The Trusts plans to open up to 10 new hospitality venues and retail stores in Auckland’s west over the next five years, investing more than $40 million over that time.

The organisation has a community mandate to operate liquor licenses in the region and its newly-released five-year strategic plan contains details of the largest capital expenditure in its 50-year history as local population numbers are forecast to grow significantly.

The Trusts says it is aiming to grow annual revenues by 23% to $160 million within five years.

The planned venues will range in size from 50-500m2 and are expected to introduce innovative new restaurant and bar concepts and provide additional sites to match the projected population growth in suburbs throughout the region. 

Allan Pollard, CEO of The Trusts, says West Auckland has seen significant population growth in recent years and a new contemporary hospitality model will be launched as a result of feedback from the local community.

“Within the next three decades, the North Western suburbs of Auckland are expected to see an additional 100,000 people move to the area, equivalent to the population of Dunedin, and there is an urgent to initiate a significant development programme to introduce hospitality and retail infrastructure that is targeted to the evolving demographics of the area.

“What we know about the arrival of new residents to the region is they have different experiences and expectations of hospitality models than what has been available in the West to date. To accommodate this emerging segment of the market, we are looking at a number of offerings ranging from boutique pop-up bars and restaurant-led gastro pubs within walking distance of public transport hubs and major apartment complexes, through to large-scale venues which can accommodate up to 300 people.

“We also expect this move to benefit New Zealand’s craft beer industry as we bring in new concepts, such as the creation of a new Garage Project bar inside one of our retail outlets,” he says.

Pollard says they intend to increase the number of The Trusts’ retail and hospitality venues and also upgrade every one of its existing outlets by 2028. They also plan to increase the number of patrons they can accommodate at their venues by a third.

He says the investment will also be a boost for local employment with The Trusts, already the second largest employer in West Auckland, looking to grow its staff numbers by 10% to around 400.

Pollard says the projected increase in revenue will also allow the social enterprise to target the return of $5 million to local community groups each year, through its charity support programmes.