Hayden and Tori Lind take over Whanganui’s Four Square St Johns, plan larger store next door

New owner-operators Tori and Hayden Lind, pictured with son Ted, have taken over Four Square St Johns.

Four Square St Johns in Whanganui has a new owner and operator, with Hayden Lind planning a new, larger store in the next two years.

He and his wife Tori Lind took over from Gareth Coburn and Trin McCarthy on November 9.

Coburn and McCarthy owned the store for nearly eight years.

Hayden Lind said his family was looking forward to becoming part of the community and taking on the store’s staff.

“Your team is everything – we can’t do this alone,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone and making sure they feel valued and supported through the change.”

Lind has spent three years building grocery experience, working at Four Square Mahora in Hastings, Four Square Te Mata and stepping into store management at Four Square Coromandel.

Before his grocery journey, Lind trained as a mechanic, ran a Streetwise Coffee franchise in Sanson and spent nearly a decade in financial advice, eventually running his own business.

He said Four Square St Johns stood out because of its strong community connection and future potential, as well as the opportunity to be closer to family in Palmerston North.

The St John’s Hill shopping centre is set for a major transformation, including a larger Four Square to be built next to the current site.

The new store will be funded by the Linds and is expected to be completed in about two years.

Lind said the new store would offer customers more space, better access and a wider range.

“It’s a pretty unique opportunity and we want to keep investing in the store to give the community a better offer and shopping experience,” he said.

“We feel really grateful to have been chosen for it.”

He hoped to earn customers’ support, despite the big plans.

“I think it’s really important, especially in a Four Square, to make people feel valued.

“It might be remembering someone’s name or knowing their regular chicken and chips order; those little details matter.

“If people feel valued and have a great experience in your store, they’ll keep supporting you.”