More than 350 Kiwi brands will showcase their latest innovations at the Foodstuffs Expo, New Zealand’s largest business-to-business event, hosted at Claudelands Events Centre Hamilton on the 8th and 9th of March.
The event provides a unique opportunity for brands to connect with representatives from locally owned and operated supermarkets, New World, PAK’nSAVE, and Four Square stores across New Zealand. This allows brands to have their products tasted, tested, and become known.
“The Foodstuffs Expo provides a platform for our stores and teams to meet with supplier partners, share ideas, and celebrate our partnerships and is one of the ways we connect to stay ahead of trends to deliver what customers want and need, so it’s a win-win,” shared Foodstuffs New Zealand Managing Director Chris Quin.
The event benefits brands and the Foodstuffs cooperative, helping cultivate opportunity and stay in the loop of consumer wants and needs.
Chris Cullen, the homegrown brand Culley’s owner, who has developed a cult following since 2011, feels that the Expo is a chance for exposure of brands and their stories.
Foodstuffs’ new retail media platform will also attend to promote in-store media, digital screen network and e-Commerce solutions that brands can utilise this year.
“It's a great way for us to scope out opportunities, meet Foodstuffs people and provide education around our products and understand more about what supermarkets are seeing from customers.”
The Expo follows a tumultuous period in the industry, with the impacts of the Auckland Anniversary floods and Cyclone Gabrielle widely felt.
“The Expo will also be a chance for us to connect face-to-face on how we can continue to support each other and New Zealand through the recovery.”
The Expo will also address the growing demand and interest in reducing food waste, environmentally friendly products, and affordable products as the cost of living has skyrocketed.
It is a unique chance for Foodstuffs cooperatives and brands to exchange ideas and solutions and share their creative food innovations.
