Sukhjit Singh says he has loved every one of the 10 years of owning Dianne Dairy and the customers he serves everyday. PHOTO/BEN FRASER
Sukhjit Singh says he has loved every one of the 10 years of owning Dianne Dairy and the customers he serves everyday. PHOTO/BEN FRASER
Dairies are a fixture of Rotorua's suburban neighbourhoods. Many are often open late, on public holidays and are run by seemingly tireless owners who have a passion for serving customers. Dana Kinita has a chat to some of the owners of our suburban dairies.
SUKHJIT SINGH Sukhjit Singh says he never tires of working in his shop.
The Dianne Dairy owner and his wife, Kuldeep, have owned and run their Tutanekai St store for 10 years. They have built a reputation of having one of the best selections of pick-and-mix lollies in town and giving generous servings of ice cream.
The shop is open from 6.30am and closes at 9pm, every day.
"I love my job. Working here has been one of the best parts of my life," Mr Singh said.
The father of three moved to New Zealand from Punjab, India, 25 years ago. He then spent 15 years working in Te Puke picking kiwifruit before he saved the deposit to buy the shop.
"I took a loan from the bank of $300,000 to buy it and in seven to eight years we were able to clear it," he said.
"In India where I come from we farmed sugar cane, rice, wheat. It's a hard job.
"Working in a dairy is an easy job. You're inside. You don't have to worry about the rain. You will find it's mostly Indians that own dairies and liquor shops because we can do the work ourselves. I didn't open a restaurant because I don't know how to cook, but with a dairy, I knew I could do it."
Mr Singh said their children grew up helping at the shop. Their eldest son, 22, is a former Rotorua Boys' High School student who graduated from police college last year and became the city's first Sikh police officer. Their daughter, 17, attends Rotorua Girls' High School, while their youngest is at Lynmore Primary School.
"We have very good customers and good relationships with them. About 50 per cent of them are regulars and are very friendly. In summer we sell a lot of drinks, milkshakes and ice creams and in winter time, it's a lot of lollies," he said. "We've never had a problem with burglaries. I know other dairies in quieter areas have, but generally our customers are very nice and we are busy. There is usually people always in the store."
The only real challenge Mr Singh is facing is trying to keep his parking fines down.
"I come in early in the morning to unload stuff next to the shop and forget that I'm still parked there. I've paid more than $1000 in fines over the last year. But I love it here. We've just extended the lease for another 12 years."
LAKHWINDER KAUR BHULLAR Pleasant Heights Dairy manager Lakhwinder Kaur Bhullar (pictured on cover) studied business in India before moving to New Zealand with her husband four years ago to further her studies.
The 28-year-old also worked in Te Puke as a kiwifruit orchard manager before accepting a fulltime job at the Thomas Cres store.
"It's very friendly here. You get to know the people.
"I like this job better as it's indoor work and it's still a manager position.
Lakhwinder Kaur Bhullar says gets to know the community by working at Pleasant Heights Dairy.
"I love it here and want to apply for my residency."
Mrs Bhullar said her work at the dairy appealed to her interest in business.
"I'm very interested in how to promote the dairy more and how to attract more customers and learning about the pricing."
While there was a constant stream of customers in the store, she said there were issues of security and she had had security cameras installed.
"Some of the younger teenagers have tried to steal a few things sometimes.
"They often wait until it's a busy time and so I just try and keep an eye on everything. But overall I really enjoy working with different people everyday."
Jae Shin Yoo works at his store in Fenton St 10 hours a day, seven days a week. The Cosmos Superette owner has owned his shop for 10 years, buying it shortly after he moved from Seoul, South Korea, with his wife and two children. Despite speaking limited English, it's obvious he understands his customers perfectly.
"I have many regulars, police officers, council, backpackers," he said. "I was with a clothing manufacturing company for 18 years in South Korea and we moved here for my children's education."
Jae Shin Yoo outside the Cosmos Superette which he has owned for 10 years. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER
Mr Yoo said his 37-year-old son went to Rotorua Boys' High School and graduated from Massey University. He now worked in the computer science industry. His 35-year-old daughter attended Rotorua Girls' High School, graduated from Auckland University and was married, living back in South Korea. He said he was looking forward to his two grandchildren, 4 and 2, visiting him later this year.
"This is a good business. I don't feel unsafe here. I have very many nice customers."
The 67-year-old showed the Rotorua Daily Post his seniors gold card but said he wouldn't be retiring anytime soon.
"There is no plans to close. I have no holiday, but working here is a holiday for me," he said.
MILESH KUMAR Sunset Pricecutter Superette owner Milesh Kumar said it had been a lot of hard work transforming the small Sunset Rd dairy into the large, spacious store it is today.
Mr Kumar was born in Suva, Fiji, and moved to New Zealand in 1987 to escape the Fiji military coup. He and his wife, Manisha, had lived in Auckland for 11 years before moving to Rotorua and buying the business in 2005.
"Every day is different and exciting, meeting and chatting with my customers about their life and problems."
Sunset Pricecutter Superette owner Milesh Kumar says everyday is exciting owning a dairy. PHOTO/FILE
Mr Kumar said there were challenges in the dairy business with the long hours and the threat of being robbed and hurt on the job. Their last robbery was just last month with police soon arresting a male teenager, with the help of customers. The teenager was later charged with aggravated robbery.
"We are a bit more wary and cautious now and we have increased our security," Mr Kumar said.
But despite the challenges, Mr Kumar said he loved his customers and the community he lived in.
"You make lots of friends. I love helping my senior customers, deliver to their homes and take a caretaker role for some of them. I love the fantastic neighbourhood that I live in.
"My area Pukehangi is very friendly and supportive of me. I also love golf at my local golf club, Springfield, and the easy access to all the lakes."
