Four Square Te Puna has undergone a major transformation and has officially opened its doors to the community this month.
When Pritesh and Dipti Bhikha first came across Four Square Te Puna in 2009, they knew they had found something special.
Now the revamped Four Square Te Puna marks the next chapter for the community hub. Nearly twice the size, the new store offers more choice for locals, with a bigger produce section, improved butchery and seafood, more fresh and convenient options, and an expanded range of ready-to-eat favourites.
I had the privilege of working with the couple on the shelving fitout for the store. What struck me from the beginning was how clearly they understood what they were building and why. I had the opportunity to ask them about their vision for the new store at the grand opening.
The community had been telling them for years that it needed more. More fresh produce. More hot food. A range that meant the drive to Tauranga was optional, not necessary.
“They didn't want to drive all the way to Tauranga,” said Dipti Bhikha.
“So going bigger was the next step, so that we could cater to all their needs. Becoming their one-stop shop.”
Therefore, the Bhikhas decided to go bigger, roughly doubling the floor space from around 300 sqm to 622 sqm and the number of product lines from around 2,000 to 5,000.
“For us, making the decision that we couldn’t cater to the entire community in our old store. So going bigger was the next step so that we could cater to all their needs,” said Pritesh Bhikha.
The clarity of purpose shaped everything about how the project was approached, from early supplier engagement to straight answers regarding every stage.
Working with an operator who brought that kind of rigour to a project made it easier to do my job well. I also learned the value of transparency and clear communication in a supplier relationship.
Dipti told me that all of the suppliers had been very good at communicating, even though the planning went on for so long. Pritesh added that the contractors were pretty good with them, especially on site and in terms of keeping everyone safe; they’ve been great.
At the same time, the couple told me they wished they’d known about the challenges of dealing with the council and the paperwork. However, their staff has been very supportive, and so has the community.
Read more from Sam McHardy, Commercial Manager at Volume in the latest issue here
