NEW ZEALAND | There has been some commentary around the future number of distribution centres should the proposed merger between Foodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island into one New Zealand-wide co-op go ahead. According to a Foodstuffs spokesperson regarding the number of DC's should the merger go ahead, has confirmed today that there will be no change.
Foodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island run 500+ stores across the country.
One of the things both co-ops have been clear about is that the proposed merger wouldn’t change the number of stores, their owners, our retail brands, or the number of distribution centres.
As one nationwide co-op, the world-class nature of our supply chain would remain the same – or, in fact, get even better. This merger is about bringing the best of the best from both co-operatives because we want to be the best grocery co-ops in the world.
Foodstuffs North Island has five Distribution Centres across Auckland and Palmerston North, and four transport depots in Whangarei, Hastings, New Plymouth, and Wellington. The merger won’t change that.
Foodstuffs South Island has three Distribution Centres across the South Island. The merger also won’t change that.
That’s because the distribution centres and transport hubs are where the stores need them to be – spread throughout both our islands. If the merger goes ahead, there’ll be little or no change for the teams that work in our warehouses and distribution centres, because they’re doing the critical work of getting stock to our stores every day for customers, who rely on us for fresh, healthy, convenient, and great value groceries.
The Commerce Commission clearance process is ongoing and the Commission has decided to issue a Statement of Unresolved Issues for the application from Foodstuffs North Island Limited and Foodstuffs South Island Limited seeking clearance to merge. The Statement of Unresolved Issues will be published on the Commission’s case register in due course, and will outline the Commission’s provisional competition issues with the proposed merger.
Find the latest release from Foodstuffs’ on the merger here
The proposed merger of Foodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island into one New Zealand-wide co-op has received the overwhelming support of the grocery store owners who are the co-ops’ shareholders.
Watch video; which includes an interview with CEO-designate of the proposed merged entity, Chris Quin, which was shared following the grocer owner-operators’ vote in support of the merger earlier this month.
Read more from Commerce Commission here
More news here.
