Celia Jenkins had always wanted to open a food shop with a unique atmosphere. Having a background in arts and marketing, she enjoyed a creative challenge and was inspired to open a small deli-grocery named The Grocer.
Having spent many holidays with her grandmother in the Wairarapa village of Martinborough, Jenkins felt a strong affinity with the place she has now called home. Situated in the heart of the village’s Petit Hotel heritage building, The Grocer has been known for its exceptional honey, olive oils, and artisan food producers since 2017.
“I have a long association with Martinborough and wanted to contribute something to the town. It was essential to be in the main retail area, ideally in a particular block. I contacted building owners and retailers and found a retailer ready to hand over their lease in the perfect building,” said Jenkins.
“I did the design myself, focusing on a couple of strong contrasting colours with wooden shelving and counter. There wasn't a lot of fit-out, but friends and family helped with painting and set up.”
Her plan for the business has been to keep evolving to meet customers' unique needs as Martinborough is both a tourist destination and a popular place to live. She added that the small team at The Grocer provided personalised service to every customer, chatting about what's in the shop or helping tourists who asked where to get the best coffee, food, or wine.
Read Jenkins' full story in the latest issue of Supermarket News here
