PHOTO: FreshChoice plans to open 31 new supermarkets over the next six months. SUPPLIED
As FreshChoice supermarket prepares to make its debut on Cuba Street in Wellington, a glimmer of hope emerges amid a series of recent retail closures. Well-known establishments like Madame Fancy Pants, Everyday Wine, Rough Peel Records, and Carly Harris have bid farewell to this iconic street in recent months, but FreshChoice is bucking the trend and setting up shop.
This new addition to the heart of Wellington will mark the 45th location for the FreshChoice group, with plans to open 31 more stores in the coming six months. Tim Cartwright, the franchise general manager of Woolworths NZ, announced that the FreshChoice Cuba Street store is slated to open its doors in December.
He described the upcoming venture as more than just a convenience store. Instead, it will serve as a modern hub owned and operated by dedicated locals deeply committed to supporting the community and local supply partners. FreshChoice Cuba Street aims to offer Wellington residents the very best, focusing on three core principles: providing top-quality fresh food, convenient food-to-go options, and unparalleled customer service.
While many shop owners on Cuba Street have attributed recent closures to rising rent, they have also pointed to various factors such as the impact of Covid-19, the Parliament protest, a cost-of-living crisis, and labor shortages.
One example of the economic challenges faced by businesses on Cuba Street is the liquidation of Carly Harris Design. Shareholders Carly Harris and Christine Harris made the difficult decision to place the company into liquidation after realizing it couldn’t meet its financial obligations. Carly Harris cited the pandemic as a major factor, noting that people stopped visiting and purchasing clothing during lockdowns and work-from-home measures.
The pandemic has also led to changes in office occupancy, with some government agencies seeing average occupancy rates of just over 50 percent. Corporations are adopting flexible work arrangements, but many still believe in the importance of the physical workplace.
Data from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency reveals a decrease in traffic on Wellington’s roads, reflecting changes in commuting habits. For instance, annual daily traffic on State Highway 1 on Cobham Drive in eastern Wellington has declined from 36,097 trips in 2019 to 27,751 in the previous year. Traffic on SH1 near Kaiwharawhara, which captures northern Wellington flows, has been more stable, with a drop from 47,103 trips in 2019 to 43,526 in 2022.
SOURCE: NEWSTALK ZB