The existing Hunter & Gatherer precinct will be significantly upgraded and remixed to better serve the way that local shoppers like to uncover new tastes and connect through cooking, with new-to-market vendors making up more than half the roster of 20-plus purveyors of seasonal and artisanal produce.

Beloved independent Sacca’s Fine Foods will take the opportunity to expand its floorspace to incorporate a café serving the delicacies of the day, while Woolworths will also carry out a large- scale modernisation project designed to make both in-store and direct-to-boot purchasing even easier for Epping’s young-skewing population.

He added: “We are excited to partner with businesses of all sizes to craft the next-generation Hunter & Gatherer, streamlining access to quality produce and celebrating the cultural diversity of our rapidly growing community.”

Located 18 kilometres from the central business district, Epping sits within one of metropolitan Melbourne’s strongest growth corridors. The main trade area population of around 123,000 is expected to swell 4 per cent per annum – well above the Melbourne average of 1.8 per cent – between now and 2026 ^*.

The upgrade of Hunter & Gatherer follows highly successful food retail and dining redevelopments at nearby Watergardens in 2020 and 2022, while also facilitating fresh opportunities for pop-up activations such as cooking demonstrations and seasonal indoor markets.

The centre’s Woolworths and Coles supermarkets will continue to operate click-and-collect services throughout the period of construction to ensure local residents can continue to fulfill everyday grocery needs at Pacific Epping.