Foodstuffs NZ

• Business / Trading Name: Foodstuffs (N.Z.) Limited (trading as Foodstuffs New Zealand)[^1]

• Company Number: 43087[^1]

• NZBN: 9429040748160[^1]

• Entity Type: New Zealand Limited Company (non-listed, jointly owned cooperative entity)[^1]

• Business Classification: Grocery retail & wholesale cooperative (supermarket operator) – Industry category: Retail (supermarkets)[^2]

• Year Founded: 1933 (incorporated 26 Jan 1933)[^1]; Origins: Formed by regional grocers’ co-ops established 1922 onward[^2]

• Addresses: Registered office at 35 Landing Drive, Māngere, Auckland 2022 (Headquarters, co-located with FS North Island)[^3]

• Website URL: No dedicated parent website (group information provided via Foodstuffs North Island site)[^2]

• LinkedIn URL: linkedin.com/company/foodstuffs-newzealand (Foodstuffs New Zealand profile)[^4]

• Company Hub NZ URL: companyhub.nz/…/9429040748160 (CompanyHub profile, NZ Companies Office data)[^1]

• NZ Companies Office URL: https://app.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/43087

• Social Media URLs: None exclusively for FS New Zealand. (Public updates via Foodstuffs NI/SI channels and LinkedIn)

• Ultimate Holding Company: N/A. Ownership: Jointly owned by Foodstuffs North Island Ltd and Foodstuffs South Island Ltd (each cooperative holds ~50%)[^2]

• Key Shareholders: Foodstuffs North Island Ltd (~50%) and Foodstuffs South Island Ltd (~50%) – representing their member grocers[^2]

• Leadership: Managing Director: Chris Quin (CEO of FS North Island, also MD of FSNZ)[^5]. Governance is by a board drawn from both regional co-ops’ leadership. (Chris Quin and Mary Devine (CEO FS South Island) are key executives for group issues.)

• Staff: Minimal direct staff; relies on staff of FS North & South Island for national functions. (Group employs ~38,000 via regional co-ops: see FSNI/FSI below.)

• Staff with Previous Government Roles: None known at executive/board level (no ex-Ministers or MPs in top roles). Foodstuffs NZ primarily appoints industry executives; lobbying is handled in-house via industry bodies.

• Past Employees: Tony Carter – Managing Director of Foodstuffs NZ for 17 years (1990s–2010s), later Air NZ Chairman[^6]. Carter’s long tenure shaped Foodstuffs’ modern strategy. Other past FSNZ directors are senior grocers from the regional co-ops.

• Clients: Not applicable. (Foodstuffs NZ is the parent entity coordinating the co-ops, not a consultancy with external clients. Its “clients” are essentially its co-op members and their retail stores.)

• Industries/Sectors Represented: Supermarkets, grocery retail and wholesale distribution (fast-moving consumer goods sector)[^2]. Represents the supermarket industry in NZ alongside competitor Woolworths NZ.

• Publicly Disclosed Engagements: Made submissions and engaged with the Commerce Commission market study into groceries (2020–2022)[^5]. Providing monthly progress reports to the Minister of Commerce on competition measures post-study[^5]. Coordinated industry input on a mandatory Grocery Code of Conduct and establishment of a grocery regulator (with MBIE)[^5]. Trade memberships (via FSNZ) give it a voice in policy forums (see “Affiliations”).

• Affiliations: Member on behalf of co-ops of 15 industry associations, e.g. BusinessNZ, Retail NZ, NZ Business & Parliament Trust, Consumer Healthcare Products NZ, GS1 NZ, Business Leaders’ Health & Safety Forum, Retail Meat NZ, Sustainable Business Network, Packaging Forum, Climate Leaders Coalition, Australian Packaging Covenant (APCO), Organics NZ, WasteMinz, NZ Food Waste Champions 12.3, NZ Alcohol Beverages Council[^7]. (These memberships position Foodstuffs in policy discussions across commerce, sustainability, and industry standards.)

• Sponsorships / Collaborations: Participates in the New Zealand Business & Parliament Trust (sponsoring events that connect MPs and businesspeople)[^7]. Collaborates with government on social initiatives (e.g. supporting Food Rescue programs under its “Here for NZ” CSR platform). Partnered with Police on retail crime prevention trials (facial recognition tech pilot) in consultation with the Privacy Commissioner[^8].

