New World takes off at former Wigram Airbase
Foodstuffs
Twenty years to the month after the Wigram Air Base had its
formal closure parade in 1995, a new family owned-and-operated New
World supermarket is set to take off in its place, officially
opening on 30 September at 'The Landing' development at Wigram
Skies.
Wigram New World owners James and Karen Backhouse have plenty of
experience when it comes to running supermarkets, having been the
former owners of New World Northside in Oamaru, and Four Square in
Wanaka.
"We absolutely love supermarkets, having worked in the business
throughout the South Island together for over eight years. We're
really passionate about providing fresh produce and quality
products to our customers - that's really important to us.
"My Cantabrian wife Karen grew up in Darfield, so we're looking
forward to putting down our family roots and have our two children
grow up in the wonderful Wigram community. Our kids love to play
shop, and our nine-year-old daughter even has her own checkout
uniform to dress up in!" says James Backhouse.
The customer shopping experience has always remained top of mind
for the husband-wife team, from placing items in logical areas,
double-height ceilings to enhance the sense of space, to a barista
in the entranceway, enabling shoppers to enjoy a hot coffee as they
browse the aisles.
Roger Davidson, General Manager Property and Retail Development,
Foodstuffs South Island says that the latest 2,600m2 New World
supermarket in the South-West of Christchurch will create more than
100 new jobs for Cantabrians in the community.
"New World Wigram has many environmentally-friendly features,
such as LED lighting, CO2 refrigeration, natural light panels in
the ceiling and Foodstuff's new recyclable plastic meat trays in
the butchery. We're proud of our commitment to reducing our stores'
carbon footprint, and this has been considered since the initial
design process," says Mr Davidson.
The opening of Wigram New World supermarket is part of the first
stage of the Ngai Tahu Property Ltd development called The
Landing.
Details for the opening of New World Wigram on Wednesday 30
September are:
8.30am Welcome Speech from Roger
Davidson, GM Property & Retail Development
Response from James and Karen
Backhouse, Owner-Operators
Speech from Deputy Mayor Vicki
Buck
Cutting of the Ribbon - James, Karen
and Deputy Mayor Vicki Buck
9.00am Supermarket opens to
customers
