From wholesaler to specialty food destination and fresh market - 100 years of Moore Wilson's
The Wellington supermarket made its first delivery a century ago.
It started as a merchant wholesaler near the end of World War I, and stands today as a Wellington institution.
Now celebrating it''s 100th birthday, Moore Wilson's, founded by Frederick Moore on June 1, 1918, has expanded through the years to become one of the city's go-to destinations for specialty food, homewares and fresh food.
Initially opened on Wakefield St, the family business has had several homes through the years, but has remained within the Moore bloodline.
Family-owned Moore Wilson's is celebrating 100 years of business in Wellington.
It shifted to Lorne St in 1927, before Frederick's son, Stan, became involved in the 1930s.
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A third generation then came on board in the 1960s, when Stan's son Graeme was introduced as the business moved to Wright St in Mt Cook.
Moore Wilson's 100th anniversary. Staff outside the Lorne Street warehouse, May 1937. Frederick Moore is front centre and son Stan to his right.
It stayed there until 1984, before moving to its current location on Tory St.
Executive director Julie Moore, a fourth generation Moore Wilson's employee, put the business' success down to the vision and innovation of her father Graeme, who is now managing director.
"I can only talk about my time here, but my father is very much an ideas man and had a little bit of vision ahead of his time."
Vincent Greenhill makes the company's first delivery, with two young helpers on board, in 1918.
It was under Graeme that Moore Wilson's introduced the "cash and carry" concept and then the fresh market concept, which was introduced in 1998.
"A big part of our business was the opening of that fresh market."
Julie Moore's brother Nick, now the Tory St manager, joined the business in the late 1990s, after Julie joined in 1991.
And there is now a fifth generation involved, with Julie's daughter, Sophie Mark, operating on the checkouts in the fresh market.
To celebrate the anniversary, the company is running 100 giveaway promotions during June.
And if you're wondering where the "Wilson" part of Moore Wilson's came from, that was courtesy of one JH Wilson who was a partner when the business opened in 1918.
Wilson only lasted a year, but Frederick Moore liked the name so much he decided to keep it.
- Stuff
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