Food trucks move in as supermarket shuts
While hungry commuters will now be able to grab a bite from food trucks, commuters are still hoping a new supermarket will be coming to the capital’s railway station.
The New World Metro supermarket quit its Wellington Railway Station location on March 30, after negotiations with KiwiRail, the station’s owner, to renew their lease broke down.
Both KiwiRail and Foodstuffs told The Post they were unable to comment on why the “commercially sensitive” negotations failed, but said they were unable to reach a viable agreement despite both parties’ best efforts.
Now, the question on everybody’s lips is whether a new supermarket will fill the empty space.
Bayleys head of agency Stathis Moutos said he had had discussions with KiwiRail, introducing them to interested parties.
“I know there are some parties looking at the site.”
Although commuters may be hoping another supermarket will arrive to fill the space, Moutos was unable to comment on whether the interested parties were grocery retailers.
In retail terms, the location was “a prime opportunity” in his opinion because of the guaranteed customer base that walked through the station daily. “That’s the biggest attraction to it.”
He said he did not believe it would take long for the lease to be picked up, guessing it would be filled in “less than a year.”
In the meantime, KiwiRail executive general manager for property Anna Allen said KiwiRail alongside Wellington City Council had organised six local food trucks – The Greek Food Truck, Nada Bakery, Hong Kong Foodie, Gluten Free Food Truck, Shouk NZ and Kosmos Coffee – to begin operating outside the station for the next six months.
“We’re very aware that many of those using the station also use the supermarket to buy breakfast, lunch or dinner, and we wanted to ensure that type of service would still be available, so we have worked with the council to make this happen,” Allen said.
Yesterday, Kosmos Coffee owner Petrie Apostolakis said his food truck had been parked outside the station since 6am.
The first day had been “OK,” he said, learning the hours of customer demand and working out any “teething problems”. With the food trucks given six months to settle in, he said he was looking forward to serving the commuters who passed through the station.
Shouk food truck owner Ilan Tabor said his first day outside the station had been “excellent”.
He said he would be taking on the lunch and dinner crowd, so would be open “until late” for hungry commuters to enjoy.
However, commuters The Post spoke to said, while enjoying the food trucks, that they wouldn’t be enough to replace the lost supermarket.
Lilly Haughey, while on her way home to Whitby, said the closure of the supermarket was “disappointing,” with its location making it easy to pick up essentials on the way home, especially the nights she couldn’t be bothered cooking.
“It’s just so convenient being there.” While the food trucks were useful, they couldn’t really replace groceries, she said.
Trish Lloyd, who caught the train to Waikanae from the station, also said the loss of the New World at the station was “really upsetting”. “It’s so convenient ... It was actually very disappointing.”
She said the food trucks wouldn’t meet the need of the commuters to pick up groceries on the way home.
“You can’t go in there and buy a pint of milk or a bottle of wine ... Some chicken for dinner or meat. I’d like to see another supermarket operator come in there but hey, who knows if it will happen.”
Allen said that, while KiwiRail appreciated the value a supermarket brings to Wellington's central transport hub, they were unable to comment in detail at the stage.
She said KiwiRail was continuing to negotiate with potential tenants.
A FoodStuffs spokesperson said the company’s “top priority” had been finding positions at other New World supermarkets for the former supermarket’s staff.
“We’re pleased to say most have got roles at the seven other New World’s in the city.
‘‘We’d like to say a very big thank you to our team, suppliers and customers for all your incredible support of New World Railway over the years.”