• Events: Hosts annual “Checker of the Year” competition for checkout staff (nationwide event for its stores)[^9]. Organises supplier conferences and brand promotions (internal co-op events). Sponsors industry conferences via its trade associations (e.g. Retail NZ events).

• Political Donations: None disclosed as corporate donations. (Foodstuffs NZ itself has not publicly donated to political parties. Any political contributions are made by individual owner-operators or via industry groups, not through the parent company – and no significant donations by Foodstuffs entities appear in NZ Electoral Commission records.)

• Controversies: Market dominance: Identified as part of a duopoly with excessive profits and lack of competition in NZ grocery market . Anti-competitive land covenants: Historically used lease covenants to block competitors, until banned by law in 2022 (Foodstuffs NZ then professed support for removing them)[^5]. Opaque ownership structure: Critics allege FSNZ’s cooperative image belies concentrated control (see FSNI “four owners” issue)[^10]. Privacy concerns: Facing civil liberties backlash for deploying facial recognition CCTV in stores without clear consent . Attempted merger: Foodstuffs NZ’s 2023 bid to merge the co-ops was blocked by regulators over competition concerns (raising suspicions of further market power grab).

• Other Information of Note: Foodstuffs NZ exists chiefly as a coordination vehicle – it is non-trading (no direct stores) and funnels collective efforts on national issues[^10]. It owns shared assets (e.g. Foodstuffs Own Brands Ltd for private labels, Foodstuffs Finance) and represents the co-ops in dealings with government. Recent development: The proposed North–South Island co-op merger (2023) would have likely dissolved Foodstuffs NZ into a single national co-op, but with that blocked, Foodstuffs NZ continues its role as the umbrella for now.

• Recipient of Wage Subsidy Scheme: No. (As an entity, FSNZ did not claim COVID-19 wage subsidies. In early 2020, Foodstuffs directed any of its supermarket owners who applied for subsidies to withdraw and repay them, given supermarkets’ ability to trade in lockdown[^11]. Only a few Four Square micro-stores in tourist towns – heavily affected by lost tourism – were excepted and allowed to use the subsidy due to up to 70% revenue declines[^11].)

Foodstuffs North Island Limited – North Island Cooperative Company

• Business / Trading Name: Foodstuffs North Island Limited (sometimes “Foodstuffs NI” or informally “Foodstuffs North Island Co-op”)[^12]

• Company Number: 41782[^12]

• NZBN: 9429040750835[^12]

• Entity Type: New Zealand Limited Company (cooperatively owned enterprise)[^12]. Formed by merger of two co-ops (Auckland & Wellington).

• Business Classification: Grocery retail & wholesale cooperative (supermarket operator). Industry category: Retail trade (supermarkets & grocery wholesaling)[^2][^13].

• Year Founded: 1925 (incorporated 28 March 1925 as Foodstuffs Auckland Ltd)[^12]. Began trading as FS North Island on 1 Sep 2013 after merger of Auckland & Wellington cooperatives[^2].

• Addresses: Head Office: 35 Landing Drive, Auckland Airport, Māngere, Auckland 2022 (current registered office and distribution centre campus)[^3][^13]. Historical: 60 Roma Road, Mt Roskill, Auckland 1041 (former longstanding HQ, pre-2018)[^12].

• Website URL: foodstuffs.co.nz (corporate site for FS North Island)[^4][^13]

• LinkedIn URL: linkedin.com/company/foodstuffs-north-island-limited (Official LinkedIn page, 49,000+ followers)[^13]

• Company Hub NZ URL: companyhub.nz/…/9429040750835 (FSNI company profile)[^12]

• NZ Companies Office URL: https://app.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/41782

• Social Media URLs: Instagram: @foodiescareers (Foodstuffs NI “Foodies” careers page)[^9]. Facebook: Minimal presence (e.g. “Foodstuffs North Island – Checker of the Year” page)[^9]. Twitter: None (FSNI communicates via press releases and LinkedIn rather than a public Twitter handle).

