Podcasts about foodstuffs north island

Five firefighter crews remained overnight to keep watch on the central Auckland supermarket which was engulfed by a fire for much of Tuesday. Foodstuffs North Island chief executive Chris Quin spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

It's being suggested the pricey cost of our food baskets is great for the economy but bad for our wallets. Food inflation has risen 4.4% annually, the highest in 18 months. Meat, poultry and fish had the biggest increases, while butter, milk and cheese drove grocery prices. Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin told Mike Hosking increases in foods like Kiwifruit and butter is fantastic for New Zealand's economy, but tough for households. Quin says they're doing everything they can, but they can't contain the same costs of energy and people. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday the 18th of June, our food prices are on the way back up. Is it seasonal or is something happening behind the scenes? Our health stats are slowly trending in the right direction, and Health Minister Simeon Brown also answers the question as to why surgeries in public hospitals don't happen past 4pm. Ginny Andersen and Mark Mitchell talk Mark's lengthy trip over to China, scrutiny week, and the elective surgery load being taken on by the private sector on Politics Wednesday. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foodstuffs is hoping to bring retail crime down after a successful trial of live facial recognition technology. The Privacy Commissioner has deemed Foodstuffs North Island's trial compliant with the Privacy Act, and effective in reducing harm. But his report states there's more work to do. General Counsel for Foodstuffs North Island, Julian Benefield, says retail crime has put staff at risk - and the company's hoping to change that. "Our trial has been a success, it found that technology was effective in reducing harm. Our independent evaluator found a 16 percent reduction in serious harm incidents across the trial period - and over 100 serious incidents avoided." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I am really torn. Because when it comes to facial recognition technology, I've always been of the view that if you're not doing anything wrong, there's nothing to worry about. But, at the risk of sounding like I'm going a bit “civil liberties” on it, I'm starting to change my tune a bit. Which I'll admit is a bit weird considering the Privacy Commissioner has announced that he's all good with the facial recognition trial that Foodstuffs supermarkets have been doing in the North Island. But what's making me feel uneasy is the potential for this tick of approval from the Privacy Commissioner to be seen as a licence for anyone and everyone to use facial recognition however they want. Because there's an outfit in Christchurch —which isn't a supermarket— using facial recognition technology right now. Which shows why the Privacy Commissioner is also saying that, as well as the Foodstuffs trial being all good, we need to tread carefully with how this technology is used. He's not saying it outright, but I think we're on a slippery slope if we don't make sure there are better legal safeguards in place to make sure businesses and organisations —and individuals too possibly— don't start using facial recognition however and wherever they want. So that we don't look up in two years' time and realise that we've got a runaway train on our hands. Which is why I don't think Michael Webster giving his tick of approval for what Foodstuffs North Island has been doing —saying that it complies with the Privacy Act— is the be-all and end-all. I know you would think that it might reassure me that I've been on the right track thinking that only people breaking the law need to be worried about facial recognition technology. But I'm not so sure. Because it's not just supermarkets in the North Island giving facial recognition a go. The Richmond Club, in Christchurch, is also using it. I've seen a photo of a poster on the wall at the Richmond Club telling users of its pokie machines that it's trialling facial recognition software to help it keep an eye on problem gamblers. The sign says: “The Richmond Club is currently trialling facial recognition software - however, this is only in the gaming room.” The poster says: “Such footage is used in conjunction with our CCTV surveillance cameras and other publicly-available sources of imagery to assist in identifying individuals for a variety of reasons.” And it goes on to say that it's all about identifying problem gamblers and that all footage is destroyed when someone who has been playing the machines leaves the room. The person who sent me this photo said they spoke to half of the people in the gaming room at the time and none of them were aware that facial recognition was being used, despite the sign on the wall. And they didn't like the sound of it. Which I can understand. Because using pokie machines isn't illegal. Even though I can't stand pokie machines, they're not illegal. Just like having a gambling problem isn't illegal. Stealing stuff from a supermarket is illegal, but going and playing the pokies on a Saturday afternoon isn't. Yes, the Richmond Club is legally obliged to look out for problem gamblers, but does it need facial recognition to do that? There's no doubt it's probably very useful, but I reckon the club could easily look out for people without facial recognition. And I would, generally, say that using facial recognition to track people doing anything that isn't illegal, is not what it should be used for. I heard the Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster saying this morning that people are, generally, happy for it to be used to try and stop crime. But at the same time, people are concerned about it being misused. He referred to a survey his office did which found that two thirds of people are happy to see increased use of facial recognition if it reduces theft and enhances personal safety. But it also found that 49% of people are concerned or very concerned about facial recognition technology being mis-used. These survey findings also said that 64% of people are concerned about not being told about or agreeing to the use of facial recognition technology. So the Richmond Club in Christchurch is ticking the box on that front, with the poster on the wall telling people that it's trialling facial recognition in the gaming room. But I think we're in real danger of this technology being used in ways that most of us would consider to be over the top. