Auburn. Costco to open in July

One of the world's biggest supermarket chains, the US-based Costco, will open its $60 million Australian HO and a store in Auburn, in July - the first of seven planned for the city. The expansion of the retail giant will spark a bigger price war among supermarket heavyweights Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and Franklins. Choice spokeswoman, Ingrid Just, predicts the expansion of Costco nationally will force the big four supermarkets to offer shoppers more opportunities to buy in bulk, as well as bigger savings for those buying large quantities of certain products.

Auburn. Costco accuses Coles and Woolies

Costco, the third-largest retailer in the US and the ninth biggest in the world, which has a store in Melbourne and is constructing its second Australian store in Auburn. has accused domestic heavyweights Woolworths and Coles of attempting to slow its expansion in Australia by fighting new developments at every opportunity. Coles and Woolworths rejected the claims, describing them as ''baseless''.

Auburn. Costco decision expected today

The NSW State Government has approved a new $60 million Costco development in Auburn despite objections from a group of the nation’s most powerful shopping centre owners who claimed the development would be “anti-competitive” for other retailers, according to The Daily Mirror. An announcement could be made this morning (April 15). Costco expects first year total sales for the store of $97.5 million with an average of $155 per visit.

Parramatta. Westfield to lose sales

Westfield’s Parramatta and Burwood shopping centres would lose $15 million in sales should the Department of Planning (DOP) permit US giant Costco to develop a $60 million outlet in Auburn, according to the company’s consultants, Essential Economics. The research notes 28 existing rival shopping centres in the Sydney catchment would lose a collective $61.7 million worth of sales. The proposed centre would have about 14,000 square metres of shopping area - four to five times the average Coles or Woolworths supermarket – 4000 different products versus more than 20,000 different products in an average Coles or Woolworths, and up to 800 car parks. Westfield, AMP and the Shopping Centre Council of Australia, which are among objectors of the project, said the proposed store was in breach of existing state planning laws. Some 454 comments have been made to the project on The Australian’s website. Costco opened its first Australian outlet at Docklands, in Melbourne, in Aug 2009

Auburn. Objections to $59.7million project

The Westfield Group, AMP and the Shopping Centre Council of Australia have objected to the discount retail giant Costco’s proposed $59.7 million, 14,000-square-metre warehouse and retail store, on Parramatta Road, Auburn. The outlet would service an area which had a population of 1.31 million last year and would expand to 1.43 million by 2021. An economic impact report prepared by Essential Economics for Costco showed the store was likely to result in a 1.2 per cent reduction in turnover for stores within Costco’s trading area. Costco MD, Patrick Noone said in The Australian Financial Review the store would employ about 250 people and 75 regional office staff. He said a Department of Planning decision was expected within weeks. Costco initially proposed its first Sydney outlet along James Ruse Drive in the Parramatta local government area.

Auburn. Costco to invest $55.4 million

Costco, the giant US wholesale retailer, is set to muscle in on Sydney’s bulky goods sector, with a $55.4 million head office and three-storey warehouse in Auburn. The company plans at least five outlets for metropolitan Sydney, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Auburn. US retailer plans store

US discount retailer, Costco Wholesale, is seeking planning approval to establish a14,000-square-metre store on Parramatta Road, at Auburn. The retailer was also looking at sites elsewhere in Sydney, where it ultimately plans to build three or four stores, The Australian Financial Review reported. Costco expects to open a store in Melbourne next month.

Parramatta. Possible site for US retailer

The US-based Costco Wholesale, the world’s 12th largest retailer, is seeking an amendment to a draft Parramatta local environment plan (LEP), to permit its second outlet in Australia, on a vacant 69,000-square-metre industrial site, at 181 James Ruse Drive, Camellia, which was formally occupied by James Hardie and owned by Sydney Water. The LEP aims to permit big-box bulky goods retailing such as Bunnings and Officeworks. The proposed Costco project is not currently permitted as it would include the sale of foodstuffs and clothing. The company proposes to open its first Australian store, in Melbourne, in July.