Foodstuffs North Island Limited announced its Write Price store in Wairoa will close after being in business for 29 years.
Doug Cochrane, general manager for retail, Foodstuffs, said 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,” Cochrane said.
“Trevor’s announcement in conjunction with an extensive review of our offer in Wairoa has led 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,” he added.
Cochrane said with two supermarkets in Wairoa, one Write Price and one New World, it had been increasingly difficult for them to sustain both in the district. He said they think their New World store is best placed to meet the community’s every day shopping requirements.
“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.”
According to Cochrane, Wong is looking forward to retiring after having been in the supermarket business for 35 years. Wong 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, Cochrane said Wong has contributed significantly to the people of Wairoa through the sponsorship of many local schools, clubs and community events.
“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,” Cochrane said. “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. We are supporting staff at Write Price Wairoa through this challenging time.”
The last day of trading for Write Price Wairoa will be on July 3, 2016. The store will continue to trade as normal right up until the closure date.
