Nosh hits the delay switch on re-launch

Grocery chain Nosh has delayed its relaunch until next month and at least three stores will remain closed until then.

Signs put up at some of the supermarket chain’s Auckland stores had originally said that they were due to reopen yesterday.

However, yesterday morning the Glen Innes, Greenlane and Dominion Rd stores remained closed with new signs saying they would now be reopening on July 8. No reason was given for the delay.

All three had product visible instore with the Dominion Rd branch stocked with fruit, vegetables and other perishable goods.

One supplier told the Herald they were still waiting on payment from Nosh.

Latesha Randall from Raglan Coconut Yoghurt said her business was owed $9000.

Randall said she had been told by Nosh director Andrew Phillips that her company would be paid, however this had not happened.

“We still haven’t been paid, I wish I could say we had,” Randall said. “I’ve had a couple of calls from the new owner, he sounds like he’s still trying to work on things.

“The new date for payment is this week so apparently there’s some investment or bank funding coming through but I guess we’ll just see what happens.”

A notice on the stores said the business had been “working tirelessly behind the scenes to deliver you the best version of Nosh”, and thanked customers for their patience.

Staff could be seen at the Greenlane store.

At the Glen Innes store, a notice on the door said the lease had been terminated with the tenant, Nosh Group Ltd, “having failed to satisfy default notices”. The notice stated any attempt to enter the premises would be viewed as trespassing.

The store was still partially stocked, with milk and some perishable goods visible.

Former Nosh owner Veritas Investments last week launched legal proceedings against the new owner, Gosh Holdings, over late payments.

NZX-listed Veritas alleged Gosh Holdings, since renamed as Nosh Group, consistently failed to meet a payment schedule, breaching a sale and purchase agreement which was completed in February.

Veritas sold Nosh to Gosh in February for $4m and said they were owed about $69,000 by the chain’s new owner.

“We entered into this transaction in good faith after a rigorous process and it is extremely disappointing that the directors of Gosh Holdings Limited [ now Nosh Group Limited] have clearly failed and continue to fail to meet their financial and legal obligations,” chairman Tim Cook alleged in a statement to the stock exchange earlier this month.

Phillips was approached for comment.