New Four Square Britomart brings neighbourhood feel to downtown Auckland
2 November 2023
Mark Coulston, owner operator of New Zealand’s newest supermarket, cutting the ribbon to open Four Square Britomart
Four Square Britomart by the numbers:
- 12 new roles created
- 600 sqm building
- 8 self-checkouts
- 2 operator checkouts
- 6 aisles
New Zealand’s newest supermarket, Four Square Britomart, opened its doors in downtown Auckland today bringing a refreshed, ultra-modern store design to a 99-year-old brand while maintaining the classic ‘Cheeky Charlie’ neighbourhood atmosphere.
The new store features Four Square’s largest grab-and-go food counter, as well as a quality selection of grocery essentials and fresh favourites, catering to the bustling community of inner-city workers, commuters and residents.
Located on the ground floor of the heritage-listed Hayman Kronfeld Building, between Customs St East and Galway St, the 600 sqm store is easily accessible to the corporate lunch crowd, people passing through, or those heading home via the nearby Britomart Train Station, bus or ferry.
For the new store’s owner operator, Mark Coulston, the opening marks a significant milestone.
Coulston started his Foodstuffs career in 2018, when he joined the team at PAK’nSAVE Silverdale as a Grocery Assistant. Five years later he became owner operator of Four Square Houhora Wharf – 70 kilometres south of Cape Reinga - the northern-most store in the Foodstuffs North Island co-operative, serving a community of approximately 1,000 people.
Coulston says despite the massive change; from running a small store in a small coastal town to a mini-supermarket in New Zealand’s largest city, some aspects will remain constant.
“The way we serve our community will never change,” he says. “That’s with honesty, humility and a fine attention to what our local customers want the most.”
“Months of planning have gone into tailoring Four Square Britomart to best serve the needs of our community and I’m sure they’ll be happy with the results.”
The store’s modern layout features six aisles, two operator check-outs, eight self check-outs, as well as an impressive selection of mouth-watering options for morning teas and lunches. Customers can buy barista-made Flight Coffee and Daily Bread pastries and enjoy them on the outdoor seating on Galway Street.
For those on the go, convenient selections include Dedwood Deli sandwiches, pizza, chicken and chips, fresh YB Sushi and a build-your-own salad bar. The store also has catering options for corporate needs and from its second week of trading, will offer Uber Eats delivery.
Catering for refreshing treats, Scooptopia is a collaboration with Kāpiti Ice Cream which will run over the summer months, offering customers the chance to indulge on their favourite Kāpiti ice cream, complete with decadent toppings and fresh strawberries drizzled in gooey melted chocolate.
“There’s something here for everyone to enjoy, whether they want super convenient, super indulgent or super healthy – all at affordable prices,” Coulston says.
Foodstuffs North Island Chief Executive, Chris Quin says the new Four Square Britomart – the first time a Four Square has opened in downtown Auckland - is an example of how the co-op and its members are constantly investing for its changing communities.
“Our co-operative is 100% New Zealand owned and operated, and every year we invest about $100 million into building new stores and redeveloping older stores to ensure Kiwis in every community across the motu have access to fresh food and essentials right on their doorstep.”
Four Square Britomart is the 12th new site opened by Foodstuffs North Island in 2023, and the sixth Four Square, following openings in Mount Maunganui in October, Waverley in September, Onehunga in July, Te Kowhai in May and Eden Terrace in January.
Each new Four Square has been built to the latest specifications, which Foodstuffs is rolling out nationwide. This new format prioritises fresh produce, technology and competitive prices.
“Each store is designed, configured and stocked based on its local community. While the brand experience needs to be consistent across Four Square stores, each location has its own unique needs and customer shopping habits that its local owner caters for” says Quin.
“This latest investment in Four Square Britomart will give inner city customers, including tourists, a friendly and iconic local shopping experience that’s right up there with the best grocery stores in New Zealand and around the world.”
Four Square Britomart will be open from 7am to 8pm, seven days a week.