SBD wrote:
At the moment in SA, Convenience Stores that sell fuel have different trading restrictions from convenience stores that do not sell fuel. Our trading laws need a complete rethink in many areas, and this is another one. The largest supermarket in my area is the "independent" Foodland, bigger than the nearby Coles, Woolworths and Aldi stores. I'm not sure how much smaller the largest OTR is than the smaller of the "normal" supermarkets.
Actual convenience stores that are not deemed a large store due to the store footprint size do not have trade restrictions.
Small stores outside of large malls can open whenever they want.
Many drake minis and others fit within that small size and open 365 days, trading early and late etc.
A large store like a normal drake's, Foodland, Coles, Woolworths, aldi etc have trading restrictions.
Eg your large Foodland has trade restrictions because it is a large store. It being "independent" is irrelevant to its trading restrictions.
I am not sure if the refuelling area of a petrol station would count as part of a store. A supermarkets carpark does not count.
I don't think any otr petrol station buildings would be large enough to be classed as a large store.
I think they are small enough even without fuel they could just open whenever they liked under current Sa shop trading hours.
But due to fuel being sold the small/large check may not apply.