I would like to acknowledge;
- The company's managing Director Dave Chambers,
- Mark Brosnan, the General Manager SuperValue and Fresh Choice Supermarkets, the building's owners, John Hutton and Tim Gould, members of the Ballin family.
- Can I also acknowledge the franchisees and as a former Minister of Commerce I understand the importance of the model in New Zealand.
- The initial leaders of the Countdown business including Jim Veitch, and members of the Rattray Family.
There have been a number of firsts in my 1st official week in office – I can't believe the Council was only installed a week ago – the is my seventh official event but the first opening of a commercial building and first plaque as Mayor of Christchurch so thank you.
We learn from our history so it is fantastic to hear about the finding of the ledger and it's return to the Rattray Family and also from Jim Veitch .
This site has amazing history. Grocery manufacturing, soft drinks, liquor and other activities associated with the original ownership have operated on this site for a combined 135 years
As we've heard it was in 1878 Ballins Breweries established a brewery here. I remember well as a child drinking not the beer but Ballins soft drinks.
Jim has really summarised the history of Countdown so I don't need to repeat it suffice to say the offices at 29 Bryon Street have been occupied by Progressive Enterprises or its subsidiaries for 30 years since 1983.
The current owners of this property Tim Gould and John Hutton bought this property in 1995 from progressive Enterprises. They were my former landlords. I asked Tim to say I was their best tenant. I lived in the "Licorice Allsorts" building across the road from the Dux. I spent over a decade in the CBD and have a real desire to move back
In 1999 they demolished the old Ballins brick west end building and built a new building in its place. They also renovated the historic east brick office building which sadly was damaged beyond repair in the earthquakes
This new office building is built on that same site.
So well done to everyone involved. This is wonderful milestone, not only for Progressive, but for the redevelopment of the Sydenham suburban centre and the City of Christchurch. It is a reflection of what can be achieved.
I speak to out of town visitors and say when I look at the CBD that I see nothing but opportunities. We are building the newest city in the world and you are one of the newest.
We learn from our history so it is fantastic to hear about the finding of the ledger and it's return to the Rattray Family and also from Jim Veitch .
This site has amazing history. Grocery manufacturing, soft drinks, liquor and other activities associated with the original ownership have operated on this site for a combined 135 years
As we've heard it was in 1878 Ballins Breweries established a brewery here. I remember well as a child drinking not the beer but Ballins soft drinks.
Jim has really summarised the history of Countdown so I don't need to repeat it suffice to say the offices at 29 Bryon Street have been occupied by Progressive Enterprises or its subsidiaries for 30 years since 1983.
The current owners of this property Tim Gould and John Hutton bought this property in 1995 from progressive Enterprises. They were my former landlords. I asked Tim to say I was their best tenant. I lived in the "Licorice Allsorts" building across the road from the Dux. I spent over a decade in the CBD and have a real desire to move back
In 1999 they demolished the old Ballins brick west end building and built a new building in its place. They also renovated the historic east brick office building which sadly was damaged beyond repair in the earthquakes
This new office building is built on that same site.
So well done to everyone involved. This is wonderful milestone, not only for Progressive, but for the redevelopment of the Sydenham suburban centre and the City of Christchurch. It is a reflection of what can be achieved.
I speak to out of town visitors and say when I look at the CBD that I see nothing but opportunities. We are building the newest city in the world and you are one of the newest.