New group aims at duopoly to lower grocery prices

New group aims at duopoly to lower grocery prices

A new consumer action group is taking aim at the two supermarket giants and promising to lobby aggressively for lower grocery prices, the NZ Herald reports. The group, which does not yet have a name, is being fronted by former Consumer NZ Chief Executive Sue Chetwin,...
New staff appointments at NZFGC

New staff appointments at NZFGC

NZFGC is pleased to announce two appointments heading into 2024 – Holly Cotter as General Manager and Donnell Alexander as Health and Regulatory Manager. Chief Executive Raewyn Bleakley said: “I’m delighted to announce the appointment of Holly and Donnell...
NZFGC discusses range of issues with Grocery Commissioner

NZFGC discusses range of issues with Grocery Commissioner

NZFGC has met with the Grocery Commissioner and Commerce Commission officials to discuss a range of issues. NZFGC Board members, Chief Executive Raewyn Bleakley, Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden and officials from the Grocery Team at the Commerce Commission met...
Woolworths NZ’s profits drop 52%

Woolworths NZ’s profits drop 52%

Woolworths NZ’s profits dropped 52 per cent in the last full year, with rising costs pushing up operational costs for the grocery retailer, the NZ Herald reports. The New Zealand arm of Australian-owned supermarket giant Woolworths still came out with $76 million in...
New group aims at duopoly to lower grocery prices

Iwi planning new 20-30 store supermarket chain -report

A consortium of iwi is reported to be in advanced talks over setting up a new supermarket chain, initially with between 20 and 30 stores, to take on Countdown and Foodstuffs. Stuff, quoting “multiple sources”, says Waikato Tainui, through its commercial arm Tainui...
Unit pricing now in supermarkets

Unit pricing now in supermarkets

Supermarkets are now required to display unit pricing on grocery products. The change applied from the end of August. Consumer Affairs Minister Duncan Webb said the new regulations will make it easier for consumers to compare product prices. Supermarket will be...

Woolworths’ rebrand in busy grocery year

A year of huge change in the grocery sector just got more interesting with Woolworths NZ’s announcement it is rebranding its Countdown stores back to the Kiwi icon Woolworths name. Woolworths first started as a general merchandise store in Wellington in 1929 and was...
Supie plans high-tech physical stores

Supie plans high-tech physical stores

Online grocery startup Supie says it is planning physical stores as it builds towards its goal of being a potential third major grocery retailer behind Foodstuffs and Countdown. Founder and CEO Sarah Balle has told Interest.co.nz it has signed up about 55,000...
Arnott’s return an encouraging move, says NZFGC

Arnott’s return an encouraging move, says NZFGC

The return of Arnott’s to manufacturing in New Zealand after 25 years is an encouraging move, says Raewyn Bleakley. She was speaking after the company today opened a new 4000 square metre factory in Auckland that it expects will make 7.5 million packs of crackers and...
NZ won’t follow France, UK on price caps, says Minister

NZ won’t follow France, UK on price caps, says Minister

New Zealand won’t follow France and the UK in introducing grocery price caps, Commerce Minister Duncan Webb has told Interest.co.nz The website reports the UK government is planning a voluntary cap on the price of basic food items such as milk and bread, similar...

Gabrielle damage becoming clearer

The extent of the damage to the food industry from Cyclone Gabrielle is slowly becoming clearer. A report by Stuff shows both the domestic and export markets will be hit hard. NZ Apples and Pears says the Hawke’s Bay pipfruit crop would be 33% smaller because of...