After more than 20 years working in supermarkets, Darryl and Kellie Cooper have become the new local owners of Four Square Mangawhai Heads.
The couple have brought extensive grocery experience and a simple focus, serving their community and creating a welcoming store for locals and visitors alike.
When Kellie Cooper took a checkout supervisor role at PAK'nSAVE Whakatāne 18 years ago, she wasn't expecting to meet her future husband. At the time, Darryl Cooper was the store's grocery manager.
The couple has spent more than 20 years building their careers in supermarkets, working their way through a range of roles across several North Island stores and gaining experience in customer service, buying, store leadership and operations.
Along the way, they worked with a number of respected owner-operators, including Quintin Proctor of PAK'nSAVE Wairau Road, whose strong focus on people and community helped shape their own approach to store ownership.
With encouragement from Proctor and longtime owner-operator friends Hamish and Ally Bell and Mark Oliver, Darryl Cooper completed Foodstuffs' ownership development programme before successfully applying for Four Square Mangawhai Heads.
Since being approved as owner-operators in June this year, the couple has spent time getting to know the team and their customers and has focused on continuing the store’s community connections.
Supporting organisations such as Surf Life Saving Mangawhai Heads, the Mangawhai Fire Brigade, St John Ambulance, and Te Whai Community Trust was a priority, alongside getting involved in local events throughout the year.
Inside the store, their focus has been on creating a welcoming shopping experience, continuing to refine the range based on customer feedback and bringing Scooptopia, Four Square's own ice cream parlour, to Mangawhai Heads in time for summer.
After more than 20 years working side by side in the grocery industry, the couple was grateful for the opportunity to own their first store together.
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