Coles has employed 153 staff, 136 of them being local, plus 17 managers transferred to Kempsey.

More than 130 of the new staff enjoyed a Team Focus Night this week which was held by Coles in readiness for the opening.

Coles Kempsey store manager Tim Hill said he wanted to have a great team environment where the employees want to come to work.

“It was an excellent night where we talked about our company’s goals and it was also a great way for them to get to know the management team,” Mr Hill said.

One young manager spoke at the focus night about the career opportunities available for new employees with a big national company such as Coles.

Coles offered work to all staff from the old Action supermarket, which has closed. Just one former Action employee did not take the offer.

“The Action staff will be a great bonus for our new store because of their experience and because they are very friendly,” Mr Hill said.

Coles staff have been busy putting more than 25,000 new price tags on all products.

The new plaza will boast two superstores, Coles and Target Country, as well as 12 specialty stores – 60 per cent of which have been filled.

Stores on this list include an Amcal pharmacy, the National Australia Bank, EB Games, Network Communications, Mark’s Fresh Chicken and Game and CTC Tobacconists and Giftware.

Newcastle based builders Broad Constructions built the shopping complex and started work last September.