Australian supermarket giant Coles has transformed its Moonee Ponds flagship into what it says is a “true store of the future” with “never-before-seen supermarket innovations and an unrivalled in-store foodie experience to make supermarket shopping healthier and more sustainable”.

In March, the entire Coles Group also made a commitment to be powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity by the end of the financial year of 2025, and for it to have net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Part of that includes introducing at the Moonee Ponds store refill stations dispensing laundry soaps and household detergents from Aussie brands Omo and Surf, which the company says is a first for Unilever in Australia. There's also bodywash, handwash, shampoo and conditioner stations to dispense products from Sukin.

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It's trialling misting and cold plates for produce, which Coles says will enabled the removal of some plastic packaging without compromising on freshness, and selling Fresh Leaf Farms herbs in paper, rather than plastic. It has a coffee-cup recycling station to divert cups from landfill, and a Redcycle station that transforms soft plastics into benches, furniture, playground equipment and roads.

It's also introduced a store-within-a-store concept for grab-and-go meals or to eat and drink while you're walking the aisles. Vietnamese street-food chain Roll’d opens it 100th store within the flagship, and there's also a fishmonger, The Fishery, to get fresh and cooked seafood. It's run by respected industry expert John Sussman and has food by Sam Cheetham, the former head chef of Cumulus Inc.

Vacuum-sealed, woodfired pizza merchant Tremila Pizza is also serving up its pies to shoppers, and you can get pressed juices, coffee and made-to-order fruit and veggie salads. You'll also be able to pick up slow-roasted Wagyu beef, free-range pork belly and other cooked dishes.

Also in the shop is an artisan cheese nook selling specialty cheeses, many from small Melbourne
producers. Vegan cheeses, butters and desserts are available from Vegan Dairy, made in the Mornington Peninsula.

Coles Moonee Ponds is at Central Shopping Centre, Homer Street.

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