Wesfarmers’ (ASX: WES) Coles supermarket says it is working to get food back on the shelves of its 150 Queensland branches affected by the devastating floods, especially the 50 stores isolated by flood waters.

“Our key priorities are restocking stores in FNQ and preparing our south east Queensland stores for a huge surge in demand as thousands of residents return to their homes to begin the long clean-up process,” Coles said in a statement on Friday.

Coles managing director Ian McLeod said that at their worst, the floods inundated four Coles stores, closed a further 11, and cut food supply to over 50 stores across the state.

“Over 20,000 team members in Queensland have been doing an outstanding job serving their communities under incredibly trying conditions,” he said.

Mr McLeod said eight Coles stores in the Brisbane and Ispwich region are currently closed due to the floods, with stores in Ipswich, Bellbowrie and Fairfield flooded. Three of the stores currently closed are expected to open for trade over the coming weekend.

“We will be working overtime to ensure our south east Queensland stores are well stocked with the lines customers will be needing, such as cleaning products, as well as basic pantry staples.”

The Coles Emerald store was flooded last week and suffered extensive damage. Current estimates are it will take at least two months before the store can be opened for trade.

In the interim, Coles will be operating a temporary store in Emerald, in the Emerald Police Citizens Youth Centre. The temporary Coles will stock 200 staple food and grocery lines, and will operate from Tuesday 18 January until the main store re-opens.

Mr McLeod said that food retailers and the Queensland Government had been working together to coordinate emergency deliveries to northern Queensland stores cut off by floodwaters.

“We’ve gone to great lengths to get food into our northern Queensland stores, with about 120 tons airlifted into areas including the Cairns, Townsville and Bundaberg regions. Nearly 500 tons of food have been sent into FNQ by truck, and over 1000 tons will be leaving Sydney by ship, destined for Townsville and Cairns.

“As road access improves in coming days, we’ll be working hard to restock our northern Queensland stores.”