On Tuesday 20 August, Foodle, one of Australia’s largest and most innovative Asian grocery chains, celebrated the opening of its second location at The Glen Shopping Centre in Victoria’s eastern suburbs, bringing its unique retail experience to a new audience, promising an unparalleled immersion into Asian cuisine and culture with an offering beyond traditional competitors.
Designed by internationally renowned supermarket architects, Landini Associates, Foodle at The Glen is more than just a traditional supermarket. It is a comprehensive mega-market, featuring restaurants, bakeries and live food offerings that span three distinct areas.
Sascha Schubiger, Centre Manager at The Glen Shopping Centre, said: “We are delighted to welcome Foodle to The Glen. This expansion is a testament to the growing demand for diverse and specialised retail experiences and will make a great addition to The Glen’s already impressive Lower Ground Market Hall. We’re excited for our customers to experience Foodle’s unique and elevated offering, in a world-class retail setting.”
Foodle founder, David Loh, expressed his enthusiasm for the new venture, “Foodle is a fully integrated retail experience where you can explore and own everything that is quintessential to an Asian dining experience, either at the venue or to take home and recreate the experience at home.”
Foodle’s expansion comes at a time when Australians are increasingly seeking alternatives to major supermarkets. The market share of independent supermarkets has risen from 13% to 18% in recent years, reflecting a growing preference for unique and diverse shopping options.
“We aimed to establish one Foodle in the west and another in the east, allowing a broader audience to discover and enjoy the essence of Asian culinary culture in Melbourne,” says Loh, “The Glen and its surrounding areas have a very Asian-focused demographic, and we know that Foodle will be well accepted here.”
In support of this, the annual revenue of supermarket and grocery stores in Australia rose to $139.2 billion in 2023, marking a $40 billion increase to industry revenue since 2014.
“Foodle is set to open its third Victorian location by June 2025 and is actively looking for interstate locations across New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia,” he said.
Foodle at The Glen introduces several Australian firsts, enhancing the shopping experience for all visitors including a Japanese street food teppanyaki stall, fresh sushi bar, a noodle making machine where customers can witness and interact with the intricate process of noodle making and a Korean donut bakery offering freshly prepared, live on-site treats for visitors.
The new mega-market will be dedicated to all things Japanese and Korean, from crockery and groceries to beauty and baby products. Additionally, it will feature one of Australia’s largest direct-to-consumer Japanese Wagyu offerings, a live seafood market where customers can select their items and have them prepared live by in-house chefs, and even an Asian roast offering.
“Foodle is a love letter to Asian culture.” continues Loh, “Everyone will have the ability to purchase items that are usually hard to find from all parts of Asia with commodities and ingredients regularly featured in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Indonesian, Filipino cuisines and more.”
Owned by Vicinity Centres and Perron Group, The Glen is a leading shopping centre in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs that continues to enhance its offerings and provides an exceptional shopping experience.
The new 1,800m2 Foodle store is strategically located on the ground floor of The Glen, within the centre’s Fresh Food Precinct.
