A MAJOR fruit and vegetable distributor has blamed high rental costs for a decision to close its Warrnambool retail outlet and concentrate on wholesaling.
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Ballarat-based Peaches has shut the front doors at its Centro shopping centre location, but is continuing to sell to wholesale clients via the back door until the lease expires.
By August the company expects to move to a new regional wholesale base off Raglan Parade between Henna and Ryot streets.
“We will save about $60,000 a year on the rent by moving from Centro,” Peaches south-west manager Jason Macklin said.
“There still may be opportunity to open another retail presence in the future, but in the meantime we will sell our advertised retail specials through the Meatbarn.”
Mr Macklin said Warrnambool was the main wholesale base for the region, supporting another outlet at Hamilton and the headquarters at Ballarat.
“We are the biggest fruit and vegie wholesalers in country Victoria and see a strong market in the south-west,” he said.
