A refurbishment to the food court at Wellington Airport will see five food outlets close and leave those currently working there without a job.
Red Rocks, The Bean Hive, Freshbites, Billy Chu and Curry Capital, all of which surround a central air conditioning unit, will close once their lease expires on March 31. Delaware North, which owns the five outlets, would not exactly how many jobs would be lost, but it is thought to be around 20.
”Upon learning of the decision, we immediately notified all affected team members,” a company spokesperson said. “We are currently working closely with our staff as we support them during this period of transition.”
The air conditioning unit is being removed as part of a $15 million upgrade and put into the ceiling. Another similar unit was moved into the ceiling recently, with the process taking about three months.
It is understood that the employees at the five affected outlets will work on fixed term contracts up until March 31, although staff contacted were unable to talk due to a clause in their contract.
Wellington Airport spokesperson Greg Thomas said that when food and drink outlets close in the airport, the staff are often reemployed by other operators. A tender process is underway for options to replace the five outlets, which Thomas said would launch over the next 12 months.