• Ultimate Holding Company: None (member-owned co-op). Ownership Structure: Owned by its cooperative members (grocer owner-operators). No external holding company; FS North Island itself co-owns Foodstuffs NZ instead.

• Key Shareholders: Approximately 237 independent supermarket owner companies, each holding a small parcel of shares (e.g. 300 shares ≈0.02% each)[^13]. These member-shareholders are the owners of New World, PAK’nSAVE, Four Square stores across the North Island. No single shareholder has a dominant stake – ownership is distributed among local grocers. (However, an academic analysis in 2024 controversially argued that despite hundreds of members, effective control rests with just four individuals in the co-op’s governance)[^10].

• Leadership: Chairman: Dean Waddell – owner-operator of PAK’nSAVE Tauranga (appointed Chair 2018)[^14]. Chief Executive Officer: Chris Quin – CEO since 2015 (also MD of Foodstuffs NZ)[^5][^14]. Board: Comprises primarily elected owner-operators (e.g. Brendon Good, Brendon Jones, etc.) plus independent directors like Sir Henry van der Heyden (former Fonterra chairman)[^14]. The board’s composition and the 1-member-1-vote ethos reflect co-op principles, though questions have been raised about true power distribution[^10].

• Staff: ~24,000 employees (“Foodies”) across the North Island operations[^13]. This includes supermarket staff, distribution, and corporate employees. The co-op is a major non-government employer. (The workforce is not centrally unionised; individual store owners are the employers.)

• Staff with Previous Government Roles: Few to none in top management. (FSNI tends to promote internally or hire private-sector executives. For example, CEO Chris Quin came from telecoms, not government. Board independents like Van der Heyden or Angela Bull come from corporate or local-body roles.) There is no notable “revolving door” of politicians into FSNI. The cooperative does retain government relations advisors and works through BusinessNZ and Retail NZ for lobbying, rather than employing ex-politicians directly.

• Past Employees: Murray Jordan – CEO of Foodstuffs Auckland (pre-merger) and then FSNI (2013) during the merger transition, known for modernising operations (later a property developer and director). Tony Carter – earlier MD of Foodstuffs Auckland and Foodstuffs NZ, oversaw formation of PAK’nSAVE format[^6]. Mary Jane Freeman – former FSNI Director, ex-Telecom NZ executive, brought governance expertise. These individuals significantly influenced Foodstuffs’ culture and strategy before moving to other business leadership roles.

• Clients: Not applicable in a commercial sense. (FSNI doesn’t serve external clients; its “clients” are its member-owned stores and, indirectly, the shopping public. It does supply groceries wholesale to some independent dairies and eateries via its Gilmours cash-and-carry arm, but those are customers rather than lobbying clients.)

• Industries/Sectors Represented: Represents supermarket retail, grocery wholesale, and FMCG supply chain interests in the North Island. Through Gilmours (wholesale) it also represents the foodservice supply sector. FSNI speaks for the retail grocery sector in many forums (often jointly with FS South Island on national issues).

• Publicly Disclosed Engagements: Commerce Commission Grocery Market Study (2020–22): FSNI participated actively, making submissions on competition issues and offering undertakings (like voluntary price monitoring)[^5]. Parliamentary Select Committee hearings (2022): FSNI gave input on the Grocery Industry Competition Bill (e.g. on codes of conduct and opening wholesale supply). Ministerial meetings: FSNI executives met with Ministers during the study and afterwards – e.g. regular updates to the Commerce Minister on progress implementing recommendations[^5]. In 2022, FSNI publicly supported the Government’s ban on restrictive land covenants and committed to releasing existing covenants to improve competition[^5]. FSNI also engaged with the Privacy Commissioner in 2023 by submitting results of its facial recognition trial for review[^8]. (However, details of direct lobbying meetings are not publicly recorded due to NZ’s lack of a lobbying register.)

• Affiliations: In addition to the national associations via FSNZ, Foodstuffs North Island individually holds memberships in: the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA), Property Council New Zealand, and the New Zealand Initiative (think-tank)[^7]. It is also involved in the Auckland Business Chamber and local retailer associations (informally). FSNI’s CEO sits on the executive council of Retail NZ via Foodstuffs’ membership. These affiliations give FSNI influence in policy debates on employment, urban development, and economic strategy.

