McKibbon’s of Royalburn is a modern, independent grocery store built on a simple idea: connecting great local food with the people who want to eat it.
The store emerged following the transition from Raeward Fresh, when Foodstuffs South Island (FSSI) decided to step away from the brand and its associated stores.
“That moment created a unique opportunity for us to take ownership of the site and reimagine its future, shaping a store that is more aligned with the region, more responsive to customers, and more connected to the food it represents,” said Jono Ettema, owner-operator, McKibbons of Royalburn.
Since going independent, the biggest change has been the speed and clarity of decision-making, which has allowed the team to try new ideas, evolve the business without layers of approval and shape McKibbon’s into something that feels current, local, and aligned with how people want to shop today.
At the heart of McKibbon’s is its connection to Royalburn Station, alongside partners Nadia Lim and Carlos Bagrie. Ettema said that this relationship gave McKibbon’s a genuine farm-to-shelf story, not just a marketing angle.
It also allowed McKibbon’s to showcase provenance in a way that felt authentic, giving customers confidence in the source of their food.
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