Foodstuffs North Island may well have completed the greatest network infill in years with the opening of a New World in the remote Northland town of Mangawhai.

Until this month, the town’s 1000-odd residents faced a 45-minute drive to reach the nearest full-service supermarket.

The 2850sqm store is Foodstuffs North Island’s fifth new supermarket opened since July and follows the debut of a $7.5 million store in Auckland’s Newmarket earlier this month. Four Square stores opened in St Heliers and Cambridge in August, and a New World in Wairoa in July.  

The head of New World, Morgan McCann, says Foodstuffs is focused on delivering customer experience and range to consumers regardless of whether they live in a large city or further afield, “and New World Mangawhai is a great example of that”.  

“We have stores in communities right across the North Island so that customers can shop local and expect a world-class grocery store.  

“Mangawhai is a rapidly growing community and our investment in this store will help us to meet the changing needs of the area, serving a full range to locals year-round as well as visitors and holidaymakers who flock to the town over summer,” he said. 

The store will be run by owner-operators Scott and Rachael Henderson. Scott has more than 18 years of experience with Foodstuffs, having joined the company aged just 14 as a checkout assistant.   

“I fell in love with the industry almost instantly and from there store ownership became the ultimate goal for me,” he said. 

“I managed to get some great experience working at New World Orewa for eight years and Pak’NSave Westgate for another seven years… across many departments including grocery, chilled/frozen, deli, produce and buying. It’s incredibly rewarding to realise my store ownership dream.”

Until now, visitors to the seaside town – whose population explodes during holiday seasons – have had to bring bulk supplies of food and groceries to see them over their stay. Many locals have been hoping for a local supermarket development for years. 

The store will offer fresh meat, seafood, produce, bakery and deli goods along with a chilled and dry grocery range. There is a focus on locally sourced and seasonal products, a new-generation sustainability-inspired Carefillery and a liquor section.  

More Foodstuffs North Island stores are under development, including a New World at Auckland’s Britomart, a Pak’NSave at Warkworth and replacement New Worlds in Flaxmere and Taumarunui.