• Sponsorships / Collaborations: Major sponsor of community programmes (e.g. Foodstuffs “Here for NZ” funds foodbanks, school breakfast clubs) – bolstering its public image and relationships with government social agencies. Collaborates with Police and local councils on retail crime prevention (co-funding security measures in stores). FSNI has partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries on food safety initiatives and with Civil Defence for disaster relief planning (leveraging its supply network for emergencies). Politically, FSNI sponsors the Business & Parliament Trust and participates in BusinessNZ-led delegations, indirectly sponsoring networking events with MPs.

• Events: “Checker of the Year” – FSNI hosts this annual competition event for checkout operators across its New World and PAK’nSAVE stores[^9]. It also organises the Co-op AGM and Owner Conferences where political guests (Ministers or MPs) sometimes speak informally. FSNI’s leadership frequently appear at industry events (Retail NZ Summit, etc.) and at Government-led roundtables on retail and supply chain issues (especially during COVID-19 and crime prevention workshops in 2022–23).

• Political Donations: No direct donations by FSNI corporate. (As a cooperative, it does not donate to parties. However, individual Foodstuffs grocers have in the past donated to political parties or candidates at their discretion – these are personal or business donations not attributed to FSNI. For example, some owner-operators are active in local politics and may support candidates, but there is no evidence of coordinated donations from the co-op.)

• Controversies: Market power & prices: FSNI’s market share >40% of NZ grocery was spotlighted by the ComCom study, which found high profit margins and inadequate competition . “Pseudo-cooperative” critique: In 2024 experts alleged FSNI “has flown the co-op coop,” being effectively run by four men with no supermarket ownership, calling into question its democratic member control[^10]. FSNI strongly denied this, insisting it’s owned by 300+ grocers (the issue highlights opacity in its governance). Use of AI surveillance: FSNI’s rollout of facial recognition in 30 stores quietly began in 2022, drawing fire from consumer advocates for potential racial bias and lack of consent . The Privacy Commissioner launched an inquiry in response[^8]. Employment practices: While not unionized collectively, there have been periodic critiques of pay and conditions at some FSNI stores (e.g. 2020 revelations some New World franchises sought wage subsidies despite booming sales, which FSNI then reversed with reputational damage[^11]). FSNI was also embarrassed in 2018 by an incident of an hile morally applauded, underscored the co-op’s sensitivity to political optics during the crisis.

Foodstuffs South Island Limited – South Island Cooperative Company

• Business / Trading Name: Foodstuffs South Island Limited (formerly Foodstuffs (South Island) Limited)[^15]

• Company Number: 391297[^15]

• NZBN: 9429039459077[^15]

• Entity Type: New Zealand Co-operative Company (registered cooperative company under the Co-operative Companies Act)[^15]

• Business Classification: Grocery retail & wholesale cooperative (supermarkets). Industry category: Retail Groceries / Wholesale Trade[^2][^16].

• Year Founded: 1988 (incorporated 20 July 1988 as a cooperative company)[^15]. Origins: Successor to earlier South Island grocers’ societies dating back to the 1920s. The current entity was re-registered in 1997 under new co-op legislation, but Foodstuffs has operated in the South Island since at least the 1930s.

• Addresses: Head Office: 167 Main North Road, Papanui (Redwood), Christchurch 8052[^16]. This is the Christchurch support centre and primary warehouse location. Postal: Private Bag 4705, Christchurch 8140. (The Main North Rd site has been Foodstuffs SI’s base for decades.)

• Website URL: foodstuffs-si.co.nz (Foodstuffs South Island official site)[^16]

• LinkedIn URL: linkedin.com/company/foodstuffs-south-island-ltd (Foodstuffs South Island page)[^16]

• Company Hub NZ URL: companyhub.nz/…/9429039459077 (FSSI company profile)[^15]

• NZ Companies Office URL: https://app.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/391297

• Social Media URLs: LinkedIn: as above (over 14,000 followers)[^16]. Facebook/Twitter: None under the Foodstuffs SI name – the co-op communicates through its store brand pages (e.g. New World South Island Facebook) and press releases.

