Auckland Transport is on the lookout for quality food and beverage operators to lease kiosks at three of its Auckland train stations.
The three small-format sites - each about 10sq m in size - will operate at Newmarket, Panmure and New Lynn stations.
As landlord, Auckland Transport is seeking expressions of interest from potential food and beverage operators, who must submit full business proposals for each of the three-year lease opportunities.
The leasing campaign is being managed by Bayleys Real Estate sales people Lloyd Budd and Nelson Patchett, and prospective tenants can lodge proposals up till August 24. Tenancies at all locations are expected to commence from September this year.
Budd says the sites can be tendered for individually, or as a combined portfolio. The successful tenant or tenants will be responsible for fit-out costs, including plumbing and telecommunications. Electrical connections will be provided.
"As landlord, Auckland Transport is looking for an experienced high-quality operator delivering barista coffee alongside modern 'grab and go' cabinet food ranging from baked goods through to salads," Budd says.
"Any food and beverage offering must be relevant to both visitors and 'locals', or regular commuters, alike. A fundamental requirement from Auckland Transport is that the kiosks must be staffed at least five days a week between around 6am and 6pm to capitalise on the high volume commuter periods."
Budd says Auckland Transport views the leasing opportunities as 'partnership' ventures - adopting base rental plus turnover 'top up' leasing structures.
Data from research bureau Canstar Blue reveals Aucklanders spend an average of $14.02 per week on takeaway coffees.
Newmarket - the second busiest train station in Auckland after the Britomart hub - has an annual patronage of about three million. The station won a design award from the New Zealand Institute of Architects in 2010.
Panmure railway station.
New Lynn Station has an annual patronage of about 1.4m and sits just around the corner from the LynnMall retail hub and BrickWorks dining precinct. The station is also an important bus interchange.
Panmure Station's annual patronage is about 1.3m - the final piece of the Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative, growing public transport options between the CBD and Auckland's south-east sector. The station was substantially renovated in 2014 and also acts as an important interchange for the local bus network.
Patchett says business plans from prospective tenants will be assessed on a broad spectrum of criteria, including:
• The proposed service offering - encompassing the fit-out concept and presentation, and the food and beverage offerings. •The proposed rental terms and turnover forecasts. •The prospective tenant's existing trading record, experience, and financial position. •The prospective tenant's operating model, marketing plan, and customer integration strategy specific to each locationNewmarket railway station.Newmarket railway station.
Newmarket railway station.
Auckland Transport property manager Sean Corbett says city rail network patronage is up 20 per cent on last year's total.
"With the number of public transport users continuing to grow, we want to improve the customer experience for passengers," Corbett says.
"We have the physical infrastructure in place, and so we're looking at what else we can do to improve customer convenience and amenity. Auckland Transport would like to have an operator or operators functioning from all three station sites in time for the summer season."
The move by Auckland Transport to enhance passenger experiences has led it to team up with supermarket operators to trial a "click and collect" grocery service at city transport hubs.
The service allows commuters to order groceries online in the morning, then collect them on the way home.
