It comes as Wagga Business Chamber called for a community-wide response to help ease any unemployment fallout. 

After months of speculation, Woolworths officially confirmed on Wednesday it would be shutting the doors of all its Masters stores by December 11.

Around 100 permanent, part-time and casual employees are expected to be at risk of unemployment when the hardware store closes.

Tony Aichinger owns McDonald’s restaurants in Wagga, Temora and Leeton and employs 600 employees across six sites. 

He will provide an interview slot for Masters staff in two to three weeks’ time.

“At the end of the day, I’m sure there’s some great hardworking people at Masters with some great customer service skills,” Mr Aichinger said.

“We would like to give them the opportunity to get back into the workplace if they are out of a job.”

While Mr Aichinger said he didn’t have a set number of positions up for grabs, he hadn’t ruled out creating new positions at his restaurants for the right candidates. 

“What I can guarantee is we want to interview every staff member with a view to providing as many jobs as possible,” he said.

Wagga Business Chamber president Andrew Bell said a community response was needed. 

“I think it is a great initiative from Mr Aichinger,” he said. “It would be a good for it to spread throughout the community, and if people banded together to help these people who are going to be out of work.” 

The store’s imminent closure would be a matter of high priority for the chamber.

“We haven’t had a board meeting since it was announced formally and we will be discussing it at our next board meeting,” Mr Bell said.  A Woolworths spokesperson said attempts would be made to find  Masters staff redeployment within the other Woolworths-operated outfits. 

Redundancy packages would be given “when suitable roles are not available”, the spokesperson said. To arrange an interview phone 6922 4766 or email admin@aichingergroup.com.au.