Costco is coming to Westgate!

Costco Wholesale Australia Managing Director Patrick Noone

Global bulk discount retailer, Costco, has announced that it is coming to New Zealand. The US Giant has worked with the New Zealand Retail Property Group and secured a site at Westgate in Auckland’s North West.

Costco is the world’s second largest retailer having been founded in the USA and having almost 800 warehouses worldwide including 11 in Australia, where it has been operating since 2009.

The Westgate warehouse will offer the global super chain’s full format and include a Costco fuel station, tyre centre, food court, optometrist, hearing aid services along with groceries and homewares.

The Westgate Costco warehouse will be approximately 14,000sqm, provide over 800 carparks and cost approximately $90 million dollars. The new warehouse will create an estimated 350 new full-time equivalent jobs for the North West Auckland community.

Costco has already commenced the process of obtaining the required regulatory consents and is preparing to start construction of the warehouse, as soon as those are obtained.

The site is located within the Westgate Town Centre, one of New Zealand’s largest master planned urbanization projects which has been developed by NZRPG over the last twenty years. Westgate is at the heart of the transformation of Auckland’s Northwest with Costco set to complement the massive developments which have been completed and remain underway NZRPG General Manager Campbell Barbour, said “having Costco identify Westgate as the right place for it to establish in New Zealand is a real coup for the Town Centre, our company, and the community”.

“Costco delivers a range of products – from day-to-day groceries to clothing and electronics – at heavily discounted prices for its members, I think it is a game changer, both in terms of Westgate and the general retail landscape” Mr Barbour said.

“A global retailer of this scale and influence added to the ongoing development of the offer at Westgate cements the town as one of the key retail locations in Auckland. Westgate’s potential is being realized”, he said.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said the launch of the world-leading retailer at Westgate further establishes Auckland as a growing international city.

“Auckland Council has identified Westgate as a key metropolitan area and invested significantly in its development, helping to attract international brands that give Aucklanders retail choice and creating hundreds of local jobs.

“The Northwest is a remarkable growth story – it serves established residential areas such as Henderson, Massey and Hobsonville, as well as the future urban areas like Red Hills and Whenuapai where Council is working with the Government to accelerate the building of around 7,000 new houses.

“The introduction of Costco will complement the growing number of services offered at Westgate, including a town square, library and open space,” Phil Goff said.

Waitakere Councillor Linda Cooper also welcomes the arrival of Costco to the area: “Development in Westgate dates back to Waitakere City Council so it’s really pleasing to see this planning coming to fruition and benefitting the West– total public and private investment to date is estimated at nearly $1 billion.

“Costco’s launch will further contribute to the unique Westgate mix of considerable retail options with space to relax with friends and family. The centre’s retail developments are set alongside 28 hectares of public open space.”

Costco Wholesale Australia Managing Director Patrick Noone has been with Costco for 28 years and said that the company was very pleased to have found such an ideal site for its New Zealand launch.

Having held his current role since the retailer launched in Australia around ten years ago, Mr Noone said Costco’s Westgate warehouse announcement marks another significant milestone for the company, reinforcing the company’s continued global expansion.

“Our member’s choose to shop with us because they know that they are going to get the highest quality products at the best possible price. Members are also able to buy everything from fresh food and electronics to clothing and cleaning supplies, all in one warehouse. There is also the added value of our specialty departments, such as our optical centre, hearing aid centre, tyre centre and fuel station.”

“Costco is very excited to open our first warehouse in New Zealand and to be a part of this community. We feel Westgate is the perfect location for us, and we look forward to being an integral part of the growth in Auckland.”

“Costco Wholesale presented a whole new way of shopping for Australian consumers. There really was nothing like Costco in Australia. By simply offering a no-frills warehouse experience with the highest quality products at the best possible prices, we have quickly and firmly been able to establish ourselves in the market. We add a layer of competition to the market and extend the choice of the consumer. We also offer a value statement to our members, which has helped us to authenticate and build trust in Costco for those Australians that were not previously familiar with the brand.”

Westgate Town Centre Looking South

 

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Follow the link below to see the press interview with our General Manager, Campbell Barbour, Auckland Mayor, Phil Goff and Costco’s Wholesale Australia Managing Director, Patrick Noone.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/national-video/news/video.cfm?c_id=1503075&gal_cid=1503075&gallery_id=207908

See the following links for coverage of the Costco announcement:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12238980

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2019/06/us-bulk-store-costco-is-coming-to-new-zealand.html

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/113355280/costco-is-coming-to-new-zealand

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/bulk-discount-retailer-costco-open-90-million-site-in-new-zealand