Hundreds of top suppliers celebrated last night at the Auckland War Memorial Museum for the annual Woolworths NZ Supplier Awards.
The awards, which recognise partnership, excellence and innovation across the food and grocery industry in New Zealand, are an annual industry highlight acknowledging the hard work that goes into providing the best shopping experience for Kiwi customers.
Woolworths NZ Managing Director Sally Copland presented 20 awards to some of New Zealand’s top suppliers, from 54 finalists.
This year, GrapeCo won the Fresh Supreme Supplier of the Year for setting the standard for excellence in fresh produce. GrapeCo is Woolworths NZ’s leading Australian grape supplier, pioneering new grape varietals and leading on sustainability.
Woolworths New Zealand’s Commercial Director, Pieter De Wet, said GrapeCo’s successful reusable crate trial alone removed more than 60 tonnes of packaging from the value chain.
"GrapeCo demonstrates a commitment that goes beyond business as usual. It is a true strategic partner with impact, and the team is a deserving recipient of our Fresh Supreme Supplier of the Year award,” said De Wet.
The Packaged Supreme Supplier of the Year award went to Mondelēz New Zealand for its resilience and innovation in delivering growth in a challenging market. De Wet said that Mondelēz truly shone this year with outstanding performance and strategic excellence.
He added it was a great example of what can be achieved with strong partnerships across the Woolworths NZ network, from Cartology and Everyday Rewards to Replenishment and Retail operations.
"Mondelēz has consistently performed over the past three years, and its long-term leadership makes it a deserving Supreme Award winner."
Copland added that the awards acknowledged the hard work, energy and dedication of all our suppliers. She said that strong, collaborative relationships are crucial.
“Together, we service millions of customers every day across the country, and we succeed together when we provide better customer experiences, especially when it comes to helping them manage their household budgets and giving them access to the products they love."
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