There was much fanfare when David Jones’ opened its “new format” food hall in Wollongong.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It was the first to open across Australia, coinciding with the October 2017 grand opening of Wollongong’s newly relocated David Jones store.
At the time the store’s managing director of food, Pieter De Wet said the hall had been stacked with more than 5500 fresh and packaged food wares.
The food market includes an eat-in restaurant designed by Neil Perry, as well as a butchery, florist, bakery, sushi bar and quick office-friendly takeaway section.
“We are positioning these foods exactly to the same customers who historically shop at David Jones – a customer that has an appreciation for good food,” he said.
“I think they will see this as a place you can shop daily and weekly, not just once or twice a season.”
But just 15 months later and a David Jones spokesperson confirmed to the Mercury things aren’t working and changes will be made to the food hall.
“David Jones is making changes to its food offering in Wollongong to focus on food service, confectionery, groceries, food gifting, flowers and plants offering,” the spokesperson said.
“Wollongong is one of David Jones Food’s pilot format stores and the change reflects our continuing refinement of the food offering to suit the preferences of local customers.’
There will be some job losses, with work on the food hall to start as early as next week.
“These changes will affect some roles within the Wollongong food offering however the great majority of affected team members will be offered redeployment within the David Jones Wollongong store and in other David Jones stores,” the spokesperson said.