Cowra is a significant regional centre in midwestern NSW and provides a diversity of shopping facilities for its catchment population, including two large supermarkets. HCS was asked by ALDI to model the potential economic impact of a proposed small ALDI food store.
HCS surveyed the existing shops in the town and derived catchment population characteristics from recent Census and other data. HCS then calculated the expected retail expenditure which could be available in future years, and 'balanced' this against the provision of retail floorspace, with and without the proposed ALDI.
Finally, HCS was able to comment on the implications for retailing (and for consumers) arising from these scenarios, and to conclude that the ALDI store could likely be 'accommodated' in the town (in economic terms) and that is could in fact lead to net positive gains for both retailing and shoppers because of increase in choice, variety and competition.
