Foodstuffs North Island has appointed Stewart Smith as Chief Operating Officer.
Smith is currently Chief Executive Officer of Team Global Express New Zealand, where he has led the business' transformation and turnaround.
Prior to joining Team Global Express, he held senior leadership roles with The Warehouse Group and Nisa Retail, and spent nine years with global retailer Tesco, working across multiple international markets.
During his time at Tesco, Smith held leadership roles spanning general merchandise, food sourcing and commercial strategy. He was also involved in launching new business ventures, expanding into international markets, developing supply chain solutions and improving procurement and commercial performance.
Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin said Smith's broad experience across retail and the wider supply chain made him a strong fit for the new role.
“Foodstuffs is operating in a rapidly changing environment, with customers expecting value, convenience and great service, while our members and suppliers are navigating increasing complexity across the food and retail system,” said Quin.
“We’ve created the COO role to bring a stronger focus across the operational parts of our business and make sure we continue to build the capability, resilience and efficiency we need for the future."
Quin added that Smith has an exceptional mix of retail, commercial, supply chain and transformation experience. He has led businesses through significant change, understands the importance of strong teams, and focuses on delivering for customers.
“I’m very pleased to have him joining Foodstuffs North Island, and I’m looking forward to the contribution he’ll make to our co-operative.”
As Chief Operating Officer, Smith will lead Foodstuffs North Island’s Supply Chain, Property, Wholesale & Customer Service, and Safety & Wellbeing teams.
“I’m really excited to be joining Foodstuffs North Island and becoming part of a co-operative that plays such an important role in communities right across the North Island. Foodstuffs has a unique model, combining the strength and scale of a large organisation with the local connection and entrepreneurial spirit of more than 500 independent store owners," said Smith.
“I’m looking forward to getting out and meeting members and teams, understanding what matters most to our customers and communities, and working with everyone across the co-op to build on the strong foundations already in place.”
Smith will officially join Foodstuffs North Island on the 16th of November 2026.
