How a bank IT analyst became $50m New World Te Atatū owner/operator

He left ASB and credits Kym Samuels with giving him his first big break in food retailing.

From bank IT business analyst to supermarket owner: Scott Jackson inside the new $50 million New World Te Atatū store. Photo / Jason Dorday

She employed him when she owned New World Eastridge and helped him understand food retailing.

“I started off in my late 20s stacking cans of baked beans. It was humbling.”

Jackson learned to be a grocer from the lowliest position up, his goal was one day to buy into the co-operative and own his own supermarket.

“It was risky, hard and scary.”

Yet he kept his eye on the goal of owning his own business.

To get capital to buy into the Foodstuffs (North Island) network, Jackson bought a Te Atatū South residential property, split it in two, did it up and sold it for a profit.

All ready for the food: the refurbished, expanded supermarket. Photo / Jason Dorday

That gave him the money to begin applying to buy small stores.

In 2017, Scott and his wife Ashleigh bought Four Square Paihia in the Bay of Islands.

Operating a small supermarket in a competitive market provided valuable experience and helped establish them.

Last November, the ex-Countdown Te Atatu was converted to a New World. Photo / Dean Purcell

After four years in Paihia, Scott and Ashleigh Jackson became owner/operators of New World Tawa in 2021.

During their five years there, they built strong connections within the community, including Te Umu ki Rangituhi, Porirua’s social supermarket that Foodstuffs helped open in 2024.

Scott Jackson, the new owner/operator of New World Te Atatū. Photo / Jason Dorday

On August 11, the Jacksons will open New World Te Atatū, returning to the city where much of Ashleigh’s family lives.

“Our vision is that in 12 months’ time, it looks like it has just been opened: QSC!” says Jackson, the letters short for quality, service and cleanliness.

The Jacksons have invited 14 staff from New World Tawa to work with them at the Te Atatū store.

Jackson credits former New World Thorndon owner/operator Brian Drake with inspiring him to become a grocer but also telling him of the realities.

“I was 21 and Brian told me if you want to do this, you are never going to live overseas, you’ve got to commit and work seven days a week,” Scott Jackson recalls.

Last year, when the supermarket was being expanded and refitted. Photo / Dean Purcell

Foodstuffs spent $50 million buying, upgrading and expanding the ex-Woolworths Te Atatū.

About 15,000 residents in the area were left without a supermarket on their peninsula because of the big programme.

The Jacksons’ children, Barry (6) and Bella (4) are scheduled to cut the ribbon at New World Te Atatū on August 11.

Scott Jackson

Age: 40Position: owner/operator New World Te Atatū with wife AshleighEmploying about 90 staffMother Janet Jackson owned McDonald’s in NapierHe began working with her at the age of 10 or 12Has a BCom from Otago University2013: IT business analyst, ASB Bank2014: supermarket worker, New World Eastridge, AucklandRenovated a Te Atatū South residential property to get capital2017: appointed owner/operator of Four Square Paihia2021: appointed owner/operator of New World TawaAugust 11, 2026: opening new $50m New World Te Atatū

Anne Gibson has been the Herald’s property editor for 26 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.

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