A brand new Four Square has opened in Waverley, South Taranaki. Owned and operated by long-time Waverley local Steven Dowman and wife Rosalie, the new and improved Four Square has been designed in the latest "4.0" format of the brand that's been around for 99 years.
The 4.0 stores being rolled out nationwide showcase the new Four Square brand identity, a contemporary layout designed for convenience and ease, premium local partnerships, self-service checkouts, and food-to-go options. All new Four Square stores offer the same core items, with specific products tailored to their community.
Four Square Waverley will offer all the essential grocery items: barista-made coffee, hot chicken and chips, pies, natural fruit ice cream, and fresh sweets such as doughnuts and slices.
Owner Operator Steven Dowman said Four Square was one of the country's longest-standing brands and was developing some of the most excellent new stores for local communities.
"We've got a full grocery store now, which will be amazing for the community. It's a 100-kilometre round trip to either Hāwera or Whanganui, so doing a full shop in town will bring a new level of convenience for locals and save a bit of time and petrol," said Dowman.
"We value customer feedback and will keep adding and removing products depending on what people want us to stock."
In addition to the in-store changes, Dowman is addressing another key issue many locals have voiced concerns over - parking. With the original Four Square Waverley built in 1934, demolition of the old store will begin immediately, with the space being repurposed into a car park with 14 off-street parking spaces available.
Dowman said the extra parking was the most exciting change.
Four Square is all about community, superior service and a deep-rooted community mindset. It's what sets the retailer apart and gives it an advantage.
Dowman has spent the last ten years growing his store into one of the busiest Four Squares in the North Island, no small feat for a town with a modest population of 800 people.
In 2019, recognising the need for a significant expansion due to the store's growing popularity, Dowman said it was time to invest in building an entirely new supermarket right next door.
"What we've got now is a complete and total upgrade that suits the community's needs far better than any renovation could have achieved."
Dowman continued that his customer base has grown to over 5,000 weekly visitors, and the Four Square Waverly owed it to these customers to give them a great shopping experience continually.
Foodstuffs North Island is a 100 percent New Zealand-owned co-operative of local grocery retailers. Each grocer owns and operates a New World, PAK'nSAVE or Four Square store in their community.
Four Square Waverley is the tenth new site opening for the co-operative this year, with the most recent new store being Four Square Onehunga, which opened in July.
Dowman runs the supermarket alongside his wife, Rosalie, who manages the administrative side of the business.
"I'm immensely proud of the team we've built over the years."
"Their dedication and familiarity with the community is something extraordinary."
The new Four Square Waverley is a stone's throw from the original 50 Weraroa Road, Waverley 4510 store. Opening hours are 6 am to 7 pm on weekdays and 7 am to 7 pm on weekends.
