Alexandra planned Countdown supermarket is targeting a late 2022 opening, with work well underway.

Countdown’s Director of Property, Matt Grainger says the company is eager to open its doors after Covid-19 delays. 

The Alexandra community is growing and we’re really excited about the delivery of a brand new Countdown store to the area. 

The Centennial Ave site has been cleared and ground work is now underway for the new 3,000sqm store, which is scheduled to open late 2022.

Simon Wearing, of ICL Chartered Accountants Limited, is a Chartered Accountant acting for the Kilgour Family, who are long-term Alexandra residents and the name behind the development.

He spoke to The Central App in March, and said the store initially aimed to be open in Winter 2022, with Breen Construction engaged as the main contractor.

Countdown is targeting a late 2022 opening. 

Initially it was largely the family with the support of Simon Wearing from ICL Chartered Accountants and Kirsten Knights from Checketts McKay Law.  

“We’ve worked closely with Woolworths as the project has been developed, in particular their Southern Portfolio Manager, Peter Buchan,” Simon says.  

“When we applied for resource consent we engaged a team of advisers to cover legal, noise, traffic, planning, economic, and construction issues.  

“Matt Curran from Land Pro in Cromwell was the key contact as we worked through this process, with Joshua Leckie from Lane Neave (supported by Annabel Hawkins) responsible for the hearing strategy.  

“It’s been a long process to get to this point and at different times we wondered if we were going to get it across the line.  

“We have stuck with it with the support of many people and are excited about what the development means for Alexandra and the surrounding area.  

“As well as providing another choice for customers, once it is complete it is expected to create a net gain of around 50 jobs.  

“When you consider this alongside some of the other developments, and prospective developments, that are happening locally, this is exciting for the future of our town.”