Countdown has announced a brand new Metro store for Wānaka with a focus on making online shopping even easier in this growing community. Doors to the 140sqm store are expected to open before Christmas 2021, with preliminary works already underway on the Ardmore Street site.
The new Wānaka Metro will feature a drive-thru option for customers to easily pick up their online shopping orders alongside a small-sized supermarket with a curated grocery range. The store is expected to create 14 new jobs and is the first Countdown Metro store to be built in the South Island.
Matt Grainger, Countdown’s General Manager Property, says Wānaka customers have embraced online shopping over the last two years, and this demand has driven the opportunity to bring a unique supermarket offer to Wānaka as well.
“Over the last two years we’ve steadily been increasing our online deliveries from Queenstown into Wānaka, with more deliveries and delivery windows to help ensure we can meet demand,” says Grainger.
“This next step to open a Metro store now means we can not only provide a pick-up service for online shoppers to have more flexibility about how and when they receive their orders, but also provide a really thoughtfully curated range in-store including easy eating options barista-made coffee, ready-to-go meals, salads, health-focussed snack options and take-home dinners.
“This is our first Metro store in the South Island and we’re looking forward to welcoming new team members from the local community and providing some new options for customers at the same time,” says Grainger.
The new store is being built in the heart of Wānaka, with an old BP service station being repurposed to make way for the supermarket. Preliminary site works are currently underway and customers will be able to see the service station transform into Wānaka Metro over the next few months.