In Australia's North-West Outback, retailing looks very different. Towns are separated by hundreds of kilometres, with long stretches of red dirt plains, cattle country and very little in between. Deliveries travel hundreds, if not thousands, of kilometres. For SPAR Australia and two SPAR independent retailers, their stores in the region quietly keep their communities supplied with the basics every day.

Through this vast region, summer temperatures regularly exceed 45°C, and heavy rain or flooding can cut roads for days. Populations are small, but the areas these towns service are enormous, often larger than entire European countries. In this environment, a supermarket is not simply a place to shop — it is essential infrastructure, as important to daily life as fuel, power or water.

With SPAR Australia’s independent retail model, retailers can run community-based supermarkets that consistently deliver fresh food, everyday essentials and city-competitive pricing in locations where large chains simply cannot operate efficiently. This can be seen with two community stores on the edge of the Australian Outback: SPAR Hughenden and SPAR Richmond.

SPAR Hughenden as the region hub

Located in the outback township of Hughenden, Queensland, the SPAR Hughenden supermarket serves community of around 1,200 people surrounded by more than 100 cattle grazing properties. The nearest supermarket is 248km away, making this SPAR supermarket the primary food source in the area.

With an area of 694m², the SPAR Hughenden supermarket operates more like a regional supermarket than a small country store. It carries over 5,500 products across grocery, chilled, frozen and fresh categories, including 390 SPAR Own Brand lines, giving customers everything they need in one visit.

Fresh produce is a standout. Deliveries arrive twice weekly from Brisbane after travelling 1,434 kilometres — nearly 16 hours by truck. Despite the distance, quality remains consistently strong, with more than 200 fruit and vegetable lines stocked across the seasons, often compared favourably with city supermarkets.

Independently owned by Stuart and Stacey Christensen and managed locally by Maree Christensen and Joseph Turpin, the business employs 4 full-time and 22 casual team members aged 13 to 76, making it one of the largest employers in the Flinders Shire.

SPAR Richmond as the Outback Lifeline

The SPAR Richmond supermarket serves one of the most remote retail catchments in Australia. Located in North-West Queensland, the Richmond Shire spans 26,581km² — an area larger than several European countries — yet supports fewer than 800 people, with around 580 living in the township itself. The nearest city, Townsville, is 500km away. For residents, a routine supermarket trip elsewhere could mean an entire day on the road.

For the supermarket, a large portion of its customer base comes from the surrounding cattle grazing and dryland farming properties, spread across vast distances. Customers shop for extended periods of time in the SPAR Richmond supermarket, as the primary food source for the area.

With its compact 300m² area, the supermarket offers 2,800 products are ranged across grocery, chilled, frozen and fresh categories, including 445 SPAR Own Brand lines. The focus is simple and disciplined — carry the essentials, maintain availability and make it easy for customers to shop for everything in one place.

Fresh produce and grocery departments are key strengths. In a rural location where alternatives are limited, quality and consistency matter. To manage Richmond’s long, hot summers — where temperatures regularly exceed 45°C — produce, chillers and freezers are housed in a purpose-built cold room, improving efficiency and protecting freshness.

Food retail in extreme environments

The SPAR Hughenden and SPAR Richmond supermarkets are unique, family-owned business serving communities separated by hundreds of kilometres, extreme weather and long supply lines. For SPAR Australia, these supermarkets are a testament to local ownership, smart logistics, disciplined ranging and the Payless Everyday programme. With these pillars, the supermarkets can offer the same competitive pricing and fresh food standards as major city supermarkets, even in some of the world’s toughest retail environments. In the Australian outback, the SPAR brand is far more than a place to shop — it provides food security, local employment and stability, and during times of drought, bushfire or flood, becomes a genuine lifeline for entire towns and remote cattle stations.

Source: SPAR Australia

Read more about SPAR Australia

About SPAR Australia

The SPAR brand was first seen in Australia in 1994. The current company was formed in 2006. In late 2010, Jardin Investments Pty Ltd, was granted the license by SPAR International to operate under the brand in this country. The company sub-licenses and supports independent retailers to develop the brand, alongside company-owned stores. In addition, SPAR Australia provides a range of services through its Distribution Centre in Brisbane to retailers.