Trade booming at Kelso's IGA Trinity Heights during lockdown

Since it was announced that all of regional NSW would go into lockdown on Saturday, the Kelso-based supermarket experienced a massive boom in customers, with some items being cleaned up within hours.

IGA Trinity Heights manager Kevin Allen explained that it was fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as meat that was in demand.

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"It's been very busy. We are up about 25 per cent, which is huge for us," he said.

"When the COVID-19 lockdown was announced, the shop went crazy. For two hours, every checkout, there was probably 25 people lining up. It wasn't toilet paper like last time, but all the fresh vegetable and meat went really quickly.

"I had been buying a bit extra for the past couple of months, with toilet paper and stuff that doesn't go out of date. On Saturday we were out of bananas, tomatoes, lettuce and cucumber and we don't get deliveries on the weekend, so I had to wait until Monday to get those things."

With the lockdown affecting the way people work and with children schooling from home, Mr Allen has noticed a change in the way people shop.

"I'm just selling more than what I normally sell, but what's different with my shop is that I'm a later trader. When school goes out, we're quite busy," he said.

"Now we're busy from about 10am but it doesn't go through as late now, so I'm guessing all the kids and mum and dad are home."

Mr Allen believes shoppers are opting for shops like his to avoid the Bathurst CBD.

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