Foodstuffs

FAQs

Below you'll find a list of frequently asked questions about Foodstuffs and its organisations.

If you require further information, please download our media kit, or contact your local regional co-operative.

About Foodstuffs

  • What is Foodstuffs?

    Foodstuffs is New Zealand's biggest grocery retailer and distributor, and is one of the country's largest organisations. Our brands include New World, PAK'nSAVE, Four Square, Write Price, Shoprite, On the Spot, Gilmours, Trents, Henry's Beer, Wines & Spirits, Liquorland, Duffy & Finn's, and Toops. We employ 30,000 people nationwide, and are proudly 100% Kiwi owned and operated.

  • What is the Foodstuffs company structure?

    Foodstuffs consists of three separate, regionally based, retailer-owned co-operative companies (Auckland, Wellington and South Island) and a Federation body, Foodstuffs (NZ) Ltd, which is based in Wellington.

    To find out more visit the 'Who we are' section of the website

  • Does Foodstuffs offer franchise opportunities?

    Franchise opportunities do arise from time to time. The entry point for people new to grocery retailing is more commonly at the Four Square level. Management of the larger stores requires considerable industry knowledge and experience.

    To find out more about franchise opportunities go to Franchise page.

Community & Social Responsibility

  • What is Foodstuffs doing to give back to the community?

    At Foodstuffs we believe that our communities support our stores, so it's only right that we give back. We help our communities by supporting a range of national charitable organisations including CanTeen and Food for Thought, and act as a responsible corporate citizen. Individual owner operators also sponsor local community groups.

    www.canteen.org.nz

    www.foodforthought.co.nz

  • What is Foodstuffs doing to reduce the environmental impact of its business?

    Foodstuffs is committed to minimising the negative environmental impacts of its business activities. As well as complying with all legislative and regulatory requirements, there is an organisation-wide focus on energy efficiency and waste reduction throughout the business.

  • Which organisations does Foodstuffs support?

    Foodstuffs supports a range of sporting, environmental and community groups across the country. Through the Pams brand, Foodstuffs has been a long-time supporter of national charity CanTeen, and supports Food for Thought, a free nutrition education programme for Year five and six primary school students.

    Foodstuffs is helping the young netballers of the future hone their skills through New World's Elite sponsorship of Netball New Zealand, including the Silver Ferns.

    In addition to Foodstuffs' national sponsorships, individual store owners make significant contributions to numerous local community initiatives.

  • What is Foodstuffs doing to promote healthy eating?

    Foodstuffs' private label brand Pams sponsors the Food for Thought community-based nutrition programme teaching nine - 10 year olds healthy eating and lifestyle habits. We're introducing a "healthy-options" range of products under the Pams brand, and are looking at opportunities to reformulate products to reduce salt, fat and sugar content where appropriate.

    Foodstuffs also sponsors Netball New Zealand, a partnership that helps raise awareness around the importance of exercise, and we are working with the public health community to trial practical initiatives that seek to improve New Zealanders' diets.

  • How does Foodstuffs work with the organisations it supports?

    As a 100% owned and operated organisation Foodstuffs is committed to supporting the communities in which our stores operate.

    Foodstuffs aims to establish relationships that generate real benefits to New Zealand and New Zealanders with opportunities for staff to be actively involved.

    We develop true partnerships that are mutually beneficial with the organisations we support.

  • Who can I contact for Foodstuffs to consider supporting my community group/initiative?

    All requests from community groups must be made in writing and sent directly to the operator of the local store/s.

  • What is Foodstuffs policy on Palm Oil?

    Foodstuffs position on Palm Oil is that we want to provide customers with information to ensure they can make an informed choice.  To this end, Foodstuffs encourages all suppliers to voluntarily declare the use of Palm Oil in ingredient labelling.  We also encourage suppliers to source Palm Oil from a sustainable supply.

     

    For private label products, we are currently moving to require suppliers to declare their use of Palm Oil. Changes in product labelling will be gradually implemented as labelling is updated or product supply changes, but will be fully implemented by 2015.  Further, our buyers will work with suppliers towards sustainable sourcing, whenever commercially viable.

     

    Where our stores provide ingredient labelling on store-produced goods, such as bakery items, we will endeavour to declare the use of Palm Oil where it used as an ingredient. As labelling changes can be effected more quickly for store-produced goods we will work towards being compliant with this policy by the end of 2011.

Brands

  • What are the Foodstuffs brands?

    Foodstuffs' brands cover three main categories: retail; private label brands; and foodservice brands.

    Foodstuffs' retail brands are PAK'nSAVE; New World; Four Square; Write Price; On the Spot; Liquorland; Henry's Wines & Spirits; and Liquorland.

    Foodstuffs' private label brands include its Pams and Budget ranges of products that are exclusive to Foodstuffs stores.

    Foodstuffs' three cooperatives each own a foodservice brand: Trents Wholesale Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Foodstuffs South Island Ltd; Toops Wholesale Limited is owned by Foodstuffs Wellington Cooperative Society Ltd; and Gilmours is Foodstuffs (Auckland) Ltd's trusted foodservice brand.

Careers

  • What roles does Foodstuffs typically recruit for?

    The range of roles that Foodstuffs recruits for is broad. There are roles in advertising, finance, IT, retail advisory services, marketing, operations, training and organisational development, property, store development, manufacturing, wholesale/distribution and logistics.

  • What training opportunities are available?

    Training provided includes management programmes, apprenticeships, NZQA nationally recognised grocery retail and distribution related qualifications, adult education training, and short courses to meet business needs.

  • How can I become a Foodstuffs owner operator?

    Franchise opportunities do arise from time to time as a consequence of new store development or the sale of an existing business, and external candidates are considered for these opportunities. The entry point for people new to grocery retailing is more commonly at the Four Square level given management of the larger stores requires considerable industry knowledge and experience For further information about current franchise opportunities and criteria please fill out this form.

Suppliers

  • How can I become a supplier to Foodstuffs' private label brands?

    For information about becoming a supplier to Foodstuffs' home brands, please contact enquiries@foodstuffsbrands.co.nz

  • How can I become a supplier to Foodstuffs' stores?

    For information about becoming a supplier to Foodstuffs' stores, please contact your local co-operative.