WELLINGTON - The Warehouse says it does not regard Cost U Less, a United States discount retailer moving into New Zealand, as a direct competitor.
The Warehouse's managing director, Stephen Tindall, said that while his company was watching the chain's moves as a competitor, it considered the American chain to be
in a different business.
It was reported during the week that Cost U Less planned to enter the New Zealand market early next year with stores in Porirua and Rotorua. The company planned to open up to 20 New Zealand stores.
Mr Tindall said The Warehouse had spent "quite a bit of time looking at" Cost U Less. "We've been to quite a number of their stores in the Pacific. They're really very much more focused on food. They are a competitor but I don't think they are a serious competitor compared with Farmers, for example."- NZPA
