Connings Food Market expansion a fresh vote of confidence for Nelson
An extra helping of Connings’ signature locally grown produce will soon be available to Nelsonians as the pop-up store on Achilles Avenue expands into a full Connings Food Market.
Nelson City Council agreed in principle in March 2024 to Connings leasing the Achilles Avenue site for the pop-up, with the option to buy 69-101 Achilles Avenue for the construction of a new, permanent Connings Food Market.
The final details of the agreement were signed this week, marking an important milestone for the project. Further information will be shared as plans progress. The current store will continue trading in the meantime.
Concept plans for the new store include the addition of a café and significantly expanded market produce areas, bringing the full Connings Food Market experience to central Nelson for the first time.
Council Chief Executive Nigel Philpott said the project reflected Council's ongoing work to reduce barriers to investment in the central city.
“Council is open for business. We want to work together with our business community to make Nelson vibrant and an easy place to do business. Working alongside businesses like Connings to help make it happen is one example where Council is actively working to create an environment where enterprise can thrive here.
“The pop-up on Achilles Avenue has obviously been incredibly popular with Nelsonians, and we're really pleased to see Connings decide to expand into a permanent store as a result.
I'm confident this store will be just as popular with our community as the Appleby Food Market has been.”
Nelson Mayor Nick Smith said Connings' commitment to building a permanent store in the central city was a huge win for Nelson that would bring multiple benefits.
“This new Connings Food market will help Council's goal of revitalising the central city. They have proved in Appleby and through the trial pop up store that the public wants local fresh produce.
“I love that this new Connings Food Market will enable us to showcase the region as a centre of excellence for fresh produce and food innovation. The further benefit is providing more choice and competition for consumers for their groceries when there is concern about the duopoly of the two supermarket chains.”
Simon Conning says they've been blown away by the support for the Nelson Pop Up.
"We're really happy to make a long-term commitment to our customers and to Nelson City. Our farm is only 18 kilometres away from the store, which means we can continue to deliver fresh produce directly to our customers at great value. Being able to do that is important to us as a family."
The Conning family has been growing fresh produce on the Waimea Plains for more than 40 years, just 4 kilometres from their first Connings Food Market store in Appleby. The family business has now expanded with a second site on Nelson's Achilles Avenue.