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foodstuffs is hoping to bring retail crime down after a successful trial of live facial recognition technology. The Privacy Commissioner has deemed Foodstuffs North Island's trial compliant with the Privacy Act, and effective in reducing harm. But his report states there's more work to do. General Counsel for Foodstuffs North Island, Julian Benefield, says retail crime has put staff at risk - and the company's hoping to change that. "Our trial has been a success, it found that technology was effective in reducing harm. Our independent evaluator found a 16 percent reduction in serious harm incidents across the trial period - and over 100 serious incidents avoided." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foodstuffs North Island's facial recognition trial might have the tick of approval overall, but there's still work to do. The Privacy Commission's ruled the trial was compliant with the Privacy Act and was successful in reducing harmful behaviour. But Commissioner Michael Webster told Mike Hosking they're recommending Foodstuffs keep systems updated and review impacts of skin tone on identification accuracy. Webster says there are still concerns over technical bias issues due to the software coming from overseas. It's also made recommendations for other interested businesses. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Soaring food prices might be hard to swallow. Stats NZ figures reveal prices rose 3.7% annually last month, with increases across all food categories. Butter prices increased 65.3%, milk and cheese went up 15.1% and 24% respectively. Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin told Mike Hosking there's pressure on products we're getting export success from. He says it's a fantastic part of the story, but the impact on consumer is clear. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The "guessing game" continues over how New Zealand will be affected by new tariffs around the world. Data —due out tomorrow morning— is expected to show inflation has risen for the first time in almost three years. Contributing to that is the food price inflation rate, which has risen from 2.8% to 3.5% in just the past month. Foodstuffs North Island Managing Director Chris Quin told Mike Hosking two factors could push prices higher or lower. One is the availability of products, the other is global shipping patterns. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pak'nSave shoppers seem to be getting the best deal. A recent study by Foodstuffs North Island has found that New Zealand stores offer the lowest grocery prices when compared to leading retailers in Australia and the UK. The study compared 20 everyday necessities, and after adjusting for sales tax and exchange rates, Pak'nSave came out on top – cheaper than Woolworths NZ, Woolworths Australia, Tesco UK, and Aldi Australia. Foodstuff North Island CEO Chris Quin told Kerre Woodham that when they look at that data, there's a really competitive, innovative story being told. He says they don't have price match guarantees because there's just too many products to cover. Quin says supermarkets may hold up to 18 thousand different products so it would be too tricky to match them all. He told Woodham they have more holistic aims. Quin says for Pak N Save stores it's about getting the cheapest basket possible, and with New World it's about providing a good shopping experience. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has said all options are on the table as Finance Minister Nicola Willis issues a six-week request for information. Willis threatened to break up the current supermarket players, floating the idea of restructuring the two existing supermarket chains. Foodstuffs North Island Chief Executive Chris Quinn talks to Mike Hosking about the announcement. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government this morning laid out it's intentions to tackle New Zealand's two-horse supermarket race. Economic Growth and Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the Government has the power to make the market more attractive and encourage a third player. They're planning to remove regulations discouraging other supermarkets competing. Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin told Kerre Woodham that it's not a surprise. He says competition is good for the supermarket sector, and the actions they took were always with the assumption that new competition could come at any time. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Leaders Getting Coffee episode 34, our guest is Foodstuffs CEO, Chris Quin. The supermarket industry is never far from the headlines. Whether we’re talking about grocery prices, retail crime or allegations of monopoly pricing, the supermarket is front and centre. But they are also massive businesses playing a critical role in our daily lives and our communities. Chris Quin is the CEO of Foodstuffs North Island, the largest grocery business in New Zealand. His leadership experiences have seen him through an outstanding career that includes over two decades at Telecom/Spark, before joining the grocery giant. He grew up in a family that moved around a lot but ultimately settled in Wellington where he attended St Pat’s Silverstream College near Wellington, where he became Head Boy. An accounting degree from Victoria University followed, while working part time at a supermarket (what else?) to pay his way through his studies. During the Leaders Getting Coffee podcast Chris Quin speaks passionately about the twenty-four years he spent at Telecom and Spark, his passion for technology and his two failed attempts at winning the top job there. But it was the challenges of the grocery world that ultimately saw him sit in the CEO’s office, and from where he has made his mark for the last decade. We talk in detail about the drive to keep groceries affordable and the efforts to merge Foodstuffs’ North and South Island businesses in order to continue the search for maximum productivity. Quin is forthright in his views of the importance of the merger and his reaction to the Commerce Commission ruling that it should not proceed. We also discuss the alarming boost in retail crime over recent years, and how facial recognition technology is one of many technology-based tools helping to win that fight. Chris Quin is the leader of one of our biggest businesses, and one with which we all interact more than any other. In sharing his experiences there are plenty of lessons for aspiring and established leaders alike.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A six-month facial recognition trial at 25 Foodstuffs North Island stores reduced harm by 16% across the board. The initiative prevented more than 100 serious in-store incidents, including assault. General counsel for Foodstuffs North Island Julian Benefield speaks with Heather du Plessis-Allan about this as well as the ‘onion trick' being used at checkouts. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foodstuffs North Island says its trial of facial recognition technology has resulted in a 16 percent reduction in serious harm in its supermarkets. Foodstuffs North Island's General Counsel Julian Benefield spoke to Corin Dann.

