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Last week I lamented the disappearance of the previously fine craft beer range at Redwoodtown's newly opened Countdown supermarket. The ink was barely dry on that column when news broke that another Blenheim supermarket, FreshChoice Springlands, has also been sold to Countdown.

This latest sale is potentially even more of a threat for beer lovers. FreshChoice has for years offered one of New Zealand's largest and most stylistically diverse ranges of craft beer. If the standard Countdown policy is applied, that range will be decimated.

FreshChoice Springlands' commitment to craft beer dates back to the late 1990s, when former liquor manager Peter Morice became interested in craft beer. As a frequent visitor to the store, I used to be forever be bending Peter's ear about some new beer I'd tried, and in return he'd bail me up about his latest wine discoveries. Over time, we became firm friends and, along with our partners, started to meet socially. Since then, we've cracked open some pretty special beers and wines.

Peter's own interest in craft beer was soon reflected in the beer range at Springlands and he started to lavish the same care and attention on his choice of beers that he had previously reserved exclusively for his wines. He went out of his way to source as many interesting and unusual brews as possible. The public responded, and as the beer range grew, so too did the store's nationwide reputation as a shrine to good beer.

After last week's announcement, I contacted the store's new owner to seek some assurances about the future of its craft beer range.

Fearing a repeat of what had happened at Redwoodtown I explained my concerns to Countdown's senior liquor buyer, Steve Sexton. He promised to discuss the situation within the company and get back to me.

The next day, he phoned back and assured me he intended to restore local craft beers to the Redwoodtown store and was considering allowing the store to stock other New Zealand craft beers.

He has already invited two Blenheim breweries, Renaissance and Moa, to submit their beers for ranging. He also promised there would be a full review of the beer range at Springlands when that store was rebranded as a Countdown.

In the meantime, shoppers at Redwoodtown Countdown are encouraged to submit requests for their preferred craft beers, in person, to the liquor manager, Mike Vivier.

Having previously run the beer and wine department at FreshChoice Springlands, Mike is beer savvy and enthusiastic to see craft beers restored to Redwoodtown. He is available on Tuesday mornings, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons and all day Fridays.

Meanwhile, it would be remiss of me not to point out that, while Countdown deliberates, Blenheim New World's beer range just gets better and better.

Cheers!

- The Marlborough Express

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