“Right now, our focus is on supporting our people and the emergency response, including assessing damage to the store once it’s safe to do so. It’s early days, and we’re still working through what it will take to get the store back on its feet for customers,” the post further read.
The store owners were willing to share more information when it became available. “In the meantime, we appreciate the messages and support from the community.” Traffic from Herne Bay into the CBD was diverted the next morning (Tuesday, June 17, 2025) by a “No Entry” sign at the top of College Hill, blocking the route that runs past the supermarket.
After the fire swept the supermarket, customers were forced to drop their shopping and evacuate when the fire alarm sounded about 11.18 AM (local time). More than 80 firefighters from 20 fire appliances were called to get rid of the blaze. Speaking to the New Zealand Herald, Fire and Emergency Senior Station Officer Mark Neville said that the firefighters stayed at the site overnight to deal with any hotspots and ensure the perimeter of the site was secure.
Foodstuff’s North Island chief executive Chris Quin had claimed that the fire broke out in a part of the store currently being refurbished. “It’s a significant event; there’s a lot we don’t know yet about the future, but we’re just so glad right now people are safe,” he said, the Herald reported.
Quin said New World Victoria Park was a very important location for FoodStuffs. “I don’t really know what the plan to get back to trading will be yet. “The first thing is we can’t get safe access to the building till Fire and Emergency give that to us. Secondly, obviously, a lot of water, a lot of smoke, and a lot of carcinogens have gone through the building. It’s probably extensively damaged,” he added.
