Foodstuffs South Island is deeply saddened to advise, that due
to the severity of the damage from the second earthquake on
22 February, our New World stores at Redcliffs and St Martins
will not be re-opening.
Foodstuffs South Island CEO Steve Anderson says that this is an
incredibly distressing time for the stores' owners and their staff
as well as the local communities they serve. New World St
Martins employs 167 full and part time staff and New World
Redcliffs has 69 full and part time staff who will be affected.
"We would like to thank the insurers for their flexible approach
to providing as much financial security and support as possible for
our staff. Each staff member will receive a redundancy payment
equivalent to two months of their earnings. Additionally, to help
ease some of the stress, the Foodstuffs (South Island) Community
Trust will be providing each full time employee with a $500
shopping voucher. Part time employees are receiving a $250
voucher.
"We hope this will go some way to help staff provide for their
families during these challenging times," he says.
Foodstuffs will also be offering each employee access to a
specialist advisor. Where possible Foodstuffs South Island will
find positions for these people in other Foodstuffs'
businesses. If no position is available, the specialist
advisor will work with the staff members to help them find
employment elsewhere.
"We will be working closely with our staff and families involved
to help them in any way we can. We are offering additional support
including counsellors to help people come to terms with these
dreadful circumstances which have been forced upon them," says Mr
Anderson.
Foodstuffs is committed to rebuilding these stores, however this
is likely to be a lengthy process.