There’s big change taking place behind the familiar frontage of Four Square Te Puna on State Highway 2.

Local owners Pritesh and Dipti Bhikha are investing in a new supermarket directly behind their existing store at 626 State Highway 2, a move they said is about keeping up with a fast-growing community and giving locals more of what they’ve been asking for.

If you’ve driven past recently, you’ll have seen the progress. The roof was completed last week and joinery is now underway. An exact opening date is still subject to construction timelines and council approvals, but Dipti said they hope the new store will be fully operational in June.

“As you can understand, there are a few factors involved,” she said. “But the aim is June to reopen and be operating from the new store.”

Twice the size

The new building will be about twice as big as the current store. Once the Bhikhas shift operations into the new premises, the existing store will be demolished to make way for additional parking. In total, there will be 31 car parks – a welcome change for regular customers who know how tight the current site can be.

From three trolleys to 15, and about 40 baskets, the new store will feel like a significant step up in space and convenience.

The Bhikhas have owned and operated Four Square Te Puna store for more than 16 years and they also live locally.

Community, demand growing

“We’re local grocers and are part of the community,” Dipti said. “We see how it’s growing. Our customers have been coming to us and asking us to bring in more products and more varieties. Over the years we have put in as much as we can, but space has been tight.”

That demand, combined with increasing traffic delays for those travelling into Tauranga, helped cement their decision to build bigger.

“Sometimes the traffic from here going into town is just crazy,” Dipti said. “It’s about being there for the community and providing all the services we can, so they don’t have to travel far.”

Exciting additions

The expanded store will offer a wider range of fresh produce, meat and dairy. There will be an entire dedicated meat section and customers can also expect more specialty cheeses and an increased variety of chilled and frozen goods.

Four Square Te Puna owners Pritesh and Dipti Bhikha are investing in a new supermarket directly behind their existing store at 626 State Highway 2. Photo / Kelly O'Hara

Seafood is another addition, with fresh mussels and other seafood options set to feature.

A commercial kitchen will allow the team to expand its food-to-go offering. Plans include hot cooked chickens, chicken and chip items, more sandwiches and salads, fresh baking and scoop ice creams. Real fruit ice cream will also be on offer.

Coffee lovers won’t miss out either. The new store will include barista-made coffee and a “lean-to” style bar bench with stools.

The new store will have a contemporary look and feel, and a layout designed for convenience and ease, similar to Four Square Mount Maunganui.

The expansion will also mean more local jobs. The store employs 14 staff, including part-timers. That number is expected to grow to between 18 and 20 once the new supermarket is operating.

Four Square has been a part of Kiwi communities for more than 100 years and the Te Puna store has long been more than just a grocery stop. Since 1982, the site has operated as a local supermarket, offering groceries, fresh produce, butchery, Lotto, postal services and more. It has supported local schools, sponsored Te Puna’s rugby teams and sold a $700,000 Strike Four ticket in 2024.

Investment in future

For Dipti, the new build is about honouring that history while planning for the future.

“This store has been serving the community for over 40 years and we’re setting it up for another 40 years,” she said. “We want to cater to our community’s needs and provide them with all the services we can.”

While a formal opening celebration will depend on the demolition works happening at the front of the site, customers can expect plenty of in-store specials and celebrations in the first month of trading.

For the Bhikhas, it’s not just a bigger building. It’s an investment in Te Puna’s future and a promise to remain, as always, local.