There were relatively few shoppers in Millicent on Sunday for the first weekend of extended trading.

The town’s three regulated shops are permitted by the State Government to extend their trading hours on December 6, 13 and 20.

Under legislation dating back to the 1920s, Millicent’s Proclaimed Shopping District regulates the trading hours of Foster’s Foodland, Woolworths and Target Country.

Foster’s Foodland traded from 9am until 5pm and manager Dave Foster said it was a quiet time.

Mr Foster pointed out only a small number of unregulated shops in Millicent chose to open their doors on Sunday.

“It is a long tradition for Foster’s Foodland to trade on the Sundays leading up to Christmas,” Mr Foster said. “We regard it as providing a service to our customers.”

Among them was Millicent resident Anne Fuentes. “We appreciate Foster’s Foodland being here for us,” Ms Fuentes said.

“I do 99% of my shopping here. “It is about locals looking after locals.” Meanwhile, Mr Foster has reflected on a momentous few weeks in retailing.

Last month, his Kentish Place store experienced a record single day of trading in its near-74 year history.

There was panic buying ahead of a statewide lockdown related to COVID-19.

“There was panic buying as people were confused about whether the supermarkets would be open or not,” he said.

“They could trade and so things were back to normal in our shop the following day.

“We were allowed to trade around-the-clock during the lockdown but did not.

“The lockdown only applied to South Australia and so our suppliers and warehouses are back to normal.

“However, we cannot get sugar.” Meanwhile, the regional retailing scene is in line for a shake-up this week when Coles opens a new supermarket in Mount Gambier. “We will have to wait and see,” Mr Foster said.

“When a new Woolworths opened in Mount Gambier a few years ago, it did not have much of an impact on us.

“It is a long way from Millicent to Mount Gambier to do your grocery shopping.”