New World IGA store opens at Damodar City Centre on Grantham Road yesterday. Inset: New World Ltd chief executive, Anil Patel, Goodman Fielder general manager Fiji, Chris Zaayman and New World IGA general manager operations, Peter Moore in the store. Photo: PAULINI RATULAILAI.
By RANOBA BAOA
One of the country’s premium supermarket chains yesterday opened what is said to be a New Generation Store. This is a first of its kind in Fiji at the new Damodar City Centre along Grantham Road.
New World Ltd successfully opened its $3 million-investment, flagship New World IGA (Independent Grocers Association, USA) affiliated store.
This followed New World’s acquisition of the Master Franchise from the brand to bring Fiji the 21st Century as far as supermarket operations are concerned.
New World Ltd chief executive, Anil Patel said their decision to acquire the brand was in the ‘difference’ as well as to keep ahead of competition.
“We reckon there’s a market for it. IGA is the point of difference that we’ve got with the competition,” Mr Patel explained.
“It lifts the entire game of supermarket operations in the country offering better services and products.”
Additionally, he said bringing the world renowned IGA brand would uplift staff standards.
“It provides the opportunity in terms of training and the know-how as well as tapping into staff capability and resources.”
‘Buying power’
New World IGA general manager operations Peter Moore said acquiring the franchise meant ‘buying power’ in the market.
“It means that the variety of products we have in our store is quite large compared to normal Fijian supermarkets,” Mr Moore said.
“For example, normal Fijian supermarkets are around about 5000-6000 schematics, actually products. Big supermarkets are 9000 schematics.
“So it’s a significant paradigm shift away from supermarkets you normally see.”
“We have a lot of variety of products in the fresh produce that you normally wouldn’t have running through to our dairy chilling areas back through to meat delicatessen and we also a have a fish bar.”
Location
And being the only supermarket in the centre, certainly gives the company the added advantage in Laucala Bay’s prime location.
“The area and the surrounding district and the hub of this particular district, it’ll make a huge difference to the consumers especially the look around the area, the universities.
“The fact that the shopping centre’s going to bring a churn-factor because there’s so many different varieties of stores and I think it will have a significant impact on other areas within proximity of this store.”
Investment
Mr Moore said: “We’ve actually bought the franchise so we’ve actually invested into it and what it enables us to do is that buying power.
“What we can actually do is we can actually procure products at a cheaper product than most others would be able to in Fiji because of that buying power.
“So that makes a significant difference to the consumer and give them a lot more options than what they’ve had in the past.
Next model
The next model for the New General Store will be in Nakasi which is expected to open around February/March with an investment of also around $3 million.
“Nakasi will be a better store again,” he said.
“So what we see here- down the track- Nakasi then you’ll have a significant change to look out for Nakasi and that will be the and that will be the consistent sort of look and feel of the store in future in Fiji,” Mr Moore said.