• Ultimate Holding Company: None (member-owned co-op). Foodstuffs South Island is the top entity for the South Island half of the cooperative; it jointly owns Foodstuffs NZ (with FSNI) but is not owned by any external parent[^2].

• Key Shareholders: 10 independent retail companies (grocery owner-operators) hold all shares[^17]. Each shareholder is typically an entity representing a prominent supermarket-owning family or partnership. Share allocation is relatively even: e.g. Sterling Hardware Wholesalers Ltd – 12.16% (largest); W.J. Turner Ltd – 10.95%; the other 8 companies ~9.6% each[^17]. These 10 owner companies correspond to South Island Pak’nSave and New World operators who effectively own the cooperative. This concentrated ownership model differs from FSNI’s hundreds of members, reflecting the South Island co-op’s more consolidated structure.

• Leadership: Chairman: Russell McKenzie – owner of New World St Martins (Christchurch), elected Chair of the Board[^16]. Deputy Chair: Marcel Gray – owner of PAK’nSAVE Wainoni (Christchurch)[^16]. Chief Executive Officer: Mary Devine, ONZM – CEO since November 2021 (first female CEO, former fashion retail executive)[^18]. Board of Directors: Mix of store owners from across the South Island (e.g. Phill Blackburn – PAK’nSAVE Riccarton; Michelle King – Four Square Maniototo, etc.) and independent directors (Angela Bull, Steven Wakefield)[^16]. The governance is a traditional cooperative: each member-owner (shareholder company) has voting rights, and the board reflects geographic spread of stores.

• Staff: ~14,000 employees (“team members”) in the South Island network[^16]. This includes staff of 230+ stores (New World, PAK’nSAVE, Four Square, Raeward Fresh) as well as warehouse, logistics, and administration personnel. Foodstuffs SI is one of the South Island’s largest employers.

• Staff with Previous Government Roles: Similarly low presence of ex-government officials. (CEO Mary Devine comes from private sector retail; board independent Steve Wakefield has public service governance experience on a District Health Board, but no politicians on board.) Foodstuffs SI’s government relations are managed via industry groups and its Community Trust rather than by hiring former MPs. One exception: Director Angela Bull held a senior role in Auckland Council’s development agency (Panuku Development) – bringing public sector experience, though not a political office.

• Past Employees: Steve Anderson – CEO from 2001 to 2021, led FSSI for two decades through significant growth and was highly influential in setting its culture[^18]. Robin Brown – long-time chairman (appointed to board 1996) who oversaw expansion of Pak’nSave in the South Island. Graham Bush – a founding figure of earlier South Island cooperative efforts. These individuals were instrumental in establishing Foodstuffs’ dominance in the South Island market. Anderson in particular is credited with a stable, low-profile leadership that nonetheless yielded strong profits – a tenure ending with his retirement as Devine took over[^18].

• Clients: Not applicable externally. (Foodstuffs South Island’s “clients” are its member stores and associated liquor retailers. It also serves wholesale customers via Trents Wholesale and Henry’s beer/wine stores it owns, but those are part of its integrated business.)

• Industries/Sectors Represented: Supermarket retail and grocery distribution in the South Island. The co-op also represents liquor retailing (via LiquorLand franchises and Henry’s stores) and foodservice supply (via Trents). It stands for South Island retailers’ interests in national debates, often coordinating with Foodstuffs NI for a united front.

• Publicly Disclosed Engagements: Regulatory submissions: Foodstuffs SI jointly submitted with FSNI in the Commerce Commission’s grocery inquiry (often providing a South Island perspective on competition). It also made its own representations to Ministers about rural/provincial store issues. Industry meetings: FSSI leadership engages with local MPs and mayors, especially on community matters (the cooperative’s Community Trust donations often involve MPs at grant announcements). In the 2023 merger clearance process, Foodstuffs SI filed statements supporting the merger (arguing cost savings for consumers), which became public via the Commerce Commission’s process. Commerce Commission monitoring: Post-market-study, FSSI reports complying with the new Grocery Code and has met with the Grocery Commissioner as required (disclosed in the Commission’s annual report). Overall, FSSI is less vocal publicly than FSNI, but it works “behind the scenes” via Foodstuffs NZ on national policy and liaises quietly with South Island political representatives to ensure its interests (e.g. around trading hours, alcohol regulations in Canterbury, etc.) are heard.

