Whakatāne social supermarket Whare Āio has been given an NZD 80,000 boost to help strengthen food support for local families, thanks to funding from Foodstuffs North Island’s Here for NZ Foundation.
New World Whakatāne owner-operators Bruce and Kirsty Jenkins officially presented the cheque to Whare Āio during a community presentation attended by Whakatāne Mayor Nándor Tánczos and East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick.
Whare Āio opened in July 2024 through a partnership between Waiariki Whānau Mentoring and Foodstuffs North Island, with New World Whakatāne as its local buddy store.
The social supermarket has provided a dignified, grocery shop-style experience for those experiencing food hardship, allowing people to choose the food and groceries they need in a familiar supermarket environment, rather than receiving a food parcel.
For the Jenkins’, supporting Whare Āio meant backing a service that can make a tangible difference in the community they call home.
“This is the strength of the co-operative owned by local grocers. On our own, an NZD 80,000 donation would be very difficult. Together with other owner-operators across the North Island, we can pool our resources and back projects that make a real difference in communities like Whakatane,” said Bruce Jenkins.
“As local business owners, we’re proud to invest back into the community we live and work in. Through the co-operative, we can support initiatives like Whare Aio in a way that would be much harder for a single store alone.”
Whare Āio uses a points-based system, allowing shoppers to select groceries according to their household’s needs. It has become a strong example of what can happen when local organisations, businesses and the wider community come together around a shared purpose.
More from Foodstuffs North Island here
