Costco to Casey? A meeting between Costco and the City of Casey on Tuesday morning was described as “very positive” by councillor Steve Beardon. Costco has 529 stores worldwide, such as this UK outlet.By Glen Atwell
COSTCO and the City of Casey are continuing to strengthen ties after a representative of the retail giant visited the municipal offices on Tuesday.
Costco representative Patrick Noone met with City of Casey director of planning and development services Peter Fitchett, manager of strategic development Liam Hodgetts, council business development staff and councillors Steve Beardon and Lorraine Wreford.
Mr Fitchett said the meeting facilitated an exchange of information.
“A Costco representative visited Casey Council on Tuesday and presented information about their retail model and expansion into Australia,” Mr Fitchett said in a statement.
He added that council officers provided Costco with information about the scale of growth Casey is experiencing and the planning for retail centres that council has undertaken. Earlier this month, the News revealed Cr Beardon would make a presentation to Costco management in California on 1 August during a visit to the US.
Cr Beardon will tour a Costco store in Santa Rosa and distribute an information pack being prepared by Casey Council staff.
Mr Fitchett told the News earlier this month that Casey would welcome a Costco store.
“The early advice council received about Costco opening an outlet in Melbourne was there would only be one store – and that it would be at the Docklands,” he said at the time.
“However, council has recently received further advice that Costco is now proposing to open a number of stores in Melbourne and if this were to take place, the City of Casey would be keen to see a Costco store located in our municipality,” Mr Fitchett said.
Cr Steve Beardon was tight lipped about the details of Tuesday’s meet and greet, adding only that it was “a very positive” meeting.
Cr Lorraine Wreford said she would support discussion between Casey and Costco.
“I want to demonstrate that the City of Casey is an attractive place for Costco to locate their next Victorian store,” she said.
Costco is a retail membership club that sells quality products, in bulk, at highly discounted prices to its members.
Bargain hunters in the US pay a $50 annual membership fee to shop at Costco and in return can purchase a range of quality products, including groceries, gadgets and whitegoods at a discount rate of about 15 per cent.
With 529 stores around the world, 136,000 employees and an annual turnover of about $65 billion, Costco is the eighth-largest retailer in the world.
On 20 June, Costco announced it would open its first Australian store at Waterfront City in Docklands.
