Foodstuffs North Island, the 102-year-old, 100 percent New Zealand-owned and operated co-operative of grocers behind PAK'nSAVE, New World, Four Square and Gilmours stores, has partnered with Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira to open Porirua's first social supermarket.
Named Te Umu ki Rangituhi, the social supermarket will provide access to essential groceries at low or no cost, utilising a points system within a conventional supermarket setting, ensuring accessibility to healthy and affordable food for the community.
Whānau using Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira social services will be supported to access the supermarket and will be able to choose the groceries that best meet the needs of their whānau.
The new store will be a safe space, without judgement and with much support.
Both the Rūnanga and Foodstuffs North Island recognise the challenges people face from time to time. The hope is that supporting people with positive opportunities will create a positive effect. The Rūnanga has been operating a Pātaka Kai, providing food parcels to families in need for many years. The team supports up to 160 whānau with monthly emergency food provisions. Te Umu ki Rangituhi will provide an alternate option for whānau
including broader wraparound social service support.
"Many families are finding it tough, and with the ongoing cost of living crisis, more and more people are struggling with several rising costs," said Chris Quin, Chief Executive of Foodstuffs North Island.
"We've committed to being Here for New Zealand, and one of the best ways we've found to support New Zealanders who can't participate in retail for some time is to partner with local community organisations with a meaningful, long-term impact on their communities."
He continued that nearly three years ago, Foodstuffs partnered with the Wellington City Mission to set up New Zealand's first social supermarket, and it was humbling that it had now opened number ten while supporting 25,000 families along the way.
"Ngāti Toa is about creating solutions to support our hapori," said Helmut Modlik, Chief Executive of Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira.
"We're excited to launch an initiative with a partner organisation who sees the vision, shares our values, and enables opportunities to support community wellbeing and equity."
Modlik said that it has been a financially difficult time for whānau, and where Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira can lean in and provide support, it will.
"We want a thriving city and a great place to live. To do this, we need to ensure that everyone in our city has access to necessities, including access to kai."
Te Umu ki Rangituhi aims to create an environment and safe space to support whānau needing access to kai. This supermarket is part of a broader vision the Rūnanga has to address issues such as food poverty.
Foodstuffs North Island is the New Zealand-owned co-operative behind the North Island's PAK'nSAVE, New World, Four Square and Gilmour's stores. Being 100 percent locally owned, the co-op has committed to being 'Here for NZ' and has promised to help all New Zealanders access healthy, affordable food and support local communities to thrive.
Willa Hand, Social Supermarket Lead for Foodstuffs North Island, said Foodstuffs was a co-operative of local grocers, so supermarkets and retail is what it's good at. Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira is in the community, improving lives and making a difference. That's its superpower.
"As partners, our teams bring the expertise to create the store. We provide ongoing training and support and help keep the shelves stocked," said Hand.
"Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira make sure the store is right for their local community, caters to their needs, and their mahi will provide an awesome service. We're in it together."
Foodstuffs North Island opened its first social supermarket in partnership with Wellington City Council in March 2021. The co-op has now partnered with community organisations to open social supermarkets right across the North Island, with Te Umu ki Rangituhi
becoming number ten.
In addition to providing food support, Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira also offers wraparound services to help people access additional support. Housing, employment, training, social services, and mental health help address the underlying causes of food poverty and promote overall wellbeing.
New World Tawa and Gilmours Wellington will act as buddy stores under the guidance of local owner-operators Ashleigh & Scott Jackson and Matt Humphries, providing ongoing support and training to ensure the social supermarket's success.
