10 | to page 12 Costco opens doors for NZ businesses Karen Phelps Costco’s entry into the New Zealand market signals increased opportunities for Kiwi businesses to take their products to the world, says Costco Australia and New Zealand managing director Patrick Noone. Costco worldwide purchases around $250m of New Zealand goods annually already including fruit, wine, lamb, wagyu and grass-fed beef. “New Zealand has a great brand around the world and we’re excited to establish closer relationships with existing suppliers as well as bring new ones on board,” he says. “This should open up markets for New Zealand goods in Asia and Australia but also potentially around the world.” He says that Costco works collaboratively with suppliers, including developing products to meet member demand. An example in New Zealand is working on a slow cooked meat product that will be sold in the new Westgate warehouse in Auckland. The Westgate warehouse will include a Costco fuel station, tyre centre, food court, optometrist, hearing aid services, a pharmacy along with groceries and homewares. Patrick says it has been modelled on Costco’s successful warehouses in Australia and will offer both New Zealand and global brands. Patrick says the Auckland warehouse is a natural expansion of Costco’s investment in Australia. Costco opened its first warehouse in 2009 in Melbourne and has since grown to 13 warehouses covering every state apart from Tasmania and the Northern Territory. Costco is the second largest retailer in the world after starting in the mid 80s in San Diego. Patrick says Kiwis can expect cheaper prices due to Costco’s global buying power and quicker access to goods. “We can bring goods to the New Zealand market with no delay in trends etc. If the USA is buying it we can tap into that supply chain as well.” Costco also offers a trade business selling to the likes of dairies, newsagents, offices etc. The Westgate Costco warehouse will total around 14,000 square metres and will be a three-level development, with one level of shopping and two levels of car parks containing about 800 car parks. It will create an estimated 350 new full-time equivalent jobs. Haydn & Rollett project contracts manCostco: Haydn & Rollett DEVELOPMENT The Westgate Costco warehouse will total around 14,000 square metres and will be a three-level development, with one level of shopping and two levels of car parks containing about 800 car parks. “We can bring goods to the New Zealand market with no delay in trends etc. If the USA is buying it we can tap into that supply chain as well.” ager Richard Powell says the project has experienced all the usual pandemic related pressures with Covid-19 pushing the build programme into the winter months, weather delays and people off sick along with global supply issues to navigate. But with a collaborative approach solutions were found. Notably Costco representatives experienced challenges at certain times coming to New Zealand due to lockdowns and border restrictions, which meant for the majority of the project meetings had to be conducted online. “There are a lot of intricate details to understand and work through on a project like this. Communication was key so we undertook reporting processes and updates for the client on a regular basis. “It was about being adaptable and finding other ways to communicate instead of the usual on-site visits. I think Haydn & Rollett has done very well in that space.” Haydn & Rollett has been engaged to deliver a turnkey project. Richard says the fact that Haydn & Rollett has extensive local experience meant it could partner proactively with Costco. “The way we build in New Zealand is different to how things are done in Australia,” says Richard. “Over there they self-certify with private consultants whereas here Councils do that job. goldtex.co.nz qs@goldtex.co.nz Goldtex pride ourselves on our supplier relationships, which means we are able to supply and install any specified insulation products. Congratulations to Haydn & Rollett on this project. Goldtex are proud to have installed Kingspan panel product to ceilings throughout.
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