After 15 years working in grocery retail, Will Thomson and his young family are settling into Owaka.

Moving to a rural town with a young family could be daunting, but new Four Square Owaka owner Will Thomson says the Catlins community has made him feel at home from day one.  

Will, his wife Tae and their young son Ian have recently made the move to Owaka, where he has taken ownership of the local Four Square after spending 15 years building his grocery career. The move sees another locally owned family business committing to the future of a small South Island community.  

For Will, owning a Four Square has been a long-held goal. 

Starting as a part-time bakery assistant at PAK'nSAVE Northlands in Christchurch in 2011, he worked his way through multiple departments, taking on management and leadership roles before moving to Four Square Bluff as part of his pathway towards store ownership with the Foodstuffs South Island co-op. Today, he joins the hundreds of owner-operators across New Zealand who have built and invested in their own local grocery businesses through the co-operative model. 

"It hasn't happened overnight," says Will. "Owning a Four Square brings together everything I enjoy about grocery retailing, from working with customers and supporting a team through to being involved in the community."  

When the opportunity to purchase the Owaka store became available, Will and his family visited the area to see whether it could become their new home. 

"What stood out was the sense of community," says Will. 

"We wanted somewhere we could build a life, raise our son and be part of something bigger than ourselves. Owaka felt right from the start."  

Having spent several weeks in town ahead of taking ownership, Will says the welcome from locals exceeded all expectations. 

"The support has been incredible, we’ve been welcomed with open arms by the community and that means a lot from someone coming in as an outsider.  From the Lions Club at short notice fixing us up with firewood, to the local parenting support group who came smiling with a welcome basket to our door and every kindness in-between, we’re incredibly grateful for it all."  

That community spirit was on full display when members of the local Lions Club helped the family move into their new home. 

"Seven people took time out of their day to help us unload furniture and get settled. We were all sitting on the deck together enjoying a drink and having a chat not long after. It was a reminder of how locals look after locals and it meant a lot to us." 

Will says he is looking forward to becoming part of the fabric of the community and ensuring the store remains a place where people feel welcome. As both a business owner and a local, he says backing the community goes hand-in-hand with serving customers.  

"What I love about Four Square Owaka is the people. It's having a yarn in the aisles, getting to know the friendly faces and being part of everyday life in the community. 

"The store has been serving the community for a long time. My role is that of a caretaker, to serve the people and contribute where I can, ultimately ensuring that Four Square Owaka will stand the test of time and continue to be here for the future generations to come.” 

After working alongside former owners Mike and Hali, during the handover, Will says he's grateful for the support he's received from both the store team and the wider community as he steps into ownership. 

Customers can expect the same friendly service from the local store they know and trust. As a locally owned and operated business, Four Square Owaka will continue to support its local customers, suppliers, community organisations and the wider Caitlins region.