Legislation to stop major supermarkets blocking competitors from accessing land for new stores is now being considered by a parliamentary select committee. It was introduced into Parliament under urgency on Budget night by Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David...
Consumer NZ has launched a petition calling on Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark to go beyond the Commerce Commission’s recommendations in its report on the grocery sector, in order to bring about stronger competition. The Commission found...
A parliamentary select committee has agreed a Code of Conduct would help address issues of competition, uncompetitive behaviour, and lack of choice across the grocery sector. After considering a petition by FGC Chief Executive Katherine Rich, it has suggested the...
The likelihood or otherwise of the Government breaking up the supermarket duopoly is the subject of two fascinating pieces of analysis. In the most recent, Stuff business writer Tom Pullar-Strecker concludes the Government isn’t going to overrule the Commerce...
Commerce Minister David Clark has given his strongest indication yet the Government could be about to break up New Zealand’s supermarket duopoly. Next steps will be announced in late May. In an interview on NewstalkZB about the 7.6% rise in food prices in the year to...
Could this be the new face of competition in NZ supermarkets: A 500g block of Tararua butter $4 compared to $7.30 and $6.79! A 1.2kg box of Weet-Bix $5 compared to $7.80! Greggs special blend instant coffee $1 compared to $2.49! The lower prices were all from The...
NZFGC member companies continue to add food products to the Health Star Rating system despite the challenges of Covid – maintaining operations and an efficient supply chain and keeping staff safe. The latest update for Q3 and...
The Ministry of Health has backtracked on a claim by the Director-General of Health that RAT kits requisitioned from private businesses were not already in New Zealand when the Ministry took them, Stuff reports. It says last month, when news broke that the Ministry...
As the Commerce Commission’s virtual conference on its Grocery Market Study continues, commentator Ernie Newman reviews the first few days of what he calls compelling viewing. His article in the New Zealand Herald begins: “In a lockdown almost any pastime beats...
The NZ Food & Grocery Council and Consumer NZ have published a joint open letter to Parliament today calling for a shake-up of the supermarket industry. They want the following changes to benefit consumers and suppliers: A mandatory Code of Conduct for...
Private labels do more harm than good for suppliers and consumers in New Zealand’s highly concentrated grocery sector, according to independent research commissioned by FGC. Researchers examined the effects of private labels on consumer outcomes in the retail grocery...
The Commerce Commission has today published the 87 submissions it has received on its draft report on the market study into the grocery sector. You can find them on their website along with NZFGC’s submission and a report we commissioned into the effects of private...
