However, that position is about to change with the pending opening of an independent supermarket in March or April.

It is an opening partners, Mr Keiran Parry-Jones and Todd Herring at times didn’t think would happen.

It has taken more than two years for the approval to come through from MidCoast Council, Mr Parry-Jones said.

“It has been a long, drawn out process,” he said.

The supermarket is expected to open after the power is upgraded in the next handful of weeks.

While both men have been involved in the retail industry through the next door service station, this is their first experience in the supermarket industry.

The business partners believe there is a drastic need for a supermarket in an area which has close to 4000 permanent residents.

The 600 square metre FoodWorks Supermarket at Charlotte Bay will include the usual range of groceries, fruit and vegetables, delicatessen and seafood.

Mr Parry-Jones assured prices would be competitive to the larger, corporate outlets, the seafood would be fresh and local, while the supermarket would offer a discount card to regular shoppers.

A plan to introduce a bottle shop has been put on the back-burner following some opposition to the proposal.

FoodWorks is the country’s second largest independent supermarket group with more than 400 branded outlets, including Nabiac and Hallidays Point, Australia wide