Owning five different supermarkets in one lifetime might be enough for some people, but Glenn and Tracey Anderson, the new owner operators of PAK’nSAVE Richmond, have no intention of slowing down just yet.
The husband and wife team have recently taken the reins of the local PAK’nSAVE, the largest store they have ever operated, after previously owning and operating New World Nelson City, but Glenn says the pair are ready for the challenge.
“Taking on a larger store is a big step, but we’re looking forward to getting stuck in, and investing in the team, store and local community,” Glenn says.
“We’ll miss the fantastic team at New World Nelson City, but luckily, PAK’nSAVE Richmond is just down the road. I’m sure we’ll see a lot of familiar faces.
The Andersons have been part of Foodstuffs South Island, the 100% New Zealand owned co-operative behind the South Island’s Four Square, New World, On the Spot, PAK’nSAVE, Raeward Fresh and Trents brands, for nearly 20 years.
The pair became supermarket owner operators 15 years ago, starting out at New World Waimate, the smallest New World in the South Island. They then moved to New World Stoke in 2011, and were there for nine years, as their kids grew up.
In 2020, the opportunity came for the pair to move back to Christchurch, where they’re both originally from, to run New World Rolleston but after a few years, Tracey says they missed Nelson and wanted to move back.
“Nelson has a fantastic vibe to it; we love the beaches, the climate and the community. It has everything that a big city has without actually being a big city,” she says.
“Glenn started his Foodstuffs journey working at a PAK’nSAVE, so we also feel like we’re returning to our roots a little.”
As high school sweethearts, Tracey and Glenn have been working as a team for over 15 years and complement each other well. Glenn’s background as a supplier to supermarkets makes him a good fit for the business side of things, while Tracey’s background in teaching makes her an excellent people person.
“It’s all about the people,” Tracey says.
“I was a teacher, and running a business is surprisingly similar. I really enjoy getting stuck in to training and customer service. The relationships we’ve built with our customers, our community, and our team – that’s what fills my tank.”
Glenn and Tracey are well known among the local community, and have consistently spearheaded community initiatives, like funding a new defibrillator and trauma equipment for the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter, as well as sponsoring local schools and community groups.
They also introduced Click and Collect at New World Nelson last year, to give locals a bit more choice about how they shop, and Glenn says they have big plans for PAK’nSAVE Richmond, including a complete refurbishment in a few years’ time.
“We definitely won’t be initiating anything major on day one, we’ll get to know the team and the community first and figure out what they’d like from their local store,” he says.
“This will be the last store we own, and we’re going to put everything we have into making it the best possible store it can be for the Richmond community.”
Did you know?
Foodstuffs South Island is a 100% New Zealand owned co-operative, with over 200 stores in communities across Te Waipounamu operating under the Four Square, New World, On the Spot, PAK’nSAVE, Raeward Fresh and Trents brands.