There's a view the benefits of facial recognition tech in supermarkets outweighs potential risks. Data analyst firm Scarlatti has found a trial of the new technology at 25 Foodstuffs North Island supermarkets reduced harm by 16%. Security were alerted to offenders early, and could intervene to prevent harm from escalating. Scarlatti Director and Trial Evaluator Adam Barker told Mike Hosking there was a balance to be struck around privacy impacts. He says they found the 16% reduction in harm was more than enough to justify the use of the tech in the views of the public. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foodstuffs North Island chief executive Chris Quin has confirmed that the company will appeal the decision by the Commerce Commission to block its proposed merger. Speaking on Newstalk ZB this morning, Quin said the company's advisers had been working their way through ComCom's reason for the decision for the last few weeks. “The biggest concern in the document seems to be about whether suppliers would be worse off as a result of the co-op merging between the North Island and South Island,” Quin said. “Our internal teams have the view that we passed that legal test and that the proposition we put up should have been cleared.” Foodstuffs will appeal the decision in the High Court and expects to have officially filed its appeal by November 21. Quin reiterated Foodstuffs' position that the two regional co-operatives in the North and South Islands don't compete with each other in any way. He said that if the co-operatives were merged it would make them “incredibly more efficient”. On the suggested impacts on suppliers that ComCom posited, Quin said he briefed hundreds of suppliers after the decision last month. “We get a lot of conversation with them almost every day on meeting with one or other and the advantages for suppliers would be dealing with one not two,” Quin said. “The possibility would be you could do a deal to be nationally ranged, so we see a number of advantages for suppliers.” He believed a merger would allow Foodstuffs to make prices much more competitive, ultimately benefiting consumers. Mary Devine, chief executive of Foodstuffs South Island, also said the merger woujld bring long-term benefits to customers and communities, citing increased efficiency and faster innovation. “Combining our operations allows us to streamline operations, reduce overheads and better invest in new technology and services that our customers want,” Devine said. “This isn't just a merger - it's an evolution to ensure we remain competitive and sustainable for the future.” The original decision Now that Foodstuffs has confirmed its appeal, the process will likely be a lengthy one. Foodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island operate some of New Zealand's best-known supermarket banners – New World, Pak'nSave and Four Square – and while each retails only in its respective island, the companies already collaborate across various business areas, including marketing and home-brand purchasing. Their combined revenue was nearly $13 billion in the last fiscal year. In their application to the commission for clearance to merge, the parties essentially argued that they do not compete at either the retail or wholesale level and they would be more efficient and better equipped to drive down grocery prices as a single streamlined entity. However, the commission was not convinced the benefits of such an arrangement would flow to customers and moreover, its main concern was that a merger would reduce the number of buyers in the “upstream market” for grocery supply from three to two – this market is currently dominated by the two Foodstuffs entities and Woolworths NZ. In its decision, the commission noted that this reduction would be a structural change and would likely lessen competition in multiple acquisition and retail markets. It also emphasised that competition in the country's highly concentrated grocery market was already weak. Tom Raynel is a multimedia business journalist for the Herald, covering small business and retail. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foodstuffs has argued a merger blocked by the Commerce Commission would benefit consumers and suppliers. The competition watchdog has decided merging the chain's North and South Island co-ops would substantially lessen competition. Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin says they're likely to appeal the decision - based on the evidence they have at this point. He says the move would only have changed the support each retailer received. "Which is out of sight of customers and a part of retail competition - to bring it together in a more efficient way so that we can keep delivering value and innovation for New Zealanders. That's the disappointing thing about today's outcome." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foodstuffs has argued a merger blocked by the Commerce Commission would benefit consumers and suppliers. The competition watchdog has decided merging the chain's North and South Island co-ops would substantially lessen competition. Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin says they're likely to appeal the decision - based on the evidence they have at this point. He says the move would only have changed the support each retailer received. "Which is out of sight of customers and a part of retail competition - to bring it together in a more efficient way so that we can keep delivering value and innovation for New Zealanders. That's the disappointing thing about today's outcome." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Facial Recognition technology will stay in 25 supermarkets, as Foodstuffs North Island deems its trial a success.   The company, which owns Pak'n'Save and New World, installed the technology in the stores for a six-month test.   Early results suggest it prevented about 130 serious incidents and was able to identify repeat offenders more than 1,700 times.   Company Secretary, Julian Benefield, told Mike Hosking the trial was focused on repeat offenders, which 38% of offences were caused by in the last quarter.  He says it's one of the most proactive technologies they could find, as offenders are less aggressive when approached earlier on in the store journey.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 25th of September, could facial recognition help reduce retail crime? Foodstuffs North Island's trial of the technology has just ended, and they say it's helped. First Retail Groups Managing Director Chris Wilkinson speaks to Ryan about what this could mean for retailers.  Conflict is continuing to escalate between Israel and Hezbollah. International Relations expert Stephen Hoadley joins the show to talk about the reasons behind the conflict.  A new aggravating factor for offences against public transport works has been introduced, as well as new funding for security measures. Tramways Union President Gary Froggatt speaks to Ryan.  Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a suggestion facial recognition isn't the sole factor behind a drop in supermarket retail crime.   Foodstuffs North Island —which owns Pak'n'Save and New World— says early results from its six month trial show it prevented about 130 serious incidents.  It also reported around 4,700 incidents across all stores in April to June – an 8% drop quarterly.  First Retail Group managing director Chris Wilkinson told Ryan Bridge there are other elements too.  He says there's also a new Police Minister, a new letter of expectation with Police, and more determination around the sector, which have had a ripple effect.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden wants a third supermarket competitor to set up shop in New Zealand in order to tackle the country's supermarket duopoly, but reducing the barriers to entry won't happen overnight.