Dallas Thompson has served under five owners, worn four uniforms, worked in two buildings and through a global pandemic in the 30 years she has been at Whakatāne New World.

She started at the store in 1996, fresh out of high school, aged 17, as a grocery assistant stocking shelves and helping customers find items.

Over the years, she has taken on many different roles in the supermarket, from grocery assistant, to checkout worker, duty manager, chilled and frozen foods manager, produce manager, and, for the past 17 years, she has worked in the office.

One of the only departments that she hasn’t worked in is the deli.

“I see that as more of a specialist department where you've really got to know what you're doing.”

Much has changed over the years. She recalls the store not being allowed to sell alcohol on Sunday nights, closing earlier than it does now, and shoppers using coupons to obtain special deals on products.

She can also remember when Flybuys was introduced in the 1990s.

Working at New World has been “a family affair”.

All three of her brothers have worked with her at the supermarket and now her 18-year-old son is there full time, having finished high school.

She said the New World staff had become just as important to her as her real family.

“You have your own whānau, but then you have a New World whānau.”

New World moved into a new, larger, building across the road from the river in 2003.

The new premises were a big improvement, with Ms Thompson recalling how some aisles in the old building were hot and humid to work in over the summer months and then in the colder months, they were freezing.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, she said she was lucky enough to be able to work from home with New World and Foodstuffs being “very flexible and supportive”.

Now, if she is unable to go into work for any reason, she can also work from home.

Of the four uniforms she has worn, Ms Thompson said the current one is her favourite.

“I’ve worn some not-so-nice ones."

Ms Thompson’s long service was recognised at a New World Service Award dinner together with other long-serving colleagues who have been with the store for five, 10 and 25 years.

She was awarded a certificate, a 30-year dedication name badge and a bouquet of flowers.

When describing her time at New World, she said, “It's quite full on,” but she still enjoys every day of it and does not plan on leaving anytime soon.