Top five retail brands NZ should hope to see in 2021

Thursday, 28 January 2021

Burger joint Five Guys is considering New Zealand, Costco has started building and Ikea says it will eventually set up shop here.

New Zealand’s economy had proven to be relatively robust in the face of the global pandemic but is that enough to entice other international brands to open their doors?

First Retail Group managing director Chris Wilkinson said international events might make retailers wary of expanding at the moment, but that did not mean some might not take tentative steps towards New Zealand by increasing their digital footprint.

New Zealand was already well served by its range of retailers but there were some, like Crate and Barrel or Williams Sonoma, that might see a market here, Wilkinson said.

* The Warehouse, Farmers and others look vulnerable when Costco and Amazon hit New Zealand

* The competitors that could lower NZ's supermarket prices

For more than a decade, rumours have swirled around the possible arrival of discount supermarket Aldi.

* Will NZ's new Ikea be part of the Swedish retailer's plan to downsize?

* Ikea, Aldi & Zara: Big brands keeping Kiwis waiting

So what other brands would we like to see make the jump to our local shores?

Aldi

For more than a decade rumours have swirled that Aldi’s owners were eyeing up entry into the New Zealand market.

The appeal for New Zealanders is obvious: cheap off-brand food and discounts on homewares.

But so far, Aldi has said it has no plans for New Zealand.

Events in Australia do no bode well for any possible move across the ditch.

Last year Kaufland, a large format supermarket on par with Aldi, announced it was exiting the Australian market halfway through building its first distribution centre.

Wilkinson said the surprising move by Kaufland reflected the challenges being faced in the grocery sector in Australia and would have slowed down any expansion plans for New Zealand.

Decathlon stores are massive and include activity stations where you can test out products.

Ikea

It has been over two years since Ikea announced that it was coming to New Zealand. Since then, it has been largely crickets.

The company registered with the company’s office, and then nearly let its registration lapse.

In February last year, Ikea announced it planned to open three 'customer meeting points' across the country in the lead-up to the opening of its full-sized store in Auckland.

At the time, the company promised to release further information in the following months however the world was then plunged into the global pandemic and nothing more has been said.

Hundreds of people waited in line for an In-N-Out burger at the Auckland pop-up store.

Decathlon

French sports goods retailer Decathlon has 1200 stores globally, and a digital presence in New Zealand.

But nothing has come of the hopeful rumours in 2019 that the big box retailer was set to open in Auckland.

Decathlon stores are massive, with some as big as 35,000 square metres, and include 'activity stations' where customers can try out a wide range of sports equipment from bikes and skateboards to basketballs and surfboards.

On Monday, the National Basketball Association (NBA) named Decathlon as its official licensee across Asia and four other regions.

In-N-Out Burger

Uniqlo is described as fashionable but not trendy, a formula that has worked well for the company’s owner, Tadashi Yanai, who is the richest man in Japan.

In-N-Out Burger has been a bit of a tease for international fans.

Founded in 1948, In-N-Out Burger is known for its neopolitan shakes and home-style Secret Menu that includes three-pattie burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches. It also allegedly has a swathe of celebrity fans including the likes of Paris Hilton, Beyonce and Kim Kardashian.

But the company has few permanent restaurants outside of California, with a smattering of locations in Texas, Nevada, Utah and Oregon.

Last year, there was a flurry of excitement after the company opened a pop-up restaurant in Auckland.

But it may have all been an exercise in protecting the company’s local copyright, rather than a tentative step towards opening in New Zealand.

In-N-Out Burger has previously set up a temporary store in Auckland in 2017 and in 2013.

Uniqlo

Japanese fashion firm Uniqlo has expanded rapidly in Australia over the last five years and has been tipped to enter New Zealand since the demise of Topshop in 2017.

Uniqlo has 22 stores in Australia but doesn’t ship to New Zealand.

Founded in 1984 in Hiroshima, Japan, the brand has over 2000 stores in 25 countries and its owner, Tadashi Yanai, is the richest man in Japan.

For those unfamiliar with the brand, Uniqlo is often described as fashionable but not trendy, with basic staples available year-round.