After months of speculation over the future of the site on the corner of State Highway 1 and Hudson Road, details of the build have finally been released. But not by the interested party Foodstuffs.
Retail tenancy leasing agent Colliers has confirmed that Warkworth will be getting a Pak’n’Save supermarket.
Mahurangi Matters has repeatedly asked Foodstuffs for information on the new supermarket over the last two years, only to be told that nothing was confirmed. This is despite earthworks starting last year and high wooden construction piles now being in the ground.
Colliers, who are based in Auckland’s CBD, are sole agents for marketing the retail tenancies that will be part of the complex. They have apparently been seeking expressions of interest from established retailers since August last year.
The Pak’n’Save they describe has a 5500 sqm footprint with 450-plus carparks, and flexible tenancy size options from 90sqm to 200sqm within a 560sqm total.
A café, grab-and-go, convenience and service retailers, professional services and health and beauty operators are on their list of suitable tenants.
They also advise the build will be completed late this year.
Signage that has recently appeared at the entrance to the site confirms the construction as a Pak’n’Save with three tenancy buildings, but little else.
Emma Wooster, a member of Foodstuffs media team, confirms these details, but says due to commercial considerations they can’t release any other details, including who the owner/operator of the franchise supermarket might be.
Surprisingly, One Mahurangi Business Association manager Murray Chapman also doesn’t know much about the development, and it hasn’t been raised at the Transport Forum the group is involved with.
Chapman finds it strange and possibly shows a bit of arrogance on the owner’s part not to be more open about the development, with what will be their local community.
“Retail is a people business, even more so in a small town. Businesses that get the involved get the most community support back,” he says.
