General News
1 July, 2023
Doughnut heaven
LOVERS of Krispy Kreme doughnuts have been making a beeline to the first 7-Eleven store and service station in Cairns.
The outlet opened at Cairns North on Tuesday and by 10pm – after opening at 6am – half or 5000 doughnuts had been sold.
The 7-Eleven is the first of more to come in the Cairns region following three and soon a fourth in Townsville.
It’s almost two years since the brand announced it was opening a store in Cairns and it has been about 12 months since work started on the site on the corner of Sheridan and Smith streets.
7-Eleven retail area lead north Jeff Yerbury said it was apparent there was demand for Krispy Kremes as well as other products such as slurpies, smoothies, fresh sandwiches and cheaper fuel.
He said the $1 million-plus investment followed the brand taking a foothold in Townsville.
Mr Yerbury said their new format had been introduced to the Cairns store.
He said the site was chosen because of its location on the road from the airport into the CBD, high traffic volumes and it was the first service station on the left. The two street frontages were another reason.
Mr Yerbury said it was a 7-Eleven company-owned outlet with a lease deal with a property developer.
He said it was clear on opening day with the frequency of customers – most buying Krispy Kremes – that there was demand for the brand in Cairns.
Mr Yerbury said 7-Eleven had made a business assessment that justified yet another service station and convenience store in Cairns and more were to come.
He said it would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with 18 local staff.
The store operates the service station in conjunction with Mobil.
Mr Yerbury said their app also locked in fuel prices for seven days.
“We are continuing to work with landlords and developers to open stores in the right locations to meet the needs of the community,” he said.
Senior store manager Rebecca Inkson put her hand up for the new Cairns store after starting with the company on the Sunshine Coast more than six years ago and more recently in Townsville.
She said she was surprised by the reaction from customers.“It’s not only my livelihood but my life. I love it, it’s a great company to work for,” Ms Inkson said.
