Produce outlet poised to open

The lease agreement signed and sealed, Ray White Wanganui commercial agent Russell Duggan (left) and Crazy Pumpkin director Gur Singh breathe easy down at the new Taupo Quay store. Photo/Bevan Conley

Fresh fruit and vegetables have become a growth industry in Wanganui with the arrival of the Crazy Pumpkin crew.

The new brand of retail and wholesale outlet has been specifically designed for the Wanganui and New Plymouth markets by business partner cousins Gur Singh and Kuldip Singh, who are rapidly preparing to open the new shop at 69 Taupo Quay on Wednesday next week.

The Crazy Pumpkin fresh fruit and vegetable store is the latest in a line of outlets the cousins have launched throughout the North Island in the past 16 years.

"We chose Wanganui to help grow our new Crazy Pumpkin brand because it's such a beautiful city and the location of the new shop opposite Trafalgar Square is ideal," Gur Singh said yesterday.

"We launched the brand in New Plymouth in December last year and it's doing really well. The Crazy Pumpkin brand joins the Fresho and FoodMonster outlets that form an impressive national buying group, allowing us to serve up the freshest, most affordable fruit and vegetables," he said.

With partners in New Plymouth, Auckland, Te Awamutu, Thames and Rotorua, the Singh cousins have formed close relationships with growers and markets in New Plymouth, Auckland, Hamilton and Palmerston North to source only the best produce available.

Their combined buying power means the co-operative can negotiate for the highest quality fruit and vegetables and the best deal to distribute and sell throughout the collective.

"Once we've settled in, our intention is to visit Wanganui and district growers to continue providing our customers with only the highest quality fresh produce. We were lucky to find this building in Wanganui and we have Ray White Real Estate to thank. Dealing with Russell Duggan (commercial division agent) has been great and I can honestly say it has been the easiest lease agreement we've ever brokered - and there's been a few," Mr Singh said.

"The parking and easy access makes the Taupo Quay store an ideal spot to call home for Crazy Pumpkin."

The Crazy Pumpkin philosophy is "from the farmer to the basket - sell more for less - fresh and fair" and there is no compromise on quality or value.

The company's experienced buyers hand pick the freshest produce and deliver daily to the Wanganui store.

Mr Singh said staff are made up of experienced retail operators and assistants employed from the local ranks.

"We've gone nuts with the training, so there will always be helpful advice and that good old fashioned service of the greengrocer from a bygone era," he said.