A two-year-old girl has made herself a fan favourite at the local grocery store as she packs shelves alongside her grandmother.
Milla is part of a four-generation family who have made their living at the IGA Noosa Outlook in coastal Queensland.
Bart and Cheryl Derlagen took over the IGA as owners in 2004 after Cheryl’s father Ron initially opened it in 1993.
A lot has changed in that time, with the store going through two renovations and the general public’s perception shifting amid the cost of living crisis.
Their daughter, Michaela Smallcombe, has been part of the family business for the last few years, and she eventually brought in her husband Conrad three years ago.
The younger couple have two children – Milla, two, and newborn Hadley.
Milla even loves helping out in the store, proudly wearing her uniform and name badge as she helps her grandmother restock shelves and work at the counter.
“It’s just happened a few times where we’ve had to both be in the store so we brought her in,” Conrad told news.com.au
“She’s taken to it, particularly hanging out with grandma and climbing up the ladders and putting stock on the shelves. She just loves it.”
He said customers loved having her around with Milla recently helping customers pick out the best bananas to take home with them.
Bart joked that he should be slowing down with his daughter and son-in-law around to help out in the store, but his grandchildren kept him busy.
Over his 19 years running the store, which has undergone two expansion renovations in that time, Bart said a lot has changed in the grocery industry.
“Since the expansion and bringing down the price range, as well as price matching with the bigger companies, we’ve been accepted a hell of a lot better,” he said.
“Before we had the perception of being too expensive and I think we’re slowly getting that down a bit with the customers so that’s the thing they appreciate.”
He said it helps that the staff have been particularly good at helping push the line of lower pricing.
Bart added that he enjoyed having a family business, adding it was about the lifestyle it created as well.