Over 30 years ago, the Chilly Box store was founded as a way to sell product overruns from a separate business. The founding family’s third generation now owns the venture that started as a way to minimise food waste. The business mission remains to ensure no food is wasted and that families can access quality products at affordable prices.
Anita Oliver is the Manager of Chilly Box, she has spent 15 years in the food and fuel retail sector, and as a mum of four, groceries remain a big part of her life. The store has an excellent team environment that allowed Oliver to learn about the food industry, running a family business and what kiwi households need right now.
Chilly Box stocks various products, including staples such as milk, bread, snack foods, and other dairy items. Kiwis' love for pies does not go unnoticed in the store, with savoury items and dairy products being the most highly requested by customers. A lot of time and effort goes into sourcing affordable products for customers - the store proactively reaches out to new suppliers and relies on word of mouth. Whatever customers are after, Chilly Box will find.
The store itself is light, bright and open. Instead of shelving, chest freezers feature down the middle of the shop, so all the products are visible. It is a simple but effective layout that sees excellent product turnover. Anything that doesn’t sell goes to charity or households in need.
Oliver noted the wide range of customers the store appeals to. Both young and old customers, alongside locals with a short drive and those who drive three hours for a fortnightly visit.
“We have some customers that have been with us since the doors opened in the 1980s - we love seeing them coming in and being able to chat,” said Oliver.
Kids get a lolly to keep them entertained while they visit, and the store runs activities during the school holidays to take some pressure off parents in the store. Competitions to win fuel vouchers, family activities, and grocery hampers are frequently run to help in these times of need. Customers are also offered a free mystery product at the checkout when they spend over $40.
“Our customers appreciate the effort we put in to give them a great old-fashioned service: great experiences and great products at affordable prices.”
The main challenge facing the store at the moment is getting products delivered due to nationwide logistics delays and staff shortages. Chilly Box navigates the uncertainties like many other businesses - the best they can. However, something the store is excited about is the required grocery wholesale. Oliver hopes it will allow them to expand the product range. In the long term, the store's original investors hope to see the business prosper in provincial and regional towns across the country.
“I love seeing the great deals we can supply our customers, especially during these hard times. I love to see that our customers can walk out of this shop with quality products and a full trolley for a fraction of the price they would pay in conventional supermarkets. It is really important to this company to be able to help supply food for people’s families without the financial strain, concluded Oliver.
