Te Puke welcomes a new New World

Artist's impression of the new store 

"We are absolutely committed to meeting the Te Puke community's food and grocery needs and we recognise that the existing store is small and dated. We have been working hard to provide a better supermarket and to invest in Te Puke," says Ms Bull.

"The 2590sqm New World store will be almost three times bigger than the current store, with a new modern design and plenty of car parking and will have a particular emphasis on value and fresh foods."

The new store will be located on the corner of Jocelyn Street and Commerce Lane, adjacent to Jubilee Park and the proposed community facilities being developed by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council.

Foodstuffs' decision ends four years of negotiation and regulatory processes with the Council, which has sold the land to Foodstuffs as part of its overall town centre re-development. 

"The decision to invest in a new New World is the result of careful consideration of the best outcome for a development at Jubilee Park and co-operation with the Council.  We would like to thank the Council for their support and input into the new New World," says Ms Bull.

Te Puke New World's owner operator Jon Morrison is looking forward to the new store.

"We welcome the opportunity to provide customers with more choice, value and service," says Mr Morrison. "We appreciate the loyalty and support of the community and I can't wait to serve our customers in a new supermarket."

The development has been welcomed by Te Puke Economic Development Group managing director Mark Boyle. "This is very good news indeed and we are absolutely delighted. It is a vote of confidence from Foodstuffs in the continued growth of the Te Puke district and is tangible evidence of growth and development in our local economy," says Mark.

"Having an expanded supermarket service will contribute greatly to our campaign to build a strong value proposition in the town centre and it is a valuable addition to the Jubilee Park development. We welcome this new investment and the many benefits it will bring for locals and visitors in the expanding Te Puke retail precinct."

Te Puke Community Board chair Karyl Gunn describes the New World supermarket as "a great result for Te Puke." She sees it as further cementing Te Puke's place as a strong provincial town. "This will allay the fears of some people that a multi-retail complex was going to be built, so we are thrilled with this news from Foodstuffs. This supermarket, along with the Te Puke Heritage Walkway, the Cultural Courtyard and the new amphitheatre will encourage destination shopping in Te Puke and gives assurance to the community that the Te Puke Town Centre Development Plan will bring cultural, economic and social benefits to the whole community."