Dee Halbert (left), Adele Goldsack and Markus Grootendorst on their first day at Rotorua’s newest FreshChoice supermarket. Photo \/ Annabel Reid<\/p>\n
At the time, the Countdown closure was described as \u201cdisastrous\u201d by First Union, which represented more than 30 affected staff at the supermarket.<\/p>\n
Goldsack said when the opportunity arose to join the new FreshChoice, the three reunited, \u201cmaking us feel a bit whole again\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like nothing\u2019s changed\u201d, Grootendorst said \u2013 just a different uniform. <\/p>\n
Woolworths New Zealand, formerly branded as Countdown, owns the FreshChoice brand, with local franchises operated by individual store owners.<\/p>\n
The new supermarket is co-owned by Wayne and Michelle Parry with Michael and Paula Beattie, who also opened Rotorua\u2019s first FreshChoice in 2017<\/a> on Te Ngae Rd in \u014cwhata.<\/p>\n Their first FreshChoice store was the 27th in New Zealand.<\/p>\n Cartwright said the Rotorua store was the first in the North Island to feature the \u201cFreshChoice 3.0 look\u201d, designed to create \u201can elevated, cohesive and immersive shopping experience\u201d. <\/p>\n He said there was a focus on sustainability, with recycling systems reducing high-volume waste and refrigeration using carbon dioxide energy-efficient technology. Lighting and door features also helped conserve energy.<\/p>\n Tapsell said the new supermarket would \u201cabsolutely\u201d bring more foot traffic through the mall and city centre.<\/p>\n Last year local businesses raised concerns losing Countdown site could be \u201cdevastating\u201d for foot traffic through the mall<\/a>.<\/p>\n The trust\u2019s focus was on driving economic development and creating employment opportunities for future generations of wh\u0101nau living in the city.<\/p>\n Tapsell said mall workers had already commented on the convenience of the supermarket\u2019s location.<\/p>\n The goal was to make Central Mall a destination for experiences as well as shopping, he said.<\/p>\n Rotorua Central Mall FreshChoice executive general manager Tim Cartwright (left) with co-owners Wayne Parry and Paula Beattie. Photo \/ Annabel Reid<\/p>\n