Wānaka’s Mediterranean Market is open for business and encouraging customers to put in their orders for Christmas hams, but discussion is underway about the business’s possible closure.

The long-running local artisan grocer is owned by Bidfood NZ, a grocery wholesaler.

Bidfood NZ CEO Phil Struckmann told the Wānaka App the company was consulting with Wānaka Mediterranean Market staff on a proposal to close the business of 23 years.

He emphasised it was “a proposal at this stage”.

Christmas hams were being advertised yesterday.

The consultation period would finish at the end of this week, he said.

Phil declined to comment further this week “out of respect for the staff”.

Questions about the future of the Mediterranean Market and its neighbouring tenant McKenzie and Willis were raised when their premises at 6/22 Ardmore Street was sold in August.

The Wānaka App has been advised there are still two years left on the lease for both businesses, but only McKenzie and Willis has confirmed it has plans to relocate elsewhere in Wānaka when the lease ends.

The Wānaka Mediterranean Market has operated in Wānaka since 2001, initially under the name the Wānaka Wholesale Market, and it has gone through a handful of ownership changes in its more than two decades of operation. 

PHOTOS: Wānaka App