Mega expansion planned

Community

7 May

By Dan Hutchinson

Taupō’s biggest retail store Mitre 10 Mega is getting even bigger with a major expansion about to get underway.

The store area is increasing from 6041sqm to 10,288sqm, including a new 2800sqm Trade Distribution Centre at the nearby Crown Rd development.

The total development is expected to be of a similar size to the new Bunnings store being built nearby on the other side of Napier Rd.

Bunnings Head of Property NZ, Gary Turner says construction is now underway and they expect it to be complete in mid-2027.

“We look forward to providing our widest range, great customer service and the best experience at the new store when it opens,” Gary says.

Mitre 10 is ready to begin its expansion later this year, starting with an increased vestibule space outside the front doors, with offices built above.

It will then expand the main retail area into the existing covered section of the drive through, increasing the size of that section from 3236sqm to 4819sqm. It also hopes to be finished by mid-2027.

Once the new Trade Distribution Centre is complete, the existing trade area will be used to house the retail drive-through, while a new, fully enclosed 2538sqm drive-through is built on the end of the store.

Mitre10 Mega is locally owned by the Ladbrook family. Its current team of 117 staff will expand by about 20 once the expansion is complete.

Store manager Elwyn McGoram says they can’t expand their range in the current store.

More room means they can stock more products and hold more in stock. The building currently being used for the Trade Distribution Centre will be converted into storage and possibly bulk landscape supplies.

Elwyn says the trade side of the business is probably the biggest area where they need to grow. With the building sector currently going through a slow patch, it was the ideal time to do the expansion.

"It has slowed down a bit, but we just want to make sure when it goes again that we're ready to rock and roll.”

The new distribution centre allows contractors and builders to collect orders and purchase building supplies without having to visit the main retail store.

Trade manager Jake Pretorius says there are two types of customers: Large contractors and builders generally know exactly what they want before they come in and time is money, so they don’t want to be waiting.

“Then you've got the more detail-orientated DIY kind of customer who's looking for something specific that need a bit more help."

Growth areas within the main retail space will include seasonal products, outdoor furniture, pet care, houseware, giftware, garden supplies, power tools and hardware.

The expansion will bring the total retail space to over 10,000 square metres, putting it among the larger Mitre 10 stores in New Zealand.

Construction of the distribution centre is expected to begin early next year, with the retail expansion following once the new facility is operational.

The expansion will include purpose-built office space for the trade support team, including account managers and support staff who handle phone and email enquiries from customers.

Sites below Mitre 10 are separately owned but also slated for retail development, with Foodstuffs planning a Pak’nSave on the corner of Crown Rd and Napier Rd and the site immediately below Mitre 10 Mega suitable for a large retailer such as K-Mart.