Snells Beach Superette

Food and the grocery trade comes naturally to Snells Beach’s newest business owner 33-year-old Kirit Patel.

Patel grew up on his family’s 20 hectare market garden in Gujarat, India. After immigrating to New Zealand 10 years ago, he worked as a checkout supervisor for three years at NewWorld Stonefields, before buying a Four Square in Stratford.

However, when a family tragedy left his sister a widow with a young son a few years ago, he sold the business to move closer to them and his family in Auckland.

Two years as a sales merchandiser for wholesale food supplier Goodman Fielder followed, before Patel decided to venture out on his own again.

Having travelled widely since arriving in the country and becoming a New Zealand citizen, the north appealed, particularly after visiting his cousin, who had the Matakana Dairy.

When he heard a retail tenant was wanted at the Snells Beach Medical Centre, he was keen to set up a superette business there.

Always close to his family, Patel along with his parents, sister and her son are all moving to Snells Beach for his new venture and plan to live there permanently.

Patel has kept up his horticultural skills, and family and friends benefited from the 50kg of peppers he helped grow this year.

Patel is a keen cricket supporter and has recently discovered the joys of fishing. He is looking forward to settling in at Snells Beach.