Kirikiriroa’s first social supermarket has officially opened its doors, giving Waikato families experiencing financial hardship access to affordable food, choice-based shopping, and wraparound support services.
Te Kāpata Kai o Kirikiriroa, or Kirikiriroa’s Cupboard, operated by Tamariki Tū Tamariki Ora (Kirikiriroa Family Services Trust), opened on Norton Road following months of planning and collaboration between community organisations, local businesses and volunteers.
Tamariki Tū Tamariki Ora Chief Executive Jaye Wainui said the opening fulfilled a long-held vision for the organisation and the community it serves.
"This is about much more than access to affordable food. It's about helping families feel supported, connected and empowered, while ensuring they can access the wider services and assistance they may need,” said Wainui.
"We're grateful to Foodstuffs North Island, PAK'nSAVE Mill Street and our community partners, who have stood alongside us throughout this journey and generously shared their time, expertise and resources to help bring this vision to life."
The social supermarket is the first of its kind in Waikato and marked Foodstuffs North Island's fifteenth social supermarket partnership across the North Island.
Designed to provide a more dignified alternative to traditional food support, the social supermarket has enabled eligible families to shop for groceries and essential items using a points-based system, while also connecting them with budgeting advice, social services and other support designed to strengthen long-term wellbeing.
Foodstuffs North Island Chief Executive, Chris Quin said social supermarkets demonstrated what could be achieved when communities worked together to support those doing it tough.
"Social supermarkets are about more than food. They're about providing dignity, choice and practical support for people who need it most,” said Quin.
"As a co-operative of locally owned stores, supporting our communities is part of who we are. Our owner-operators and store teams are deeply connected to the places they serve, and we're proud to support Tamariki Tū Tamariki Ora as they bring this important service to Waikato families."
As the local buddy store, PAK'nSAVE Mill Street has played a key role in helping bring the social supermarket to life.
Over recent weeks, team members have volunteered their time to assemble shelving, stock displays, complete ticketing, prepare the store for opening, and help establish a future māra kai to supplement the fresh produce available through the social supermarket.
PAK'nSAVE Mill Street Store Manager Akash Charles said supporting the project was an easy decision, as it was about much more than putting food on shelves.
"Our team has gotten behind this project because it's helping local families in our community,” said Charles.
“Some of our team understand firsthand from their own childhoods the challenges that can come with getting food on the table and making ends meet. Seeing the supermarket open today and ready to welcome people through the doors is something we're incredibly proud of."
Foodstuffs North Island will continue supporting Te Kāpata Kai o Kirikiriroa through training, operational expertise and ongoing mentoring as the social supermarket becomes established in the community.
More from Foodstuffs North Island here
