Bite of Connings planned for Nelson

Nelsonians could soon be closer to a bite of farm-fresh produce from the Waimea Plains.

The Conning family has announced its first steps to bring a pop-up store that stocks fruit and vegetables harvested from the Connings Market Gardens to the central city.

Nelson City Council has agreed in principle to Connings leasing a council-owned site on Achilles Ave for the pop-up store, with the option of buying 69-101 Achilles Ave for the construction of a new Connings Food Market.

The announcement comes after Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities announced in February that it was not proceeding with plans for a housing development on the site.

Co-director Simon Conning says 30 per cent of customers who visit Connings Food Market in Appleby were Nelsonians, and the company was “stoked” to bring its produce closer to them.

“While we get the pop-up store humming along, we can keep working on our plans for a beautiful new store – a Nelson Connings Food Market with an expanded range of high-quality grocery products and artisan foods,” he says.

Nelson Mayor, Nick Smith, welcomed Connings’ plans.

“A Connings Food Market in Achilles Ave is an exciting investment that will help revitalise the central city and showcase this region’s horticultural produce and artisan foods,” he says.

“Connings is a well-respected local business with the expertise and experience from the successful Appleby food market to make this happen.

“It’s better to bring Connings to town than having thousands of us travelling to and from Appleby.”

Council chief executive, Nigel Philpott, says the move by Connings was a massive boost to the Bridge To Better project, which involves revitalising Bridge St and building capacity for hundreds of city centre homes and businesses.

“This particular site is well suited for a commercial operation, but housing developers should note that council will soon be putting out expressions of interest for other sites in our city centre that are suitable for new housing.”

The council says it is proposed the pop-up store will be established later this year in the former Hunting and Fishing building, which is currently occupied by Community Art Works on a month-by-month community lease. Alternative venues are currently being explored for the art centre.