• Affiliations: Foodstuffs South Island is a member of Retail NZ and BusinessNZ through Foodstuffs NZ’s memberships[^7]. Additionally, FSSI individually belongs to: Beef + Lamb New Zealand (as a retail stakeholder in the meat supply chain), Retail Meat New Zealand (butchery trade group)[^19], and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) (reflecting its large supply chain operations)[^19]. These affiliations allow FSSI to input into sector-specific policy (e.g. agriculture sector discussions via Beef+Lamb, transport policy via CILT). FSSI also maintains a Foodstuffs South Island Community Trust, which, while charitable, interfaces with local government and community organisations – indirectly supporting the co-op’s influence and reputation at the regional level.

• Sponsorships / Collaborations: Community sponsorship: FSSI (through its trust) sponsors community organisations in the South (such as sports teams, food banks, school programs), creating goodwill with local politicians. It collaborates with the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce and local Civil Defence on disaster preparedness (given Christchurch’s earthquake history, FSSI has been a key partner in resilience planning). Educational partnerships: FSSI sponsors food science scholarships at University of Otago and has partnered with MPI on sustainability initiatives (like reducing food waste). Politically, FSSI tends to partner with Federated Farmers and local councils on rural supply issues (ensuring remote Four Squares remain viable, etc.). It keeps a lower lobbying profile than FSNI, but its collaborations ground it firmly in the local community’s power structures.

• Events: Internally, FSSI hosts an Annual Members’ Conference (often in Queenstown or Christchurch) where government speakers (Commerce Commission representatives or Ministers) have occasionally been invited to address co-op members about upcoming regulations. It also holds supplier trade shows in Christchurch. Public-facing, FSSI doesn’t run large events itself, but it participates heavily in community events (e.g. school fairs, A&P agricultural shows with New World stalls) which often attract local politicians. The co-op’s centenary celebrations (2022) for Four Square in the South Island were notable events with historical displays and messages from the Prime Minister congratulating Foodstuffs – blending community celebration with political recognition.

• Political Donations: No direct corporate donations. (Foodstuffs South Island as an entity has not donated to political parties. Some of the 10 owner families are known to support political candidates or causes individually, but these are private actions. For instance, a prominent Christchurch grocer on the board might personally back a local council candidate. There is no evidence of any coordinated or significant donation from the co-op’s funds to any party.)

• Controversies: Anti-competitive practices: Like FSNI, Foodstuffs SI was found by the Commerce Commission to enjoy persistently high profits under the duopoly, sparking criticism that it had “no meaningful competition” in its territory . FSSI was also party to using restrictive land covenants to block competitor stores in the South Island – the Government’s 2022 ban forced FSSI to begin lifting these covenants (it removed over 50% of them by mid-2022 under public pressure)[^5]. Governance transparency: In contrast to FSNI’s many members, FSSI’s tight ownership (10 shareholders) has raised questions – though it’s a legal cooperative, some ask if it functions more like a closed consortium. This became a concern in the 2023 merger proposal, where critics warned the merger could let the “company owned by four men” (FSNI) take over the truly cooperative South Island entity[^10][^8]. The implication was that FSSI’s more equitable structure might be subsumed by FSNI’s power bloc, a point of controversy among South Island members and observers. Labour relations: FSSI has largely avoided major industrial disputes, but there have been isolated issues (e.g. a 2019 case of a Pak’nSave Richmond worker unfairly dismissed, which drew negative press to the co-op). Social license: FSSI faced backlash from civil society similar to FSNI on facial recognition – at least one South Island store trialed it in 2023 as well, drawing the ire of privacy advocates. Also, FSSI’s initial reluctance to supply wholesale groceries to would-be competitors (like Southerner grocery startups) was criticized until the law compelled wholesale access.

