The family-owned-and-run company known for its presence at Orange kicked off deliveries to Dubbo for customers of its new online service.

It reported a successful start on Saturday, which it hoped to build on before opening up at Dubbo's former RAAF base.

Company chief financial officer Angus Harris yesterday said he anticipated a development application (DA) for a "proper shop" would be lodged with Dubbo City Council in the next few weeks as part of plans being worked on by Andorra Developments, the base's owners.

The grocer had planned to use the former RAAF site as the collection point for its online customers, but looked elsewhere when the heritage-listed building did not meet fire safety requirements.

Despite the change in plans Mr Harris said customers had not been confused by the transfer of its collection point to Midwest Foods on Douglas Mawson Road.

"We wanted to get to Dubbo as soon as possible, and we had a back-up plan, so we put it into action," he said.

Harris Farm Markets, which operates at 24 locations, has offered a similar online delivery service at Mudgee, achieving growing patronage.

"It's gone up 20 per cent week on week and we expect the same at Dubbo," Mr Harris said.

With the target in mind, Mr Harris said they would probably add a Thursday delivery within two or three weeks.

Dubbo councillors found the delivery point despite its change of address, an indication that the arrival of new retailers would continue to be a topic of political debate, two months on from the council election.

Dubbo mayor Mathew Dickerson said he had spoken to the grocer a number of times and had suggested that to get the business happening immediately, it should go somewhere appropriately zoned.

"They didn't have to do anything at Midwest Foods, it made it easy for them," Cr Dickerson said.

"Angus (Harris) was very happy with the support given by the council, to the point of suggestions of areas he could look at."

The mayor said all DAs - including the one for a collection point at the former RAAF base - had to be assessed on the information provided and that the council could not do anything illegal to help a developer.

Deputy mayor Ben Shields also attended the store, collecting his order of fruit, vegetables and meat.

"I've assured Harris Farm Markets they're going to do a lot better in Dubbo than Orange or Bathurst because Dubbo's shopping population is huge," he said, adding that he next wanted to see discount supermarket ALDI and department store Kmart open their doors in the city.

"I'm keen to see the Riviera Shopping Centre up and running for an ALDI and a Kmart, I think that would be an ideal spot for it."