“What we've been told by these players is when they come and they want to open up a large store in New Zealand, the cost to get a spade in the ground is double that of Australia,” he says in a new episode of the Of Interest podcast. “Now that is significant. And when they look at 'do we open up a store in Wagga Wagga or Tamworth or wherever in Australia' versus coming to open up in Auckland where there is massive demand or any of the other centres, really, the cost is double that of Australia. And the timeframe often is more than double as well. So when they do their business cases, they look at that and say, 'well, we're going to be better off by going elsewhere rather than here.' Now the government is saying that they're going to change things to make New Zealand more competitive for international players. And that's really what we're looking at.”The Commerce Commission released its first annual grocery report on Wednesday which revealed ComCom's efforts to boost grocery competition over the past year hasn't had much impact. The report found between 2019 and 2023, price-cost margins on non-fresh products across the New World, Pak'nSave, and Woolworths brands increased by 3.1 percentage points on average, while fresh food margins rose a lesser 0.4% on average.The Commission defines price-cost margins as a measure of the difference between the price a firm receives for the sale of an item and the direct supply costs incurred.Broken down, the price-cost margins for non-fresh products in that period rose the most at Foodstuffs North Island's New World stores which reported a 3.9 percentage point increase in that period.In second and third, Woolworths NZ's Countdown stores, now renamed back to Woolworths, reported a 3.6 percentage point increase, and Foodstuffs South Island reported a 2.9% percentage point increase during 2019 and 2023.The consumer watchdog said the report provided “clear evidence for stronger action” in NZ's $25 billion grocery sector.Speaking on the Of Interest podcast, van Heerden says the Commission wants to make sure the barriers to entry are reduced enough to make NZ's supermarket sector more competitive. Barriers to entry for potential new supermarket hopefuls also include things outside the Commission's control like planning regulations including zoning requirements within the local council's District Plan, and the resource consent process in some cases. The Overseas Investment Act 2005 can also create additional costs, delays and uncertainty in relation to site acquisition by overseas entities looking to enter or expand in the New Zealand grocery industry, van Heerden says.Asked if a giant entity would be needed to enter NZ's supermarket sector – which is currently controlled by Woolworths NZ and Foodstuffs – as a third entrant or if a smaller grocery player could work as well, van Heerden says it can be a combination.“We would like to see someone who can come in and has the scale to do it nationally, because that's the way they're going to get the best prices from suppliers. You know, they can get good trade spend or discounts in their stores as well. Because when I look at Auckland as an example, in Auckland, the concentration or the market share of the major supermarkets has come down by 4% from 74 to, I think it's 70%. What has caused that – Costco coming into the market. A lot of the Asian supermarkets are growing and we've just seen Foodies open and they sold out from what I've seen, you know, four weeks' stock in three days,” he says.“So consumers are anxious and they want to get better deals and they will support these players. But I want to see that same level of competition out in the smaller areas. And if a big player comes in and as in Australia, a hard discounter where they really give very good prices, I think that will shake up the industry and it will ensure that the big players are more competitive.”Van Heerden says the supermarkets have “said all the right things” when contributing to the Commission's work on the grocery sector“If you look at the comments that both the major supermarkets have brought out since the report came out, they all say they work, they work with us, they support the objectives. But I want those words to change into actions. I want to actually see it happening. I look at, for instance, the refund policies and the pricing issues. We've raised that now with them since I started. And quite honestly, the response has been, 'yes, we're getting it done,' but the actual actions have been slow. So I'd like to see them ramping up those actions and letting their actions be the same as what they're telling us, that they're happy to work with us to get things done,” he says.The Commerce Commission's grocery report can be found here.*You can find all episodes of the Of Interest podcast here. 

We're going a little bit back to the future today because the annual report card into the grocery industry came out yesterday, and we were overrun with health talk. So we'll go back to that report and look at the ramifications for the industry, for the suppliers, and for us, the consumers.   So according to the report, we are paying higher prices, specials are confusing, and loyalty schemes aren't delivering overly significant rewards. Paying $10,500 for a glass container isn't really enough in terms of loyalty (if you're collecting the stickers from New World, you'll know what I mean). According to the ComCom's first annual grocery report all major supermarkets experienced an increase in price cost margins, which means retail prices were increasing faster than the cost of the goods. Those wanting to enter the market are not finding it easy. Despite 150,000 members signing up to Costco by March, Costco still suffered a $20 million loss. Restrictive land covenants were hampering new entry for new players and existing ones. The Commission has already prosecuted Foodstuffs North Island for historical abuses, grabbing land and holding on to it so nobody else can build there.   We also saw alternative grocery shopping places like Huckleberry shut down – that's been around forever and that's been placed into liquidation. Online retailer Supie failed, Bin Inn closed 5 stores, so it's tough, it's a tough market out there. And it's tough for Foodstuffs and Woolworths too, I'm sure. They've had to pay increased costs, and security guards, and thefts and the like, it has not been easy for them. They've had to look after their staff, who face relentless barrages of abuse, and probably this report card won't help.   So, it's not an easy industry to be in right now. It's a much, much tougher one to get into if you want to. While the number of covenants around land had decreased, the Commission has expressed concern at the more than 100 properties currently owned by major retailers that are not being used for stores, with no immediate plans to put a supermarket there. The Commissioner said, well, yes, I suppose some of these properties could be used for car parks or storage, but they certainly included potential expansion sites when properties held for more than 20 years were considered. Sue Chetwin from the Grocery Action Group, told Ryan Bridge on Early Edition that the government needs to show its teeth if we want to see any significant change to the market.   “All of the rules that they've put in place, all very well meaning, but have not worked. They have really just tinkered around the edge, so unless you make some structural change to encourage competition or to allow competition to happen, then we're just going to get more of the same.”  Yeah, and that's the thing. There was a Commerce Commission report, there were some prosecutions, the duopoly of Foodstuffs and Woolworths were put on notice, and nothing happened. If anything, it's got slightly worse. So the government is interested in turning up the heat, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says he plans to seek advice on the sites currently being land banked, alongside broader regulatory reviews that could lead to potential change, including the Overseas Investment Act and the Fair Trading Act.   