Mitre 10 Mega Home Improvement Warehouse is due to open in Wanganui early next spring. The store, on the corner of Taupo Quay and Liffiton St, will offer up to 45,000 products and span 2.8 hectares ? the equivalent of four rugby fields.
It will employ more than 90 people,
creating about 40 new jobs, and be owned and operated by Jeff and Jill Gilbertson. The Wanganui couple own Gilbertson Mitre 10 Home and Trade, which will close when the Mega store opens. All staff would transfer to the new store, Mr Gilbertson said. Shoppers would be able to get an extended range of stock not yet available under one roof in Wanganui.
"The store will include new categories, such as entire kitchens, bathrooms, lighting and massively extended ranges, such as gardening, storage, flooring, building supplies and paint and accessories," he said.
There would also be a cafe, children's play area and 270 car parks.
Mitre 10 head of communications Peter Stewart said the Wanganui store was one of 20 new Mega stores being rolled out nationwide. Stores had already opened in Auckland, Christchurch, Tauranga and Hastings.
Research by Statistics New Zealand showed the trade and home improvement sector grew by 12 percent in the year ending November 2003 and was estimated to be valued at more than $1.1 billion, Mr Stewart said.
Mitre 10 has been a household name in New Zealand since 1974 after being introduced by 15 hardware retailers who had watched the success of Mitre 10 in Australia.
Today Mitre 10 has 123 stores throughout New Zealand, employing up to 2000 staff with an annual turnover in excess of $500 million.
