Mystery buyer and customer saves Wing & Co, Sandy Bay from closing

The future of an iconic Hobart store was thrown into doubt earlier this year when its building hit the market – but after 60 years of trading, it will finally change hands, and the staff couldn’t be happier to keep their jobs.

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STAFF said they are thrilled to learn their popular family grocer won’t be shutting down after all.

Manager Maria Wickham said a regular customer at Wing & Co Asian grocery store has come to the rescue and bought the business after the owners made the difficult decision to sell.

She said the new owner hopes to continue employing original staff.

“They also have a vision to improve customer service in the future, maybe online ordering or home delivery,” she said.

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Ms Wickham said she was very excited to keep the doors open at Wing & Co, founded by her parents Joseph Foong and Laraine Henry in the 1950s.

“A lot of people thought we were going to close down and they were so sad but they don’t have to be,” she said.

Manager at Wing & Co Asian grocer in Sandy Bay, Maria Wickham alongside senior sales staff, Annie Ng and purchasing officer, Kalani Lampkin as the grocer was going to be shutdown but has been saved. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“I hope it will remain an institution in the Hobart psyche.”

She said the grocer’s can-do approach to sourcing alternative and hard-to-find products contributed to the grocer’s success.

“We’ve been called the ‘weird food shop’ – if you’re looking for something different people come to Wing & Co,” she said.

Purchasing officer Kalani Lampkin and senior sales worker Annie Ng said they were “really happy” to keep their jobs.

“Almost three years I’ve been here so it was going to be pretty sad to see the place go,” Mr Lampkin said.

“I love the people here, customers especially,” Ms Ng said.