PAK’nSAVE Albany’s multi-year renovation is complete, with the revitalised store offering locals a state-of-the-art shopping experience, an updated product range and a renewed focus on sustainability.
Owner-operator Jason Witehira, who began his career as a Retail Assistant at New World Edmund Road when he was a teenager, took the helm as owner of PAK’nSAVE Albany in 2021, bringing with him more than 30 years of supermarket experience with the locally owned Foodstuffs co-op.
He said the renovation was one of the first tasks he assigned himself after taking ownership of the store.
"It was a big call to take on a renovation of this size on day one, but I immediately saw there was potential here and really believed that our customers would respond well to an improved store,” he said.
Inside, PAK’nSAVE Albany’s redesigned layout welcomes customers through an expanded entrance that now features a cafe serving barista coffee, with a variety of freshly made treats like breakfast muffins and hot chicken and chips, and a customer service desk with Lotto.
“Previously, all the fresh produce sections were more spread out, but we wanted to make it easier for customers to pop between them and find their fresh favourites in one place,” Witehira said.
“The fruit and vege section now leads seamlessly into bakery, deli, seafood and butchery, centralising all the fresh produce, making it easier than ever to navigate the large store.”
In the frozen and chilled sections, the refrigeration units have been replaced. The new fridges use sustainable and renewable CO2 gas, reducing the store’s carbon footprint.
“Sustainability is extremely important to our customers, so we knew reducing our carbon emissions needed to be a key consideration in the renovations,” Witehira added.
Beyond the in-store changes, the car park has been expanded and newly paved, allowing customers to access a drive-through click-and-collect to pick up their online order groceries. Other additions include upgraded gas pumps, LED lights, security cameras, and a soon-to-be-installed EV charging station.
The only shopping click-and-collect service has proven particularly popular among customers, with one long-term shopper praising the pickup crew for their friendly service and for always remembering their name.
“Each time I visit, I am greeted with genuine smiles and a warmth that brightens my day,” one customer said.
“It's a refreshing experience that makes every visit a pleasure.”
Withira expressed gratitude to customers and his team at PAK’nSAVE Albany for their support during the transformation.
“I want to acknowledge my entire team and our amazing customers who've been right there with us as we worked through all the construction and changes.”
Now, with the hard work behind them, he said it's been great to start receiving feedback from locals.
“People have been emailing us to say they’ve been enjoying the click-and-collect service, the store is looking beautiful and fresh, and it’s easier than ever to find what they're looking for. I’m so happy that our customers are pleased with the changes. To those who haven't visited us recently, I'd encourage you to come and have a look for yourselves. There genuinely isn’t a single inch of the store that hasn’t been revitalised.”
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