26/08/2026
A Heartfelt Thank You to Dunedin ❤️
Good morning everyone,
Today, I want to speak from the bottom of my heart to the entire Dunedin community — to every family, every customer, every friend, and every community that has supported ISM Indian Save Mart and Kerala Hut throughout our journey from 2014 to 2026.
After 12 years of serving Dunedin, we have made the very difficult decision to officially close our Dunedin service on 29 August 2026.
This is not simply the closing of a business. For me, it feels like the closing of a very special chapter of my life.
When I started ISM in Dunedin in 2014, I had very little business experience. I had no idea where this journey would take me. What started with uncertainty slowly became something much bigger — a business built on trust, friendships, relationships, community and love.
Over these 12 years, we have had the privilege of serving people from so many different backgrounds. Dunedin taught us that food and groceries are much more than business — they bring people together.
I want to sincerely thank:
❤️ Dunedin Malayali Association (DMA) and the entire Malayali community
❤️ Dunedin Tamil Society and the Tamil community
❤️ Indians in Dunedin
❤️ Fijian community
❤️ Pacific Island communities, including Samoan and Tongan families
❤️ Sri Lankan community
❤️ Our Kiwi local customers and friends
❤️ South Dunedin community
❤️ Mediterranean communities
❤️ African communities
❤️ And every other family and community who walked through our doors, ordered from us, recommended us, encouraged us and stood beside us.
Many of you were not just customers. You became our friends, our supporters and part of our extended family.
I personally know many families who have depended on ISM for their regular grocery needs, and many customers who became familiar faces over the years. We have shared conversations, celebrations, difficult moments, laughter and countless memories.
That is why this decision has been incredibly difficult and emotional.
I understand that our closure may create some inconvenience for families who have relied on us, and I am truly sorry for that. This decision was not made easily. After 12 years of building something together with the Dunedin community, walking away is very painful.
But although the Dunedin chapter of ISM is coming to an end, our relationships will never end.
Most of you already have my contact details. If you ever need help in Christchurch, have grocery requirements, or simply need guidance, please feel free to contact me.
You can also continue to order groceries through our online service:
🌐 www.savemartnz.com
We can continue to serve customers across the South Island through our online grocery service, with free delivery throughout the South Island.
When I look back at the journey from 2014 to 2026, I don’t measure our success only by the business we built.
I measure it by the people we met, friendships we made, families we served, communities that supported us and memories that will stay with us forever.
ISM would not have become what it is today without Dunedin.
So, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU, DUNEDIN.
ISM may be closing its Dunedin doors, but Dunedin will always have a special place in my heart.
The shop may close.
The journey may change.
But the relationships we built over these 12 years will remain forever.
With heartfelt thanks, respect and gratitude,
Sujith John
ISM Import & Exports Ltd
ISM Indian Save Mart & Kerala Hut Dunedin
🙏❤️ Thank you for being part of our journey from 2014–2026. ❤️🙏
