By JULIE MIDDLETON
Residents and workers in Auckland's central business district finally have a large supermarket on their doorstep.
Foodtown, owned by Progressive Enterprises, opens a 24-hour store with undercover parking in Quay St today.
Although convenience and Asian-produce stores are scattered throughout the CBD to serve an estimated 9000 residents, the closest
large supermarkets to date have been the New World at Victoria Park and the Foodtown at the 277 shopping complex in Newmarket - neither within easy walking distance of Queen St.
The new Foodtown Auckland City is on the corner of Tangihua St and Quay St near the Britomart precinct.
Foodtown area manager Philip Morrow says because of the number of workers and apartment dwellers in the area, the meals-to-go section is one of the largest of any Foodtown and is situated near the store's entrance. It includes sushi, hot meal and pizza counters, and a fromagerie (cheese counter) selling cut-to-order cheeses.
The liquor aisle also reflects the local population and its pastimes, containing more than 800 types and brands of wine, and the supermarket has a dedicated aisle for international foods.
The chief executive of the Heart of the City lobby and business group, Alex Swney, is delighted that the CBD is getting a supermarket.
"Bring it on," he said. "This sort of thing is an evolution. Five years ago we had one mini-supermarket in town - now we've got 18, so [a supermarket] is a logical progression and a reflection of the high-density residential housing that's been going on."
When the Herald visited the 3500sq m supermarket, which will carry 25,000 items, dozens of shelf-stackers were arranging non-perishable stock on shelves.
In large, low fridges empty meat trays had handwritten paper labels on them listing where different cuts of fresh meat will go.
The supermarket building will also include an Esquire's coffee bar - the branch will be owned by All Black Carlos Spencer - a stationery store and camera and mobile phone shops.
