WHEN the doors of Niue’s largest supermarket reopened just after 3pm on February 20, the business was officially under new management. The handover to Fiji-based CJS Supermarket, which closed the store for only half a day, is a new beginning for the retail hub that serves both the island nation’s 1700 residents and visiting tourists.
All current staff have been retained, including the local manager, meaning locals will still see the same faces. However, support will arrive periodically from Fiji, with specialists flying in to oversee procurement and auditing. This cross-pollination is expected to be the catalyst for the most significant change: the supply chain.
While shipments from New Zealand will continue as needed, the store will now also receive frequent supplies from Fiji.
“Shipments will be more frequent in comparison to NZ,” Namrata Singh, CJS Group Executive Director, confirmed, suggesting that the island’s chronic gap between ships may soon be a thing of the past.
This shift in sourcing is expected to have a direct impact on prices. With goods coming from Fiji offering lower landing costs, the company has pledged to pass those savings on to consumers. “We will do our best to reduce prices,” Singh stated, addressing the high cost of living that burdens the island. While the bulk of fresh produce will still arrive from New Zealand, the business plans to maintain relationships with local Niuean growers, continuing to work with the roughly ten existing suppliers.
Despite the scale of the acquisition—the store is the largest building on the island—no major renovations are planned. The previous owners constructed the facility to a high standard, and the new management sees no need to change what already works. However, they intend to enhance what already exists—a bakery, café, and liquor store—by providing those vendors with the support needed to improve and expand.
Looking ahead, the company is open to innovation. Ideas such as online ordering for outer villages and tourists, and pre-booking groceries for accommodation.
The longer-term vision for the store is simple and community-focused. When asked what they hope people will say about the business five years from now, the answer was clear: “That we have made shopping more affordable in Niue.” For a community long accustomed to the high costs of isolation, that is a welcome promise.