A whole new mall game

A revolution in the country's retail industry is under way, with plans for New Zealand's first one-stop "hypermaket" in Auckland.

Shoppers may be able to pick up an outfit with their groceries, grab a bite to eat and queue at only one check-out if the proposal goes ahead. Developers Windermere Holdings Limited have applied for consent to build a 9100sq m combination supermarket and general merchandise store - almost the size of two rugby fields - on a site near Manukau City centre.

The site is owned by family company PH Van den Brink, a leading player in the poultry industry. The hypermarket will be operated under the banner of supermarket chain Countdown, part of Progressive Enterprises Ltd.

The proposal includes plans for a separate multi-storey building with smaller stores such as a bank, cafe, hairdresser and office space to complement the hypermarket. A petrol station is located on the site. But Windermere Holdings director Paul Smith said it could be 2007 before the doors open.

Industry experts say hypermarkets, established in Europe and the Americas and is spreading to Asia and Australia, could be the next major move for New Zealand.

Retail Consulting Group Limited's director John Long said hypermarkets were popular with consumers looking for convenience and discounted goods. "It would look like somebody taking the contents of The Warehouse and Pak'N Save and putting them together," said Mr Long.

The Warehouse was expected to start dabbling in groceries and German mega-store chain Aldi was understood to be looking at setting up here, he said.

However Long said a hyper-market operator may find success tough. Mixing groceries and general merchandise brought challenges and New Zealand's small population might pose problems.

New Zealand Retailers Association northern division manager Russell Sinclair predicted a revival in speciality stores, with consumers turning away from impersonal barn-style shopping.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY