The NZ Food & Grocery Council (NZFGC) supports measures that improve competition and deliver better outcomes for New Zealand consumers while maintaining supplier confidence to succeed, invest, innovate and grow.
A strong and competitive grocery sector relies on suppliers having the ability to operate well, expand their businesses, and the ambition to pursue export opportunities - all contributing to New Zealand’s economic growth.
NZFGC welcomes the continued focus from across the political spectrum on improving outcomes for consumers and ensuring New Zealand has a competitive and efficient grocery sector.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's release of further analysis on grocery competition is a substantial body of work, and the NZFGC will now review the findings in detail as it assesses the potential implications for consumers, suppliers, and the wider grocery sector.
Any proposal of this scale should be subject to rigorous independent analysis, including careful consideration of impacts such as on supply chain efficiency, investment, product availability, and prices.
The National Party's proposal sensibly includes provision for further assessment. Should a future government progress this work, the NZFGC will continue to engage constructively with the Commerce Commission, providing information, participating in consultation processes, and supporting a rigorous assessment of the options.
The Labour Party’s proposal raises important issues for both consumers and suppliers, and we will be carefully considering the details for the grocery sector. NZFGC looks forward to seeing its full grocery reform policy, which it understands is yet to be announced.
NZFGC would expect any reform proposals from any party to take into account the complexity of food and grocery supply chains and the need to support future growth and innovation. It will also continue to assess policy proposals as further detail becomes available and engage constructively with political parties and policymakers on behalf of its members.
NZFGC looked forward to engaging with whatever shape the future government takes following the election and contributing to informed discussion on the future of New Zealand’s grocery sector.
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