What about the concerns of suppliers? We've looked at consumers and said, yep, you're paying more than you need to for food, even taking into account seasonal fluctuations, even taking into account everything's more expensive, what the report says is that the increase in price cost margins has given them a greater profit than they needed to have. The report says a monthly index of suppliers prices produced by Informetrics for Foodstuffs North Island and pumped out to the media —in fact it was referred to in the press release following the release of the ComCom report yesterday— has consistently failed to include the impact of so-called trade spend, the impact of rebates, discounts, and payments that run to billions of dollars annually on the prices supermarkets actually pay to their suppliers. The report stopped short of calling this lying, Business Desk said let's settle for embarrassing.   So what does this all mean? We are a very small country. We're not even as big as most cities in the United States, so anybody who's interested in coming here from overseas has to know that they'll make a profit. Even if the government arranged for a prime piece of real estate in the middle of Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city, and earmarked it for an overseas player and said come, haere mai, haere mai, this land is yours, put your supermarket up there, fill your boots. I'm not entirely sure they'd make a profit. It's a huge investment. It's a huge investment in building up relationships that cannot happen overnight with suppliers. It takes time, and the reason that Foodstuffs and Woolworths are so successful is that they are old companies. They're very old. Certainly with Foodstuffs when you trace their whakapa back, they are part of the landscape back to the 60s. So this has taken time to build, to get into this position of strength. And while there might be huge players overseas, they don't have that network of contacts, that history, that the others do here. It's got to be worth their while. They've got to know that they're going to make money if they up sticks and invest here. How likely is that?   Is there any real likelihood of a third player? What's it going to take to get real competition? Is it going to take a coalition government that really doesn't like regulation? Are they going to have to swallow a dead mouse and say we'll have to regulate this industry because they're not doing it themselves?   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An investigation into the supermarket majors is underway as a merger of hundreds of stores around New Zealand fails to satisfy our competition watchdog. Ahead of its final decision later this year, the Commerce Commission said that a merger of Foodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island would effect “significant structural change” in the sector – and it continues to have concerns around competition. It's all while the commission's investigating after Consumer NZ lodged a complaint claiming supermarkets were engaging in ‘misleading pricing'. So, what will all of this mean for you, and the price of your weekly grocery shop? Today on The Front Page, we're talking all things supermarkets, first with NZ Herald reporter Kate MacNamara, and then with independent consultant, Ernie Newman. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsSound Engineer: Paddy FoxProducer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Carmen Sutton, Social Supermarket Lead at Foodstuffs North Island. Discover how social supermarkets are restoring dignity and respect by offering choice to those in need. Carmen delves into Foodstuffs' impactful role and the powerful holistic solutions created through community partnerships.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Owners of Foodstuffs supermarkets have voted in favour of Foodstuff merging its North and South Island operations. Foodstuffs North Island chief executive Chris Quin spoke to Corin Dann.

Local grocery store owners are supporting Foodstuffs' merger.  The country's biggest supermarket operator is a step closer to merging its North and South Island divisions after 99% of owners voted in support.  The future co-op's designated CEO, Chris Quin, told Mike Hosking that they're not surprised at the result.  He says they've done a lot of work to ensure the families who own their stores understand why the merger would be good for their customers and community.  The merger's still subject to Commerce Commission and High Court approval.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foodstuffs is raising the alarm about an increase in retail crime throughout their stores. New data shows over 5000 incidents were reported in the first quarter of this year at 320 New World, Pak n' Save and Four Square stores. Foodstuffs North Island general counsel Julian Benefield says a number of these incidents were caused by repeat offenders. "As we've seen with the data that we're reporting, there's clearly a huge increase - and a large increase in the violent, aggressive offences, which is really concerning for us. It makes us really concerned about our team members." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foodstuffs is raising the alarm about an increase in retail crime throughout their stores. New data shows over 5000 incidents were reported in the first quarter of this year at 320 New World, Pak n' Save and Four Square stores. Foodstuffs North Island general counsel Julian Benefield says a number of these incidents were caused by repeat offenders. "As we've seen with the data that we're reporting, there's clearly a huge increase - and a large increase in the violent, aggressive offences, which is really concerning for us. It makes us really concerned about our team members." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Food price data showed prices in March were up just 0.7 percent compared to a year earlier – the smallest increase in food prices in three years.  CEO of Foodstuffs North Island Chris Quin tells Heather du Plessis-Allan the business must keep challenging itself to evolve every way it can to remove costs.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A human element will be key factor during Foodstuffs North Island's facial recognition technology trial. Up to 25 New World and Pak'nSave stores will have the technology trialled over the next six months, to potentially reduce retail crime. The technology analyses facial features and matches them against the store's record of offenders and accomplices. Foodstuffs North Island general counsel, Julian Benefield, says they have a minimum accuracy threshold of 90 percent before staff intervene. "Two highly trained store team members then need to look at the image and confirm that for themselves that it is the repeat offender before they take any action." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A human element will be key factor during Foodstuffs North Island's facial recognition technology trial. Up to 25 New World and Pak'nSave stores will have the technology trialled over the next six months, to potentially reduce retail crime. The technology analyses facial features and matches them against the store's record of offenders and accomplices. Foodstuffs North Island general counsel, Julian Benefield, says they have a minimum accuracy threshold of 90 percent before staff intervene. "Two highly trained store team members then need to look at the image and confirm that for themselves that it is the repeat offender before they take any action." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Starting Thursday, up to 25 New World and PAK'nSAVE supermarkets across the North Island will be testing facial recognition software. Foodstuffs says their North Island stores had more than 4700 incidents of retail crime between October and December, up 34 percent from the previous quarter. Foodstuffs North Island's general counsel Julian Benefield spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Commerce Commission has opened an investigation into Woolworths, Foodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island, following an allegation of Fair Trading Act breaches. 

The Commerce Commission's launched investigations into the two big supermarket chains' pricing and promotional practices.   It's looking into whether the practices of Woolworths, Foodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island, comply with the Fair Trading Act.   It comes following a Consumer NZ complaint to the commission, after it asked shoppers for examples of unclear or misleading prices.  They offered 600 responses.   Massey University marketing professor Bodo Lang told Roman Travers that the Commission's options range from a compliance letter to court proceedings with fines.   He says a charge is really just a signal but consumers would react negatively, leading to changes in practices.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Consumers could benefit from a supermarket merger if Foodstuffs has to make other changes.  The supermarket giant is proposing to merge their North Island and South Island co-operatives into one national co-op.  Business consultant Ernie Newman told Mike Hosking that Foodstuffs could be asked to break up into separate wholesale and retail business units.  He says suppliers could have other avenues.  Newman says companies like Night 'n Day and The Warehouse could buy from Foodstuffs Wholesale, and become truly independent.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foodstuffs is set to apply to the Commerce Commission to merge its North Island and South Island co-operatives into one national business. The company is half of New Zealand's supermarket duopoly - and expected to spark big debate on competition issues. Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin says this merger is part of a strategy focused on creating better value to customers. "Like any business, we have to look harder at our cost base- and also where our energy and efforts are going." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foodstuffs, is set to apply to the Commerce Commission to merge its North Island and South Island co-operatives into one national business. The company is half of New Zealand's supermarket duopoly - and expected to spark big debate on competition issues. Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin says this merger is part of a strategy focused on creating better value to customers. "Like any business, we have to look harder at our cost base- and also where our energy and efforts are going." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A supermarket boss says food price increases are heading in the right direction.   The Stats NZ Food Price Index shows there was an 8% increase in the year to September, which is a lower increase than previously.   Foodstuffs North Island Managing Director, Chris Quin, told Mike Hosking that while the trend is heading down food prices are still up, impacting every household.   He says it's not until late next year we're expecting to get back to numbers around 3%.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having witnessed a supermarket theft the other day, as we all probably have by now, I was not surprised to see that supermarket crime ‘has surged'.   In just Foodstuffs North Island stores, it's reported there are ‘more than a thousand incidents a month.' And the thefts are brazen. There was one video of a man ‘armed with a screwdriver stealing nine legs of lamb'. Foodstuffs say that in more than a third of these crimes, it's repeat offenders.    So it's not surprising they're taking matters into their own hands and 'investing 45 million in security measures.' They've had a ‘jump of more than 300 percent in assaults and thefts over the past six years'. And that's just physical assaults and thefts. In terms of security incidents in general, they're up more than 800 percent, reportedly.   I mean that's untenable as a business to have to put up with that. And so unfair on staff. They shouldn't have to deal with the sort of crap they're now dealing with. 'Knives were a common weapon to be pulled on staff, and even handguns..' according to supermarket execs. They also said that people stealing groceries was happening daily, sometimes 'multiple times a day'.. which is what I've heard from check out operators too. And the staff are unable to stop it. This 45 million Countdown wants to spend on security, that'll take a while to trickle through to implement all the security changes needed. They're going to spread it over 3 years, spread it around stores, and try different things.   One of them, the trolley locking system, which a check out operator told me about the other day, is good in theory. It's basically a smart technology system whereby the trolley locks up automatically, so if the trolley hasn't stopped long enough at the exit - long enough to go through a checkout, then it will automatically lock. The idea being this prevents the thief running out with a full trolley of groceries.   But what this check out operator told me was that in trials of it, although effective at stopping the trolley, it didn't stop the thieves. In fact it made them more angry. So once the trolley locked up and they realised they couldn't move it, they started grabbing items inside the trolley and running out with armfuls of whatever they could carry. On top of that they'd use some of the groceries as weapons - she'd seen thieves grabbing things like cans or wine bottles and throwing them at staff to deter them from chasing them. It also creates a good distraction and makes a hell of a mess. So, she said, it's actually quite scary.   You then also have the problem of what about the trolley's locking up which aren't being used in thefts? What if you're just quick through the check out with a few items and then your trolley decides you must be a thief and it locks up?   They have to do something though - but adding new camera technology and trolley technology is all well and good but I think they need to be able to do more with their people. Equip and enable security staff to actually be able to do something about thefts. Currently all they can do is watch them leave the supermarket with stolen goods, follow them to their car and take a licence plate, they can't physically stop them. They then have to rely on Police following all these nuisances up and then rely on the courts do something about it.   So you can see why there're so many repeat offenders. It's good Foodstuffs is trying to fix the problem, but it's 45 million wasted dollars if the courts and police don't back up this kind of crackdown. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A supermarket giant says crime has surged in its North Island stores. Foodstuffs recorded 3900 separate incidents from the start of May to the end of July, a 59 percent year-on-year increase. Serious incidents including assault, robbery and burglary have more than doubled in the past year and are up 13 percent on the last quarter. Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin says the biggest issue is organised theft, with people stealing products to make money. "Secondly, it's sadly people with addictions, and they're trying to support that addiction through theft. And then our social media driver, where people are trying to make a hero of themselves by doing some of this stuff." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Businesses typically avoid taking a stance on contentious political matters, particularly during election campaigns, and that is what makes this week's media release from Foodstuffs North Island quite remarkable. In this week's podcast, Oliver Hartwich is joined by Chris Quin, CEO of Foodstuffs North Island, to delve into the pressing issue of escalating retail crime and lawlessness in New Zealand. They discuss the effect this having on the safety of frontline staff, their owner/operators and their customers. They also discuss possible solutions and the importance of adopting a multifaceted approach to effectively tackle crime, highlighting the limitations of simplistic solutions such as fog cannon subsidies.

Grocers are calling for solutions after recording an almost 40 percent increase in North Island retail crime. Data collected from New World, PAK'nSAVE and Four Square stores have found an average of 37 incidents of retail crime a day between February and April this year. Foodstuffs North Island chief executive Chris Quin told Mike Hosking local grocers have never seen retail crime at these levels. He says investment in security is around $8 million a year and that's just in North Island stores. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grocers are calling for solutions after recording an almost 40 percent increase in North Island retail crime. Data collected from New World, PAK'nSAVE and Four Square stores have found an average of 37 incidents of retail crime a day between February and April this year. Foodstuffs North Island chief executive Chris Quin told Mike Hosking local grocers have never seen retail crime at these levels. He says investment in security is around $8 million a year and that's just in North Island stores. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The price of food has had it's biggest annual price increase in 30 years - driven by the cost of grocery products like eggs, potato chips and yoghurt. Stats NZ says food prices were 12.1 percent higher in March compared to a year ago, the biggest annual rise since 1989. Grocery food prices increased by 14 percent while prices for fruit and vegetables increased by 22 percent, driven by tomatoes, potatoes and avocados. But that cost increase isn't just hurting consumers in the pocket. Foodstuffs which is responsible for New World and PAK'nSAVE, says the wholesale price of groceries has gone up by more than 20 percent in the last year. Chief executive of Foodstuffs North Island, Chris Quin, spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Grocery retailer Foodstuffs North Island says all of its 33 stores which had been forced to close by the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle have reopened. All of its Pak'n Save, New World and Four Square stores are receiving stock by road, with one exception - the Four Square Tokomaru Bay - which is still relying on helicopters for its supplies. Foodstuffs North Island chief executive Chris Quin spoke to Guyon Espiner.

The CEO of a harm prevention services provider has slammed a food retailer caught selling alcohol for 67 cents a can. Pak 'n Save New Plymouth is under fire for marketing $3.99 six-packs, but Foodstuffs North Island say the beer was priced wrongly and it's since been corrected. Hapai Te Hauora CEO Selah Hart says mental health issues are a major problem, and this exploits families suffering at the hands of addiction. "You know who that's targeted to, it's not to those that can manage their drinking in a way that is helpful or sustainable. We're actually looking at those families who cannot control their drinking behaviours and therefore can not move past these really attractive signs." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's going to get a little bit cheaper to put fruit and vegetables on the table. The price of fruit and vegetables rose 23 percent last year, one of the main contributors to the 7.2 percent rise in overall consumer prices. Growers expect seasonal produce prices to start dropping, as supplies pick up in the coming weeks. Foodstuffs North Island's Brigit Corson told Tim Dower how much you save at the checkout will depend on what you put in your trolley. She says lettuces and salad ingredients are good value, alongside melons and beans. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's going to get a little bit cheaper to put fruit and vegetables on the table. The price of fruit and vegetables rose 23 percent last year, one of the main contributors to the 7.2 percent rise in overall consumer prices. Growers expect seasonal produce prices to start dropping, as supplies pick up in the coming weeks. Foodstuffs North Island's Brigit Corson told Tim Dower how much you save at the checkout will depend on what you put in your trolley. She says lettuces and salad ingredients are good value, alongside melons and beans. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This new technology will change everything about how you work in your business! At least, that's what they say. With how quickly technology is advancing everyday, how do you decide which shiny new piece of technology is either right for your business… …or a huge waste of an investment? Even worse, once you find that perfect new technology, how do you implement it in a way that works for everyone? Meet Mazen Kassis Mazen's Role as a Data Analytics Leader at Foodstuffs North Island Mazen Kassis is the Head of Data & Analytics at Foodstuffs North Island Limited - a cooperative made up of 24,000 kiwis working hard to make sure New Zealanders get more out of life. They serve 2.7 million kiwis each week through their 330+ PAK'nSAVE, New World, Four Square and Gilmours stores and have donated 9m meals to Food Rescue. In 2020, Foodstuffs won the Large Retail Employer of the Year award, and their Four Square banner was a recipient of Aon Hewitt's Best Employer award in 2018. This year, Foodstuffs North Island marks its 100 year anniversary. Mazen's Other Work in Data Analytics and Privacy Besides his work with Foodstuffs North Island, Mazen is a Training Advisory Board Member with IAPP - the International Association of Privacy Professionals. IAPP is the largest privacy association in the world and a leader in the privacy industry. They provide resources for practitioners to develop and advance their careers while helping professionals and businesses navigate the complexities of the evolving environment and how to define and manage privacy issues. Having spent his career journey in research, privacy, and data & analytics capacities in ANZ, Asia, Africa and Europe, Mazen has learnt important lessons about different ways and means that data can be turned into actionable insights. Synthesising data to inform decision making ignites his passion and creating ecosystems where this can be done at scale drives him further. Data Driven, Business Decisions, and New Technology In this exclusive analytics podcast episode, Mazen shares: His work as a Training Advisory Board Member with the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Idiosyncrasies between the ANZ region and other regions His role as the Head of Data & Analytics at Foodstuffs North Island Efforts to ensure all business decisions across the organisation are data-powered and customer-driven Developing good data culture amongst data users Organisational structure: Centre of Excellence vs distributed teams What would happen if business decisions were not powered by data How to know which new data analytics technology is worth bringing into the organisation The process of bringing in a new data analytics technology from start to finish Reasons behind less than ideal outcomes when procuring new technologies Reflections on an approach to introducing new data and analytics tech that had unintended consequences Desirable skills for the modern data and analytics professionals His suggestions for those looking to introduce new technologies in their organisations If you are interested in getting a glimpse into the world of data and analytics inside one of the most significant organisations in New Zealand, this is the episode you do not want to miss. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/analyticsshow/message

The second of the two major supermarket chains will set up a wholesale grocery service for rival retailers.It was one of the recommendations of the Commerce Commission report into the industry.Foodstuffs announced its plans yesterday with Woolworths announcing a similar move earlier this month.Foodstuffs North Island chief executive Chris Quin told Mike Hosking they've had a wholesale business for many years in the Gilmores brand.But he says this is a different requirement.Quin says they need to get different arrangements with suppliers in place,  to understand what competing retailers actually need from them.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The second of the two major supermarket chains will set up a wholesale grocery service for rival retailers.It was one of the recommendations of the Commerce Commission report into the industry.Foodstuffs announced its plans yesterday with Woolworths announcing a similar move earlier this month.Foodstuffs North Island chief executive Chris Quin told Mike Hosking they've had a wholesale business for many years in the Gilmores brand.But he says this is a different requirement.Quin says they need to get different arrangements with suppliers in place,  to understand what competing retailers actually need from them.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new approach to addressing food poverty is being rolled out by supermarket giant, Food Stuffs together with community providers. Willa Hand, the head of membership experience at Foodstuffs North Island talks to Wallace.

