What started 40 years ago as a small milk bar in a corner of the Nausori central business district area has evolved into a household supermarket name that draws hordes from across the Rewa Delta.
Tara’s Supermarket is without a doubt the most popular shopping outlet for the people of the Rewa Delta.
And it also caters to the food and grocery needs of the people from Tailevu, Naitasiri and some from the outer islands who transit through the small but bustling town.
Situated on the corner of Ross and Main streets in town, the supermarket attracts customers from far and wide “because the prices are just too good” as a regular customer shared.
Tara’s Supermarket Pte Ltd and Tara’s Property Pte Ltd director Mahendra Patel said it was through honesty, diligence and working hand-in-hand with the locals that the family-owned business grew over the years.
Originally from Surat, a city in the Western Indian state of Gujarat, Mr Patel and his parents left his country of birth, India, when he was only eight years old in 1972.
“It was a very tough time in India back then, a poor time and we had lots of people living together in one house,” Mr Patel explained.
“So we were given the opportunity or maybe the blessing of God to move out and we just managed to come to Fiji.
“We came and settled in Vuci Rd, Nausori, and have lived there ever since – which is why all my investments are in Nausori.”
Mr Patel received his primary education at Nausori Primary School and then went on to the then all-male DAV Boys College, which later became a coeducational institution in 1996 and was renamed DAV College.
He managed to reached Year 11 level before he dropped out of school to help out in the family business.
He said for ten years his parents worked for his uncle’s and cousin’s businesses before his mother, the late Tara Ben Dullabh, opened a milk bar in 1982 at the very same spot the current supermarket sits on Ross St.
“I used to work for my cousins in the same line of business, but at a very small scale and this was how I gained my experience.
“My mother started the first milk bar right here, but we were renting back then.
“Then in 1985 or 1986 we moved to the front on Main St and bought our first property for $350,000.
“Three years later, in 1989, we invested about half a million dollars in a supermarket business.”
Mr Patel said the family operated their supermarket on Main St for about 10 years before they received an opportunity to purchase the very building where Ms Dullabh had opened their first milk bar.
He said the family bought the Ross St building – which sits on an average of 600 square foot property – for about $2.8 million in 2001.
“This had a bigger space than where we were operating from on Main St, so we moved the supermarket here and rented out the Main St property.
“At the moment, you can see that this is the busiest and I can confidently say the best supermarket in Nausori because we make every effort to cater to the needs and wants of the local people from Rewa, Naitasiri and Tailevu.
“If you go to their koro and talk about Tara’s Supermarket, they will tell you much more than what I am sharing.”
According to Mr Patel, 95 per cent of his employees are iTaukei “because the majority of the people that shop here are iTaukei”.
“They are hardworking and very loyal to me and I am loyal to them as well.
“We continue to work hand-inhand to ensure everything moves in the right direction.
“There are always ups and downs, but for any problem or issue they always come and see the directors and we’ll try to solve it together.”
Mr Patel believes that with honesty, a great many things can be achieved including a successful business.
“Challenges are always there for every business, mainly financial challenges, but if you work hard and control your finances – your business will grow.
“I think the key to success for any business is honesty because once you are honest, your business will grow.
“Along with honesty is hard work, you have to work.
“I like to tell my employees that whoever works will never be a failure.”
Mr Patel said he has two children – a daughter practising medicine and a son in India. He said he was awaiting his son’s return to see if he had any new ideas for the family business.
“I am 61 years old now and I am just waiting for my son to come in and join us and bring in some new ideas.
“At the moment I’ve got the supermarket and other properties, so anything new will all depend on my son when he joins.”
Aside from Tara’s Supermarket, which was named after his late mother, Mr Patel owns a total of seven commercial buildings in and around Nausori Town and other rental properties.
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