Foodstuffs North Island (FSNI) – the local family-owned grocer co-op behind New World, PAK’nSAVE and Four Square stores - says it is making solid progress across key areas of regulatory reform while continuing to deliver value, service and innovation for customers across the North Island. 

The Commerce Commission’s Annual Grocery Report, released today, acknowledged progress in regulatory compliance by the grocery industry, and also identified areas where further progress is expected. 

“We back the intent of the still relatively new regulatory framework, to drive competition, efficiency and better outcomes for New Zealand consumers,” said FSNI CEO Chris Quin. “We’ve taken that responsibility seriously from day one and have put in place a broad programme of work to meet our obligations and make the system work well for customers, suppliers and retailers alike. 

“Much of this work has been underway for some time, and it’s being delivered alongside our day-to-day focus on serving millions of customers a week, investing in new stores and technology, and keeping our supply chain efficient and resilient.” 

The Commission also noted that competition in the grocery sector is more developed in areas with higher population density and found no evidence of landholding issues of concern across the industry – findings welcomed by FSNI. 

“We’re pleased the Commission has recognised that competition is strongest where demand and population support it, and that concerns about land holdings are not borne out by the evidence,” said Quin. 

“We’re focused on opening new stores and providing new jobs in small, remote and growing communities where the need is clear – that’s a priority for us and our owner-operators. The joint investment by family grocers, that underpins the co-op model, enables us to be in many small communities.”  

Key progress across 2024–25 includes: 

• Opening new stores in communities across the North Island including Four Square Ōpunake, PAK’nSAVE Highland Park, New World The Sands (Papamoa), New World Havelock North, Four Square Waipawa, Four Square Snells Beach, Four Square Huntly, Four Square Putaruru and reopening New World Mt Albert. In two weeks we’ll open New World Pt Chevalier. 

• Continuing to support the Grocery Supply Code by training thousands of people in our store and support teams, and surveying suppliers to lift performance and engagement. 

• Investing in digital infrastructure, store upgrades and supply chain resilience to ensure efficiency across the full network.
 
• Providing a regulated wholesale supply channel to qualifying non-member retailers since March 2023, and working hard with suppliers and retailers to increase participation and support uptake. Support suppliers playing a greater role in making the regulated wholesale regime more effective. 

• Working towards zero errors in pricing accuracy – customers need confidence that the price on the label is what they pay at the checkout.  

• Supporting transparency through initiatives such as the Infometrics-Foodstuffs NZ Grocery Supplier Cost Index (GSCI), and value tools like the PAK’nSAVE Top 50 Price Check. 

Quin says the Co-op’s approach has been to get on with the job, build capability across its 24,000-strong workforce, and keep working with the Commission, suppliers, and others to improve outcomes for customers, suppliers and communities. 

“In the space of two years, we’ve moved thousands of people into a highly regulated environment. That shift hasn’t been easy, but our teams have stepped up and shown what the Co-op model is all about: rolling up our sleeves, working together, and doing what’s right for the long term.” 

The Co-op has also worked hard to deliver value and price stability for the 3.9 million customer visits it serves each week. Since late 2023, the average rate of retail price increases at the co-op’s stores has always been lower than the rate of our suppliers’ cost increases for goods in the categories Stats NZ monitors. 

When food price inflation peaked in late-2022 and 2023, the co-op’s rate of retail price increases was almost always below Stats NZ’s national rate, in the categories Stats tracks. 
An international comparison commissioned by Foodstuffs shows that grocery prices in New Zealand remain competitive with overseas retailers. The data revealed that a basket of 20 popular grocery items at PAK’nSAVE was cheaper than the same basket at Woolworths and Aldi in Australia, and Tesco in the UK.  

“We’re focused on delivering value every day, and we’re proving that you can do that while lifting standards, improving transparency, and meeting new regulatory expectations at the same time,” said Quin. 
The Co-op will continue to support the sector-wide reform programme and contribute to the ongoing development of the Grocery Industry Competition Act. 

“At the end of the day, this work is about ensuring all New Zealanders can access good food, fair prices and real choice. That’s something our Co-op of local grocers believes in, and it’s what drives our work every day.” 
 
For more information on Foodstuffs North Island and how we’re responding to the evolving regulatory landscape in New Zealand, visit:  

https://www.foodstuffs.co.nz/en/news-room/2025/See-Where-Your-Grocery-Dollar-Goes-Foodstuffs-2025-Fact-Base-and-Progress-Report 

Or watch our video, A Little Something About Foodstuffs: