There were balloons, giveaways, our local state member — and plenty of hand sanitiser — as Orange’s newest supermarket celebrated their official opening on Saturday.

The new SPAR Express on Moulder Street, formerly the convenience store known as Jack’s Corner Store, has been undergoing a transition since it was purchased by brother’s Mani and Manjit Singh and family.

“We bought this one two years back it was a Jack's Corner Store and since we've tried hard to change the layout, we’ve put more products in, we did a renovation, changed the floor making a new fresh look for this store,” said Mani.

Originally rebranding under the ‘Friendly Grocer’ banner, Mani reached out to SPAR and is pleased to be launching the franchise in Orange.

“SPAR are a very big chain, there are around 14,000 stores world-wide and around 200 stores in Australia. So, I contacted them and they checked this site and now we are there,” said Mani.

And his customers have appreciated the growing range of products, which now include hot food, espresso coffee and a surprisingly large range of supermarket items.

“Their perception is changing now from seeing us as just a corner store to a supermarket,” he said. “Some people have told me they don't need to go to town anymore, so they are very happy with what we are doing.

“We’re very close to other supermarkets and the competition and every week we have good specials coming in and the customers are starting to see that.”

The Moulder Street store is the third owned by Mani and family. In 2010, he purchased the well-known Bathurst convenience store The Hospital Shop, and a few years’ later they established a tobacconist at the Summer Centre.

“I want to set up this story properly and it will take time, but then I would love to open another store around this area,” said Mani.

“Spar is a big chain and they see the opportunity here and I look forward to maybe making other stores in the future.”

And while you’re shopping at SPAR, don’t forget to grab your copy of Orange City Life and Newswatch.