Tokomaru Bay has just welcomed Mike Turney, who, after almost 20 years of working in supermarkets, took the reins as the new Owner Operator of Four Square Tokomaru Bay last week.
Turney began his journey with Foodstuffs as a New World Grocery Assistant at 13 years old and said becoming a first-time Owner Operator was a dream come true.
"I began my career working part-time at New World Matamata under Ewan Atherton. When I left for University studies in Auckland and later Hamilton, I still worked in supermarkets, PAK'nSAVE Sylvia Park and New World Heaphy Terrace. During this time, the idea of store ownership caught my interest," said Turney.
He said that he had reached out to Foodstuffs employee Ewan who sold him on the ownership journey, leading Turney to head back to New World Matamata to get stuck into learning the ropes and completing his studies extramurally.
Four Square attracted Turney through its integral role in the local community and how each one is as unique as the area and people it serves.
"There's no cookie-cutter approach here. Four Square Tokomaru Bay is a full-service supermarket that offers a bit of everything done well, including a Butchery, Pharmacy distribution, Postal Services, an ATM and even a gas station."
Four Square Tokomaru Bay provides many different types of services to all of its community. These services are more vital than ever, particularly in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle.
Turney and his partner Chelsea, who many in the Tokomaru Bay community will know from her role behind the counter at Muirs Bookshop, have lived in Gisborne for ten years and are both excited about their move up the East Coast.
Having spent the last two years working alongside Sam Wanklyn and the team at Four Square Wainui Road, which underwent a significant renovation programme during his time there, Turney was excited about his new opportunity.
He continued that the last few years had been ones of significant change at the store as the team worked through the challenges of extensive renovations, but Turney said that nothing could have prepared them for the shock of Cyclone Gabrielle.
"It's where the co-op's power swung into action, supporting hard-hit communities and getting us back up and trading as soon as possible."
Turney joined the store's effort to work with suppliers to get stuck into the city and ensure the community was fed.
Gisborne was isolated and without communications for most of the week after Gabrielle hit. However, Turney said his store was only closed for a day before it returned to semi-normal operations within a week.
Turney also acknowledged the teams and people he has worked alongside at PAK'nSAVE Gisborne and Four Square Wainui Road over the last decade.
"I couldn't be more grateful to the people and teams I've been a part of here in Gisborne. They've all supported Chelsea and me and prepared me for my next career stage. Without their support, none of this would've been possible."
Being part of the Tokomaru Bay community is a top priority for Mike, who intends to train to become a volunteer firefighter. Mike and Chelsea also plan to support local organisations in the surrounding area.
Turney shared that he and his partner Chelsea had lived in the Tairāwhiti region for about a decade and that this region had given the couple so much, and they were looking forward to giving back and serving such an incredible community.
