new-look IGA store on Wednesday.

O’Connor MHR Rick Wilson cut the ribbon and the launch featured a live broadcast by Hit FM as well as prizes and giveaways.

The Mt Barker Co-op founded by local fruit growers in 1917 remains driven by a vision to lead and support local businesses.

The official IGA opening was a year in the making, with the redevelopment starting in September 2020.

Mt Barker Co-op chief executive Gary Tempany said the community group thought the store needed revitalising.

“The Mt Barker Co-op is a member-owned entity and we thought the store needed to be revitalised and refurbished, so we made the decision to refurbish the store completely,” he said.

“It’s been going for over 100 years.

“We bring a supermarket, we bring a hardware store, we bring a liquor store, we bring fuel to the area and we employ 85 local people and engage with as many local suppliers as we can.

“Throughout the period of refurbishment we had sections of the store blocked off for a month at a time.

“Our customers have just been fantastic with the disruption and continuing to support the co-op.”