Supermarket soon to open in Nawton

Tuesday, 20 February 2024

Manish and Rupali Thakkar say those behind the supermarket have “invested all our savings in it” and are keen to open for business.

The wait for a supermarket in Nawton is almost over - there’s just one more box to tick.

A brand new independent supermarket is opening soon at the Nawton Shopping Centre.

This will fill the void left in the community when Countdown Nawton - the sole supermarket in one of Hamilton’s most deprived communities - closed last year due to persistent crime.

A concerted initiative between the building’s owner John Sinclair, grocer Manish Thakkar and the wider community will give Nawton back a place to shop.

The signs are done, refrigeration and shelves are installed, staff are hired and the first stock has been ordered.

But before FIFO - Fresh in Fresh out - is open to public, owner Manish Thakkar said they must get a liquor licence approval from Hamilton City Council.

While the community awaited the opening of a new supermarket, Thakkar said those behind it were also desperately waiting to open, “as we have invested all our savings in it”.

Nawton is a kind of trial for a vision of opening more supermarkets around the country, says Manish Thakkar, right. He’s pictured with his partner Rupali Thakkar.

Thakkar and said the vision was to open more franchises across the country once the Nawton one was successful.

“I don’t think there is any other independent supermarket of this size.

“So this will be a first trial for us and see how it goes.”

He first thought of opening his supermarket when he met Tama Potaka during the election period.

It was around that time the supermarket closed, Thakkar said.

“He was worried about the community and coincidentally the landlord approached me.

“I had a look and thought, ‘Why not?’… we can proceed with the supermarket.”

However, to start a SuperValue or Four Square franchisee, there were some additional requirements.

Thakkar, who also owns SuperValue Parkwood store, said they had to fund more money to replace shelves, flooring, etcetera, which was a part of the deal.

“That was achievable but time-consuming, so it would have delayed the project for another one year and we didn't want to do that.

“We wanted to open it as soon as possible.”

Thakkar appreciated support from National MP Tama Potaka and the council, but thought he might need more from the latter.

The new supermarket’s proprietors, from left: Rupali Thakkar, Manish Thakkar with building owners John Sinclair and Kathryn Sinclair.

“During the last visit from Mayor Paula Southgate, she mentioned council was looking at installing some security cameras outside.

“But that won’t be enough, considering that demography.

“So we would really appreciate if council can support us with some security guard or something, or with new laws that National is planning to do for increasing the number of police.

“I have spoken with body corporate people around there, and they are happy to provide the office upstairs for the police without any charge.”

Thakkar said his market would try to keep the prices affordable.

“But at the end we have to cover the cost of operating the business.

“We will try to be more reasonable to the consumer that they don't feel that this product is cheaper in Countdown and Pak’nSave.

“And so we are trying to make it comparable and equivalent to them.”

Once the liquor licence was approved, it would take one week for the store to open.