SMA Charter - an overview of the Group's purpose and membership criteria:

SMAWG Charter

SMA Membership - the Working Group consists of active members of the NZ Food & Grocery Council:

SMA Working Group Members

SMA Services Matrix - this schedule provides an easy to read "map" of services provided by each of the SMA's. This can be used as a guide to assist your assessment and selection of the appropriate SMA for your business needs:

SMAs - a Flexible Way Forward for FMCG Manufacturers & Brand Owners

Internationally manufacturers are increasingly willing to spend money to save money. They are directing ever-larger portions of budget toward outsourcing.

In the US it is estimated that SMAs represent 50% of grocery scanned sales, while Australia sits at around 20%. New Zealand is at 5-7% of scanned sales.

Of late there is a clear emergence of manufacturers and brand owners reviewing their go-to-market strategy, particularly with a focus on the field sales and merchandisng role. The changing face of New Zealand's FMCG retail environment is leading firms to re-evauate their approach, providng leaner and more flexible strategies.

Cost effectiveness is increasingly important; outsourcing enables a Brand owner to focus on core competencies and strategy whilst employing specialist skill to manage and action market tactics.

The development of New Zealand SMAs is a proactive industry move in response to this.

New Zealand's Sales & Marketing Agencies (SMA), formally known as "Brokers", is a sub-committee of the New Zealand Food & Grocery Council (FGC). It is a working group of senior SMA managers, established to represent outsourcing organisations on key issues affecting the grocery industry and its suppliers.

The working group has a representative on the key FGC committees so SMA issues are considered in decision making processes.

The SMA Working Group also meets independently to table and discuss issues affecting SMA's that are unique to that environment.

The SMA Working Group also provides a unified 'voice' for SMA businesses. It sets a foundation for developing communication and educating wider industry on the role and value of SMA's and an interface to support the benefits of outsourcing to New Zealand manufacturers and Brand owners.

The Group effectively represents the SMA perspective within the FGC, and provides a forum to discuss and resolve SMA industry issues.

Qualification as an SMA is any company providing contracted sales, promotion and merchandising services to multiple manufacturers or Brand owners.

SMAs must be a member of the FGC to be part of the Working Group.