The Team that made a difference

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 495, 20 July 1993, Page 8

The Team that made a

difference

Ohakune New World has been judged the best New Woi Supermarket in it's group at a recent convention held in I Plymouth. The judging was carried out by A C Nielson Ltc a 10-month period. The pro^ramme, originated by New World (Wellington), which cfvsrs the jower-half of the North Island, involved 44 New Woyfd stores. The stores were split into two grou depending "on ihe criteria as set out by head office, of wh Ohakune was in the bi o# 27 stores. Prizes wc awarded ia* most i mprqved and hest m^at department, g cery/cleckout depia^ andf I prod^d0j^itm^ ^^^^l5o the main prizes of n impr&^j^ O the ils^n^t^epar^o^, best grocery H cheMeuS de^arbnent and thebes* overall. The prizes we wa# plaques f or f he department s plus * beautif ul trophyfi ^ ^ ' fm staif were also awarded a full-wee wages for winning overaftpTuSany department winning v also awarded a full-weeks wages. These prizes were func from the group fund. The scheme was originated to try and lift the overall st« ard and image of the New World group in the face of the petition that the group faces today. A C Nielson Limited as adjudicators for the programme and visited each storc once a month for ten months. The stores did not know wl the inspector would appear as these times were set dow

Nielson's head offfice. Each store had a visit within half-an-hour of opening, half-an-hour before closing and on each of the days they would norma! ly operate. These reports were judged as through the eyes' of a customer. Every sector of the store was visited, from the toilets to the office. They had a strict criteria to follow with marks being deducted for such items as dusty or shelves, blood in meat fridges, lights not working, j|" . advertised speclals not being available, stafff out of uniform, • iStockroom A f©ilow*upf repoif w$&r$ent | J::|-to.;eacli operator within twoweeks oHtwKS elsdfivteii and Slp*^'1^ a«yfa^tsfouniipthefast vtio ^ilure|o;i|smG^these not evett | .• head of the were handed to j ijf :EMr Foodstuffs mat^g^8rector, by MrOeoffl# ■ lll ;i' ^haw oi & $ Kieiso n atthe award oeremony *kt the" S^turday -f p tlWt. /\ L^&Man and |^en|il«ml^e World say they aii^^over the moon£&fe^|his wi^as it proves that small towns have as much ^1|bIw»w as large towns for people that want to do well. Alanstartesthat their win was m A^V.VAWWXNVWWK'W made easier by having a good staff who had the desire to win and by being in an area where the customers are friendly and helpful to work with. It was in fact the suggestions from customers that sometimes gave us a winning edge. We were also lucky that we were in the process of a two year refit (to be completed next year) so we were always seen to be improving.

I personally believe that, even on top of the alterations, that our standard of 'house-keeping' has improved. Alan states that it was a great thrill to win the first year but is under no illusions that to win next year will be tough as all the other stores will be 'gunning' for us. We have already been visited by two other owner/o|ppij^l^id have been approached by another operai^thatwould like his key staff to visit our store. | / Plansfor fi^i'iliicfrsi.x moritfis indlude new corporate unifforms f or the girl% whlc h coroe roto operation on Monday 26 y. App roxi matolynext Way we hope to extend the wall out m ihe riefif ridg eto the sj^-trpntage to give us a wee bit ite: rwrn Yftis iwea will house a new f reezer for chickens a ndpre-frozeri meals* liopef ul ly.,e x tended fridge room for an ^extemied ra oi ateo hbl^ on^ an d possibly two new check-outs^" a smatl bot-bread oyen and 13 extra bays of shelv- " areas like the biscuit deparlment. This work is being investigated at the moment in light of all the new regulations that the government has bestowed upon us. Alan and Karen would like to take this opportunity to thank all the customers that have dealt with us over the years, especially while alterations have been taking place. We are striving, along with the staff, to make your visit to us a pleasant outing and not a boring chore. We are more than happy to consider any suggestions that will help us to help you.