Astin Parore has always been passionate about making everyday tasks easier.
The idea for Mr Grocer came from his experiences working as a supermarket delivery driver in the Auckland CBD.
“One day, I struggled to carry multiple grocery bags up a large flight of stairs, the tweed handles painfully dug into my hands, and I thought, 'There has to be a better way.' That’s when the idea for The CarryBuddy was born,” said Parore, founder of Mr Grocer.
“I wanted to create a tool that makes carrying groceries and other heavy items more comfortable and efficient for everyone.”
Parore had seen many customers struggling. He said they couldn’t take all their bags from the lobby to their apartment and did not want to leave them unattended. The handles on bags were also uncomfortable for elderly people and those with arthritis. He would always step in to help but wondered how he could fix this issue.
“With the CarryBuddy, all those issues disappear and carrying becomes a breeze. The CarryBuddy isn’t just a product; it’s a game changer. Once people try it, they never go back. It’s a product for the people, designed around real struggles and solutions.”
He said that customers have loved the product because it has made their lives easier in a simple yet impactful way. It has been an excellent display of innovation for the consumer, built to solve a problem that so many people did not even realise could be fixed.
“At Mr Grocer, small innovations can make a big difference, helping people regain convenience, independence, and ease in their everyday routines.”
The process began when Parore started sketching and creating prototypes. He spent a lot of time refining the design and testing different materials to ensure they were both strong and comfortable.
Read Parore's full story in the latest issue of Supermarket News here
