Keystores moves into rural areas

Press, 4 September 1982, Page 21

Keystores moves into rural areas

Keystores had opened two grocery stores in predominantly rural areas, the Keystores operations manager. Mr T. P. Turton, told shareholders at the annual meeting of Dingwall and Paulger, Ltd, yesterday. The rural move by the grocery retailing division of Dingwall and Paulger was different from the Keystores pattern in the past. One store had been opened at Waikaka, 26km north of Gore, which had a population of 126 in a wealthy farming area, and "it had been doing well." Mr Turton said. The other new store was at Orawia, 19km north-east of Tuatapere, also in a good farming area. The town had had the distinction of having

“the largest country store in New Zealand.” Today Keystores would also be moving its Otautau store. 50km from Invercargill, to new premises in the same town, which included a hardware business, the first time the division had got involved with the “nuts and bolts” side of hardware trading. he said. “Shareholders might think that we are only concentrating on the southern area of the South Island, but we hope to have more exciting developments (in other regions) early next year.” The chairman, Mr A. A. Dingwall, said that since the April 30 balance date turnover was still at a reasonable level — 11.12 per cent up on the same period last

year. How the price freeze would affect Dingwall and Paulger was difficult to judge in the long term, he said. “I believe we can keep liquidity at a satisfactory level,” he said. The group Would be taking new economic opportunities when they came. There were two imperatives for Dingwall and Paulger to concentrate on. First, the group must retain its market share and second, management skills needed to be excellent. “The directors are confident that we can achieve these goals,” Mr Dingwall said.