• Other Information of Note: Foodstuffs South Island operates some unique subsidiaries, e.g. Raeward Fresh gourmet stores and On The Spot convenience stores, extending its reach beyond large supermarkets. It owns a stake in CJ Lang (Scotland) via Foodstuffs NZ for international cooperation on private labels. The co-op proudly maintains a decentralised distribution model – it has smaller depots in Dunedin and Invercargill to serve remote areas, often highlighted to politicians as an example of supporting rural communities. During the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes, FSSI’s responsiveness in restoring food supply won praise and bolstered its political capital in the South Island. This history underpins its argument that a locally controlled cooperative is vital for community resilience – a narrative it used to counter the 2023 merger push (which some South Island stakeholders feared would centralise control in Auckland).

• Recipient of Wage Subsidy Scheme: No, with minor exceptions. During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, Foodstuffs South Island followed the same stance as FSNI: its stores generally did not claim the wage subsidy given they could trade. If any South Island Four Square owners applied due to severe local revenue loss, they were encouraged to withdraw or refund it, with the co-op providing support instead[^11]. This approach was part of FSSI’s effort to demonstrate ethical practice and avoid political criticism during the pandemic. It reinforced the message that supermarkets, being essential services allowed to operate, should not draw on limited public funds – a position that earned positive acknowledgement from the Government at the time.

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Footnotes:

1. Foodstuffs (N.Z.) Limited – Company Registration Details, SGPGrid (SEA & ANZ Company Database), https://sgpgrid.com/company-details/foodstuffs-nz-limited-ID0000

2. Foodstuffs (company), Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foodstuffs_(company)

3. Privacy Policy – Foodstuffs North Island (reg. office address), foodstuffs.co.nz, https://www.foodstuffs.co.nz/privacy-policy

4. Foodstuffs New Zealand – Company Profile, LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/foodstuffs-newzealand

5. Foodstuffs reaffirms commitment to working with Government… following market study, Foodstuffs NZ press release (30 May 2022), https://www.foodstuffs.co.nz/news-room/Foodstuffs-reaffirms-commitment-to-working-with-Government

6. New Year Honours 2020: Tony Carter – Companion of the NZ Order of Merit (Services to Business Governance), NZ Herald, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/new-year-honours-2020-tony-carter-companion-of-the-new-zealand-order-of-merit-for-services-to-business-governance/OKZZZNWH66H5BXH7WUK4DK27EE/

7. Foodstuffs NI & SI – Application for Merger Clearance (Appendix: Industry Associations), NZ Commerce Commission (14 Dec 2023), https://comcom.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/338436/FSNI-FSSI-clearance-application-14-December-2023.pdf

8. M. Borak, “New Zealand’s Foodstuffs defends its use of facial recognition”, Biometric Update (15 Nov 2024), https://www.biometricupdate.com/202411/new-zealands-foodstuff-defends-its-use-of-facial-recognition

9. Foodstuffs North Island Checker of the Year (public Facebook page), Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/FoodstuffsNorthIslandCheckeroftheYear

10. “Supermarkets Must Come Clean on Ownership” – Grocery Action Group (Sue Chetwin), Supermarket News (06 Sep 2024), https://supermarketnews.co.nz/fmcg-news/supermarkets-must-come-clean-on-ownership/

11. “Foodstuffs stores withdraw wage subsidy applications”, Radio New Zealand News (07 Apr 2020), https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/413690/foodstuffs-stores-withdraw-wage-subsidy-applications

12. Foodstuffs North Island Limited – Company Summary, NZL Business Directory, https://www.nzlbusiness.com/company/registered/Foodstuffs-North-Island-Limited

13. Foodstuffs North Island Limited – Company Profile, LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/foodstuffs-auckland-limited

14. Our Leaders – Foodstuffs North Island, foodstuffs.co.nz (company website), https://www.foodstuffs.co.nz/who-we-are/our-leaders

15. Foodstuffs South Island Limited – Company Summary, NZL Business Directory, https://www.nzlbusiness.com/company/registered/Foodstuffs-South-Island-Limited

16. Foodstuffs South Island – Company Profile, LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/foodstuffs-south-island-ltd

17. Foodstuffs South Island – Shareholding Structure (10 shareholders), NZL Business Directory, same as [15], see “Company Shareholders” section

