New supermarket brings life back into community
A supermarket built to plug the “massive hole” in one of the most deprived communities in Hamilton is nearly set to open its doors.will open its doors next Saturday.
Nawton residents are getting a brand new and the biggest independent supermarket in New Zealand, FIFO – Fresh In Fresh Out, after eight months of living in a suburb with no supermarket.
Owners Manish Thakkar and Rakesh Patel aim to open next Saturday, May 4 in a huge boost for the suburb that lost its Countdown supermarket after a barrage of theft and other setbacks.
But the new operators say could be offering something potentially better as they will have a wide variety of products in store thanks to no longer having to order through any one supplier’s product range.
Thakkar says they have been awaiting a liquor license approval from Hamilton City Council, but are going ahead without one at this stage.
“We had the stock ready and were paying rent, and it was going to waste, so we decided to open anyway.”
Thakkar says the local community is also excited and has supported them in their venture – including a suggestion to hire local security guards.
The site’s former tenant, Australian owned Countdown, closed in August last year due to persistent retail crime, and Thakkar says hiring someone from the area might prevent it from happening again.
Hamilton West MP Tama Potaka had said it would “leave a massive hole in the community”at the time of closure.
FIFO opening at the Nawton Shopping Centre was a welcome news for Potaka, who was looking forward to the karakia and opening of the shop at at a ceremony at 7am.
“I am really enthusiastic and positive about the steps that have been taken by Manish Thakkar and others, but also by the community to support a new supermarket.”
Potaka said the bright yellow colour of the supermarket demonstrated “a bit of life and energy” within the community of Hamilton West.
“It's important for us to recognise that Countdown – now Woolworths – decided to leave the area and there's been a bit of a vacuum since they had left and a lot of people had to go to Dinsdale or other supermarkets. So now that there is a supermarket reopening on the site, it enables people to shop locally and to reduce the costs.”
The new supermarket, a concerted initiative between the building’s owner John Sinclair and Thakkar, will offer everything from deli, meat, produce, grocery, and other essentials.
But the grocers will personally be procuring the supplies and stocking as it is an independent store.
“If you go through a franchisee with certain groups like Progressive (Enterprises) or Foodstuffs, we get stocks directly supplied through them.
“But now, being independent, we have to organise the supply.”
However, it also meant more variety for customers as they were not tied to one supplier.
“There are so many different ranges of product which is not available in the supermarket that we're going to introduce in our store.”
The supermarket was tailored to “cover the requirements” of Nawton residents, Thakkar said.
“But gradually, once people start buying, we’ll get a better idea of what more is needed here.”
About 40% of the staff were hired, and Thakkar said they would be fully staffed by opening.
While the shelves were already stocked, fresh produce, milk and the meat section will be waiting til opening day.
Thakkar had invested about $2.5 million into the fit of the shop, but said it represented his desire to give back to the community.
“This town has given me everything,” he had said last year.
“When I came from India, I had only $2000 in my pocket. It was time for me to give back to the community.”