Four Square Raglan is a local institution, where customers love to catch up and have a yarn whilst completing their shopping.
Owner-operator Satnam Bains' vision for the store has been to make it a modern, high-performing local store that continues to evolve with the community.
He said this meant innovating in ways that matter locally, from smarter systems that keep shelves full during busy long weekends to better forecasting, especially in the peak of summer, and a product range that continues to champion local growers and artisan suppliers such as Dreamview Creamery, Raglan Floral Co, Raglan Artisan Bread, Workshop Brewery, Raglan Chocolate, Raglan Coconut Yogurt as well as Soul Food Farms.
Customers in Raglan have always had a strong interest in organic and whole foods, and Bains has observed growth in this category alongside interest in health, sustainability, and clean-label products.
“We focus on stocking products customers actually use rather than overstocking,” said Bains.
Bains said demand for plant-based meat alternatives has softened compared to just a couple of years ago.
So whilst the plant-based and sustainable categories are well established in the store, the team has continued to refine these ranges based on customer feedback and buying patterns, while staying realistic about what works in a small-format, high-turnover coastal store. Another growth area has been e-commerce.
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