Foodstuffs celebrated its supplier superstars at the annual National Partnership Awards in Hamilton last night, honouring the talented partners who bring quality, creativity, and passion to grocery isles around the country.

More than 400 suppliers chose to attend the annual awards which are the centrepiece of the Foodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island co-ops’ biannual Expo trade show at Hamilton’s Claudelands Event Centre.

“Every day, our suppliers bring quality, creativity, and passion to the table. It’s this dedication that ensures we can offer Kiwis the very best products, value and experiences,” Chris Quin, CEO of Foodstuffs North Island told suppliers at the event.

“Your energy, your ideas, your ongoing pursuit of excellence - it’s what makes New Zealand supermarkets more than just a place to buy food.

"We range more than 60,000 products across our stores, sourced from roughly 10,000 suppliers - growers, manufacturers, importers - and we deliver around 9,000 new products into our stores every year.

“We're especially proud to have brought on board 160 new Kiwi suppliers in the past year, strengthening our commitment to supporting local businesses and bringing fresh, innovative products to our customers."

The evening featured 15 awards across two main categories: Category Excellence and National Awards, highlighting standout achievements from suppliers who are setting the benchmark in New Zealand’s fast-moving consumer goods industry.

Mary Devine, CEO of Foodstuffs South Island, highlighted the power of collaboration and shared purpose between Foodstuffs and its supplier partners.

“It’s always a privilege to stand before a room filled with such talent, passion, and energy. Tonight, we come together as partners, innovators, and industry leaders - each of us playing a role in shaping the future of our industry,” she said.

“Our strong, trusted supplier partnerships - many of which span decades - are at the forefront of our strategy, and by leveraging your expertise and unique insights, we’ll continue to drive success and deliver value together.

“The innovation and creativity I’ve witnessed at this year’s Expo reinforce my confidence that we are heading towards an exciting future - one that is bold, customer-focused, and best in class.”

The night’s most prestigious honour, the Foodstuffs National Partnership Award, was presented to Mars. Their exceptional collaboration across the Foodstuffs network saw them nominated in four different categories for both the North and South Island co-operatives.

“Mars’ excellence and their focus on building strong, value-driven partnerships make them a shining example of what true partnership looks like,” Devine said.

The Foodstuffs co-ops extended their congratulations to all finalists and winners. “Their achievements highlight the incredible impact of strong partnerships in driving innovation, sustainability, and excellence across New Zealand’s grocery sector,” Quin said.