After three and a half challenging years, Four Square Waipawa has been rebuilt and is open for business. The new store is bigger and better than ever, offering the Central Hawke's Bay town a full-service supermarket once again.
The story began on 30 May 2021, when a fire started in the bakery oven’s flue, destroying the original store. Local Owner-Operators Graham and Rachel Williams recall the blaze.
"The fire was devastating. It wasn’t easy, and we definitely thought about packing up," says Rachel. "But Graham and I are passionate about serving our community. With the support of Waipawa, we knew we could rebuild and deliver a fantastic result for the community."
For over three years, the Williams family operated out of a small pop-up shop next door while the replacement store was being built. Now, the new store with its 560 square metres of retail space is officially open for business, representing a significant investment in the local community.
For Graham, the new store represents more than just a fresh start. “The reason I carried on, even after the fire, is because I love what I do. Meeting customers, hearing about their kids, having a chat - I love it. Plus, training staff and seeing them go on to pursue their dreams is awesome.”
Rachel shares the passion for the community. “My main goal is to deliver the best for our locals- great prices, quality products, and exceptional service. The support we’ve received after the fire and while operating from the pop-up shop has been overwhelming. Waipawa is an amazing, supportive place.”
Four Square Waipawa is part of the Foodstuffs North Island co-operative whose member families own and operate the North Island’s New World, PAK’nSAVE and Four Square stores.
The Williams family joined Foodstuffs 20 years ago, with Graham, a qualified baker, running the bakery department at PAK’nSAVE Tamatea. Five years later they became the owner-operators of Four Square Eastbrook in Whanganui before the couple made Waipawa their home a decade ago.
With the larger, fully equipped Four Square, locals no longer need to travel to Waipukurau for their full supermarket shop. Next, the old pop-up shop will be demolished, and the space will be converted into additional parking for customers.
"We’re incredibly grateful for the patience and support of the Waipawa community throughout this process," says Rachel. "We’re excited to serve you again in this beautiful new store."
Four Square Waipawa fast facts:
Over 5,000 products
In-store butchery and bakery, ensuring fresh, high-quality produce
3 team member-operated checkouts
2 self-scan checkouts
$4 million-dollar investment in the local community