"That means reopening the old entrance door to create an area dedicated to fresh foods. This is where we will focus on fresh produce, bakery, butchery and food to go. Customers will come in that new door and out the current entrance," he said.
"Our liquor [section] is moving to the other corner of the store to allow us to chill more of our beer and wine. I have already moved all of our frozen foods into upright freezers and decommissioned the old trough freezer and whilst we have lost space I have actually been able to keep 99 per cent of the frozen foods range and even range in some new products by relaying the way the shelves are set up.
"I have had many requests from customers for certain products and I am doing my best to track all of these products and offer them in our store. One area that I am particularly excited about is our new gluten-free and organic section. This is a dedicated area to those who eat gluten-free foods or want to eat organic foods.
"I also want to focus my attention on working with our suppliers to negotiate better deals and pass the savings on to our customers. We have some really great suppliers who are keen to support us and together we can work to bring some really cheap deals to our customers. I see this as my job as the local grocer to strive to get these deals.
"Already I have ranged in over 300 new products and that is just the start, our store is known for being a place you can count on finding almost anything and I want to not only honour that reputation but also grow upon it."
Originally from Napier, Mr Jackson graduated from Otago University with a Bachelor in Commerce. He has been living in Auckland for the past 2 years, mostly working at Foodstuff's New World Eastridge where he learned the grocery trade.
Prior to this he was in the corporate world working in contracting and directing roles.
"That just wasn't for me," he said. "From the age of 15 when I was working at McDonald's as a school kid I knew I wanted to get into a bricks and mortar business but it wasn't until over a decade and a half later that I had the maturity to make the commitment.
"Being a grocer is a 24/7 commitment and something you dedicate your life to."
Paihia Four Square is made up of a team of six, four fulltime and two part-time - the same team prior to Mr Jackson taking over the business on January 16.
"They are the biggest asset," he said.
"They are dedicated to what we are trying to do here and passionate about this store.
"Our goal is to make this store into something the locals can be proud to call their own. Being the only Kiwi-owned supermarket in Paihia the locals really do get behind us and so that is why we decided to include them in our mantra."
"I have only been met with smiles," Mr Jackson said.
