Foodstuffs North Island Limited has announced its Write Price store in Wairoa will close after 29 years.
“It is always a difficult decision to close a store, but following the announcement by Trevor Wong, the owner-operator of Write Price Wairoa, that he is planning to retire, Foodstuffs has taken the decision that the store will not be sold to another owner,” says Doug Cochrane, General Manager Retail, Foodstuffs North Island Ltd. “Trevor’s announcement in conjunction with an extensive review of our offer in Wairoa has lead us to believe this is the right decision and one which will ensure we can continue to provide the Wairoa community with the best possible supermarket offer for the long-term.”
“We currently have one Write Price and one New World supermarket in Wairoa however, it has become increasingly difficult to sustain two supermarkets in the district. We feel our New World store is best placed to meet the community’s everyday shopping requirements,” adds Cochrane. “New World has the best range, great prices and customer rewards through Fly Buys so we really believe it is the best fit for our Wairoa customers.”
“After almost 35 years in the supermarket industry, Trevor is looking forward to retiring from the supermarket business to spend more time with his family and four grandchildren. Trevor began his Foodstuffs career in 1987 with the purchase of Write Price Wairoa and is a respected member of the Wairoa community. During his 29 years at the store, Trevor has contributed significantly to the people of Wairoa through the sponsorship of many local schools, clubs and community events,” says Cochrane. “On behalf of Foodstuffs I’d like to thank Trevor for his tremendous contribution to Foodstuffs North Island and the Wairoa Community and wish him all the very best with his retirement.”
“I’d also really like to take this opportunity to thank the team at Write Price Wairoa who have been doing a great job. This decision is absolutely no reflection on them,” says Cochrane. “We are supporting staff at Write Price Wairoa through this challenging time.”
The last day of trading for Write Price Wairoa will be Sunday, 3 July 2016. Foodstuffs North Island has purchased the Write Price property and the business is currently evaluating redevelopment options of the site.
