Anticipation has been building in Lake Hāwea during the past few weeks before the official opening of the township’s first supermarket today (Tuesday October 22).

Matt and Dixie Gallaher (and their two young children) have moved to Lake Hāwea from Albert Town to manage Fresh Choice Lake Hāwea.

“We’re immensely excited and proud to be fulfilling our dream of running our own business,” Matt said.

“The opportunity is made even more rewarding through the incredible community and location we’ll be operating in.”

He said the supermarket is employing 17 “familiar faces from the community”. 

“As we continue through the opening months and begin to find our footing as ‘fresh’ owners, we’ll be looking to bring local suppliers into our aisles,” he added.

Fresh Choice Lake Hāwea landowner Ray MacLeod said he was “very pleased with the outcome”.

He confirmed that an NRG Gym will be operating above the Bodkin Street supermarket, with a scheduled opening date of December 1.

The new Fresh Choice supermarket on Bodkin Street, Lake Hāwea.

Environmental Accounting Systems Ltd is also establishing a new office upstairs, he said.

Ray said a 23 month average of traffic counters between Lake Hāwea and Wānaka indicated approximately 3,500 vehicles travel over the Maungawera Hill in both directions each day, with 5,700 vehicles crossing the Albert Town Bridge.

He hoped the new supermarket would divert “750 return trips”, leading to “a safer road” and fewer cars on the Albert Town Bridge.

The supermarket was designed and constructed by Breen Construction.

PHOTOS: Wānaka App