Jobs go at Port Chalmers supermarket

Job losses have been confirmed as Port Chalmers' supermarket reinvents itself as a Four Square.

It was confirmed yesterday the business had shed 20 of its 54 full- and part-time staff, leaving 34 to work at the rebranded store.

Of those to lose their jobs, six had been full-time employees and 14 part-time staff, Foodstuffs South Island retail operations general manager Alan Malcolmson said in a statement.

They had been told they ''no longer have positions'', but the company was still working to help them find work in other roles, he said.

Chalmers Community Board chairman Steve Walker said when contacted the job losses would have a ''significant'' impact on the community, and left him ''very saddened''.

''Jobs are few and far between in the West Harbour, so certainly in the job context, it's very sad.''

The supermarket officially switched to a Four Square model on Sunday.

Scaffolding appeared yesterday as work began to change the store's signage over the next two weeks.

Some customers took to social media this week to complain about higher prices after the switch.

Mr Malcolmson said Four Square's prices were ''slightly higher than New World'', but weekly promotions were also on offer.

The store's new owner-operators, Marty West and Lindy Cooper, were reluctant to comment when contacted yesterday, with Ms Cooper saying they were ''absolutely flat tack at the moment''.

''We're just here to do a good job in this store,'' she said.

Mr Walker would not comment yesterday on Foodstuffs' business decisions, preferring to focus on a public meeting, prompted by the rebranding, that was planned for next week.

The meeting aimed to discuss ''alternatives'' to the supermarket's offerings in Port Chalmers, which left him ''quite excited''.

The meeting was being organised by Iain Frengley, of the Council of Social Services Dunedin, and would be held at the Pioneer Hall from 7pm next Tuesday.

chris.morris@odt.co.nz

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