Foodstuffs Celebrates Supplier Excellence & Innovation At National Partnership Awards

Foodstuffs celebrated its supplier superstars at the annual National Partnership Awards in Hamilton last night.

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

The awards honoured the talented partners who brought quality, creativity, and passion to New Zealand's grocery aisles.

“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,” said Chris Quin, CEO of Foodstuffs North Island.

“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 over 60,000 products across our stores, sourced from roughly 10,000 suppliers, growers, manufacturers, importers and deliver around 9,000 new products into our stores annually.”

He added that the co-ops were incredibly proud to have brought 160 new Kiwi suppliers on board in the past year, strengthening their commitment to supporting local businesses and bringing fresh, innovative products to customers.

The evening featured 15 awards across two main categories: Category Excellence and National Awards, highlighting standout achievements from suppliers setting the benchmark in New Zealand’s FMCG sector.

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,” said Devine.

“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 she witnessed at this year’s expo reinforced her confidence that the co-ops were heading towards an exciting future, one that is bold, customer-focused, and best in class.

Mars was presented with the night’s most prestigious honour, the Foodstuffs National Partnership Award. For its exceptional collaboration across the Foodstuffs network, Mars was nominated in four categories for 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.”

The Foodstuffs co-ops congratulated all finalists and winners. Their achievements highlighted the incredible impact of strong partnerships in driving innovation, sustainability, and excellence across New Zealand’s grocery sector.