18. A. Gibson, “Foodstuffs South Island names new CEO: Fashion retail boss Mary Devine takes helm”, NZ Herald (09 Sep 2021), https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/foodstuffs-south-island-names-new-ceo-fashion-retail-boss-mary-devine-takes-helm/33464JXWON77RDNE4KMOT5RENM/

19. Our Leadership Team – Foodstuffs South Island, foodstuffs-si.co.nz (company website), https://www.foodstuffs-si.co.nz/who-we-are/our-leadership-team

20. C. Rehm, “The Foodstuffs merger is dead”, University of Sydney News (02 Oct 2024), https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2024/10/02/the-foodstuffs-merger-is-dead.html

21. B. Edwards, “Lobbying corrupts decisions”, Democracy Project – Political Commentary (Substack, 19 Sep 2023), https://democracyproject.substack.com/p/lobbying-corrupts-decisions

22. B. Edwards, “What business is lobbying government for” (Political Roundup), NZ Herald (03 Oct 2023), https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/what-business-is-lobbying-government-for-bryce-edwards-political-roundup/JN5ONDVFPRFGVMMRET3NF7FBYQ/

23. (Intentionally omitted; see Footnote 5 for Foodstuffs press release cited multiple times)

24. (Intentionally omitted; see Footnote 10 for Grocery Action Group source)

25. (Intentionally omitted; see Footnote 8 for Biometric Update source on FRT trial)

26. (Intentionally omitted; see Footnote 11 for RNZ source on wage subsidy)

27. “ComCom’s first grocery report paints concerning picture”, Consumer NZ (27 Nov 2024), https://consumer.org.nz/articles/first-grocery-commission-report-paints-concerning-picture

28. Foodstuffs NZ – Trade & Industry Association Memberships (incl. NZ Business & Parliament Trust), NZ Commerce Commission Clearance Appendix (14 Dec 2023), see Footnote [7] (Table: Foodstuffs NZ memberships)

29. B. Edwards, “Time to break up the supermarket duopoly”, BreakingViews NZ (16 Aug 2023), https://breakingviewsnz.blogspot.com/2023/08/bryce-edwards-time-to-break-up.html

30. G. McConnell, “Govt stops short of breaking up supermarket duopoly”, Stuff News (26 Apr 2022), https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/128496547/govt-stops-short-of-breaking-up-supermarket-duopoly

31. “Commerce Commission says no to proposed Foodstuffs merger”, 1News (TVNZ) (11 Oct 2024), https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/10/11/commerce-commission-says-no-to-proposed-foodstuffs-merger/

32. “Commerce Commission delivers final report on grocery market study”, NZ Commerce Commission (Media Release, 08 Mar 2022), https://comcom.govt.nz/news-and-media/media-releases/2022/commerce-commission-delivers-final-report-on-grocery-market-study

33. “Grocery Industry Competition 2023 Annual Report – Summary”, NZ Commerce Commission (19 Oct 2024), https://comcom.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0025/308199/Grocery-Industry-Competition-Annual-Report-2023-Summary.pdf

34. “Government to introduce code of conduct for supermarkets, grocery commissioner”, Radio NZ News (09 May 2022), https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/467056/govt-to-introduce-code-of-conduct-for-supermarkets-grocery-commissioner

35. “Retail Payment System Act passes, set to cut credit and debit card fees”, Beehive.govt.nz – Ministerial Release (13 May 2022), https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/retail-payment-system-act-passes-set-cut-credit-and-debit-card-fees

36. “Overview of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012”, NZ Ministry of Justice (2013), https://www.justice.govt.nz/justice-sector-policy/key-initiatives/sale-and-supply-of-alcohol/overview-of-the-act/

37. J. Boren, “Foodstuffs to eliminate all single-use plastic bags by end of 2018”, Stuff Environment (04 Apr 2018), https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/102805712/foodstuffs-to-eliminate-all-singleuse-plastic-bags-by-end-of-2018

38. (Not used)

39. (Not used)

40. B. Edwards, “It’s time to shine a light on New Zealand’s hidden lobbyists”, The Guardian (25 Jan 2022), https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/25/its-time-to-shine-a-light-on-new-zealands-hidden-lobbyists

Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz