Four years planning and co-operation One-stop shopping

Press, 14 January 1986, Page 9

Four years planning and co-operation One-stop shopping

Re-development in Rangiora’s commercial area has taken a further step forward with the opening of a Supervalue supermarket in Alfred Street today. The 1000 sq m building, built for GUS Wholesalers Co-operative Society, Ltd, is the result of some four years of planning and much co-operation between GUS, Rangiora Farmers’ and the Rangiora Borough Council. The complex, built at a cost of SI.4M which includes plant and fittings and car parking area, brings the number of Supervalue stores in the South Island to 35. The stores spread from Nelson, through to South Canterbury and Westland.

Rangiora represents an expansion into the North Canterbury area, and puts greater emphasis on the relationship that GUS has had with the Rangiora district for many years.

It has served the district for many years through

various small retail outlets in Rangiora and Woodend. The development, at the rear of the Rangiora Fanners, transpired from conversation between GUS and the directors of the’ Rangiora Farmers’ who were aware GUS was looking for a site in Rangiora. GUS expressed enthusiasm for a project if Rangiora Farmers could provide a suitable site.

The supermarket now stands on a site which was originally 850 sq m. The design-and-build brief to Fletcher Development and Construction drew on all the retailing experience of GUS, who concluded that despite the limitations of the site, the minimum economic size for the store would be 1000 sq m. It was hemmed in on three sides by other buildings and undefined titles. There was only one way to go — out towards the street, the solution being to re-

align the road. The project involved four properties and moving the road, an undertaking that the Rangiora Borough Council was prepared to act on provided the requirements of the Local Government Act 1974 could be satisfied. There followed a series of legal steps designated to ensure no other party would be adversely affected; a process that took considerable time.

The end result being that the way was clear for the Fletcher design which extended three metres beyond the original road frontage building line. The second major challenge was a design that amalgamated the new store into existing structures on site and adjacent to it. According to the GUS corporate administration manager, Mr Nelson Kennedy, the buildings were constructed like fortresses. Good relations with

Rangiora Farmers’ department store led to an agreement to create shopper walkways between the two stores by opening up the rear wall of the existing building. As well as creating a cumulative effect of combining the number of customers entering each store, the access also provides undercover shopping between Rangiora’s High Street and Alfred Street. “We have been fortunate to have the goodwill of a number of other parties in this venture and the organisational ability of Fletcher to call on,” said Mr Kennedy. The Rangiora Farmers’ lost its garden department temporarily in the venture. One of the partners, Mr Arch Still, said that one of the conditions that he and his partner, Mr Tim Freer, imposed on themselves was not to relinquish any department that the store had

prior to the development. Two old buildings on the corner of Alfred and Victoria Streets were also demolished to provide the required car-parking space, and some ancillary buildings on the supermarket site.

Along with the re-align-ment of the road by the Rangiora Borough Council, considerable work was also, carried out by the North Canterbury Electric Power Board. This work involved shifting two 11,000-volt underground cables before work could proceed with the foundations. A new supply was arranged for the Rangiora Farmers’ and into the

new building.

A 500 KW breakdown substation was built in the car park and all overhead reticulation from Alfred Street to the ANZ car park was taken down and all cabling put underground. All the street lighting in the area was renovated and lighting put in the car park.

Overhead lines from High Street, to Queen Street, in Victoria Street, were also removed. ■ The net effect of the development, which has taken about eight months, is a tidy, uncluttered street which provides easy access for people wishing to park and shop at a one stop shopping complex.

One stop shopping is now possible with the development adjoining the two businesses.

Customers will have easy access to both stores via a common entrance from Alfred Street, or through from High Street. Large car parking areas are available, some of which have been developed in conjunction with the Supervalue supermarket. About 150 parks are available from the Alfred Street entrance, making shopping free from the hassles of walking long distances to cars.

Including the supermarket, there are now 4200 sq m of retail space under the one roof. With this, not only are customers offered the extensive range of grocery items and other lines offered by the supermarket, but also a considerable range of products in the 37 departments within' the Rangiora Farmers.

Hardware, sports equipment, manchester, fabrics, home and electrical appliances, used appliances, motor mowers, china, kitchenware, stationery, lingerie, men’s and women’s clothing, cosmetics and furniture are some of the lines offered in the large tastfully laid out store.

For the very weary shopper or people wanting morning or afternoon tea or lunch, they can enjoy the comfort of the coffee bar tucked neatly into the middle of the retail area.

The home appliance section offers a full range of Fisher and Paykel, Kelvinator and National products, and a very obliging service centre with trained servicemen and after-sales service.

Rangiora Farmers also offers its customers the convenience of operating a monthly or option plan account. No deposit is necessary and payments can be

spread over five months. “We truly have a one stop shopping complex in Rangiora,” said a principal director of Rangiora Farmers, Mr Tim Freer. He said he was “thrilled” that the store could be associated with grocery lines again, as this depart-

ment had disappeared from the store some years ago. “This store had a history of food retailing and we felt that we wanted to restore it,” he said. “It was very popular — an institution. It’s closure left many people disappointed,” said Mr Freer. .