The Pantry to end majority of grocery, retail operations

“The past few years have been challenging for all retailers, and The Pantry is no exception."

The Pantry will end the majority of its bulk grocery and retail operations and focus on a community cafe.

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Representatives of The Pantry - a community owned and run café and bulk grocery store - say the past few years have been challenging for retailers, and they haven’t dodged that.

In May 2017 South Alive opened the doors to The Pantry in another step in a quest to revitalise South Invercargill.

On Wednesday, Acting South Alive Limited chairperson Vicky Henry said The Pantry would not continue with its bulk refill and retail operations in 2025.

Instead, it will focus on becoming a fully-fledged community café.

“The past few years have been challenging for all retailers, and The Pantry is no exception,” Henry said.

“After careful consideration of what is best for our community and the wellbeing of our staff and volunteers, we have decided to refine The Pantry’s offerings to focus on what we do best.”

The Pantry will end the majority of its bulk refill and retail offerings and focus on being a community cafe.

The Pantry has become an important community hub for South Invercargill, providing a welcoming space for many who are otherwise isolated and serving as a central point for the work that South Alive does.

While the majority of the bulk refill and retail operations will not continue into 2025, South Alive have identified local Southland and New Zealand products are a key reason many people visit The Pantry.

Therefore, in addition to the café, The Pantry will continue to offer selected New Zealand bread-making and cleaning ingredients, along with Murihiku made products, such as the Hopefield Hemp range, Miele Apiaries honey, locally grown vegetables and more.

Frozen meals and The Pantry’s own condiment lines will also be further developed to offer unique tastes for people to take home.

“We believe these changes will allow us to better serve our community and continue to be a place where people can come together, enjoy great food, and support local products.”