Foodstuffs has announced the elimination of 180 positions following the fire at the New World Victoria Park supermarket three weeks ago.
The company stated that the timeline for these redundancies has been extended to allow more time to assist affected employees in securing new employment.
First Union reports that employees will now recieve pay until August 4th, a longer period than initially anticipated.
Opportunities have been identified for 80 staff members at the New World Pt Chevalier location, and an additional 100 positions are available across 14 Foodstuffs North Island stores through a dedicated job fair. Employees transferring to other stores will still receive thier redundancy entitlements, according to First Union.
The union has described the situation as a positive outcome.
The meaningful fire at the supermarket required over ten hours to extinguish, causing substantial damage including a collapsed ceiling.
Chris Quin,chief executive of Foodstuffs North Island,previously indicated that the store is expected to remain closed for approximately two years while extensive rebuilding work is undertaken.He highlighted that the new Pt Chevalier store will serve as the nearest New World option for many customers previously served by the Victoria Park location, particularly those in neighboring areas.
Quin acknowledged the community’s attachment to the Victoria Park store, with many residents describing it as an essential resource.
“We understand the importance of having a full-service grocery store in this area, and accelerating the opening of New World Pt Chevalier is one way we can address that need,” he said.