The Tennant Creek IGA team has made huge headways into setting up its relief supermarket and will be looking to introduce in-store discounts as soon as possible. 

Reacting to feedback about the lack of catalogues and accusations of high pricing, CEO John Kop explained to the Tennant Times it was out of their hands but assured customers the cost of groceries has remained at normal shelf prices listed in store prior to the arson attack. 

“We just don’t have the range or suite of items that would normally be available per the IGA/Metcash agreement,” he said. 

“We can’t have a catalogue because we cannot honour the items that would be on special. 

“However we made further purchases of shelving and refrigeration, plus included a bush order checkout at the rear so we can start those again. 

“When all this is sorted we can bring back specials and promote those to the people of Tennant Creek and the Barkly.” 

Mr Kop urged locals to keep supporting the local supermarket where profits are reinvested back into the community through the partnership with Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation. 

The Tennant Creek IGA was subject to an arson attack by children who set fire to a skip bin at the back of the supermarket on the evening of 12 July. 

The fire spread to the building’s roof, destroying about $900,000 worth of stock. 

Last week police identified two girls aged 12 and 13 in regards to the fire and were investigating the involvement of an 11-year-old boy. Insurance assessors have been appointed to the supermarket and are reviewing the site.