The chain that owns PaknSave, Four Square and New World says it's doing everything to help customers in the face of high inflation.Many economists are predicting the Consumer Price Index will be more than seven percent, when it's released this morning.Foodstuffs North Island chief executive Chris Quin told Tim Dower the company is trying to help customers find value.He says pricing's being simplified, promotions are based around everyday prices, and there's unit pricing so people can compare value on shelves.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chain that owns PaknSave, Four Square and New World says it's doing everything to help customers in the face of high inflation.Many economists are predicting the Consumer Price Index will be more than seven percent, when it's released this morning.Foodstuffs North Island chief executive Chris Quin told Tim Dower the company is trying to help customers find value.He says pricing's being simplified, promotions are based around everyday prices, and there's unit pricing so people can compare value on shelves.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The strain supermarkets are under due to Covid could be starting to ease.  Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin says they're feeling like they're through the worst of it.  He told Mike Hosking since January 23 at peak they've had 1100 of their team unable to work due to Covid.  Quin says they're now down to under 500 in that position, and only 40 of those are from supply chain teams. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The strain supermarkets are under due to Covid could be starting to ease. Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin says they're feeling like they're through the worst of it. He told Mike Hosking since January 23 at peak they've had 1100 of their team unable to work due to Covid.  Quin says they're now down to under 500 in that position, and only 40 of those are from supply chain teams. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's two years today since Covid-19 was first detected in New Zealand. If only we knew then, what we know now. For example, I had no idea then that – in a couple of years – I'd be standing in my kitchen on a Sunday night shoving a swab up my nose.   But that's what happened last night. I did my first Rapid Antigen Test. It's a bit of a fiddly process but I'm sure I'll get better with practice. Last week, the Government announced it was finally going to allow retailers to sell RAT tests – you may have heard Chris Quin from Foodstuffs North Island talking to Mike Hosking about it this morning. He's hoping to have them on the shelves by next week. They're going to be selling them at cost price. But it still means customers are going to be paying about $32 for a pack of five. So, $6.60 per test. Now I consider myself very lucky to be getting these provided by work, because so many people are going to pay for their own. In fact, most people if they want them, are going to have to buy their own.  And I think that's going to be a real stumbling block in terms of getting a clear picture of just how much Omicron is out there over the next wee while. I'm picking that a lot of people, if they don't get RAT tests free from work, just won't bother getting them. Because, let's face it, most people are finding it tough enough to pay for the basics without adding another $32 to the grocery bill. Which is why I think that – if you take the supply issues out of the equation – no one should have to pay for these things.  I understand that some people are seen to be more critical than others in terms of keeping things operating. You know, your medical people, truckies and supermarket workers. But, in a pandemic, is it fair and reasonable to have some people shelling out money for RAT tests and others not? I don't think it is fair and reasonable. Particularly, when you consider that anyone turning up at a testing centre for a PCR test, gets tested for free. That's if they get past the gatekeepers, of course. As we've heard on the show, it seems some people are now being turned away because they're not considered to be unwell enough to warrant a test. One of our callers last week said she had a staff member who'd been really crook for a week with a sore throat and runny nose and had been turned away twice from a testing centre. Another person called in and said they'd had the same experience. In fact, that person was calling us on her way home from the testing centre. But, nevertheless, if you get past the gatekeepers at the testing centres and you get a PCR test, you don't pay a thing. Yet, if you want a RAT test, chances are you're going to have to pay. Why is it, for example, considered ok for teachers to have to buy their own tests? They're required, as per the mandates, to be vaccinated – but that's not being recognised with free rapid antigen testing in exchange. It's nuts. Beneficiaries. Why should they have to pay for their own RAT tests? If you're on a benefit, you won't bother, will you? And if there isn't a testing centre near you – you won't bother with that either, will you?  So, what we're going to get, is a large number of people being priced out of the testing process. Which is appalling, isn't it? Not to mention the cost burden on critical businesses who have to buy them for their staff. And that's why I think the Government should be paying for all Rapid Antigen Tests. If you want them, you can get them, irrespective of what you do for a living – whether you're a critical worker or not – and irrespective of your income level. 

The country's biggest grocery company will be rolling out Rapid Antigen Testing.Foodstuffs, which owns Four Square, New World and PAK'nSAVE will start by sending tests to more than 250 stores for surveillance staff testing.They are expected to be available to customers in some locations by as early as next week.North Island Chief Executive Chris Quin told Mike Hosking the company has made a commitment to sell RATs at a cost to them.“Gonna come in a 5 pack for about $32.99, so that's $6.60 a test.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supermarkets are continuing to make plans to deal with disruption, as the Omicron variant spreads.  Foodstuffs North Island says demand is relatively normal again, after a buying rush when the country moved into red last week.  It's holding about 29 percent more stock this summer than previous years.  CEO Chris Quin told Mike Hosking preparations are also being made in case a lot of workers have to isolate. “You've got to plan around having 10, 20 or 30 percent of your staff unavailable for periods and what you would do during that period to keep the really essential and critical offer on shelves for New Zealanders.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Supermarkets are continuing to make plans to deal with disruption, as the Omicron variant spreads.  Foodstuffs North Island says demand is relatively normal again, after a buying rush when the country moved into red last week.  It's holding about 29 percent more stock this summer than previous years.  CEO Chris Quin told Mike Hosking preparations are also being made in case a lot of workers have to isolate. “You've got to plan around having 10, 20 or 30 percent of your staff unavailable for periods and what you would do during that period to keep the really essential and critical offer on shelves for New Zealanders.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foodstuffs North Island was one of 29 businesses that took part in a rapid antigen testing trial lead by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment. Its chief executive officer Chris Quin says the tests are important to keep staff safe. He spoke to Susie Ferguson.

Sealord has spoken out publicly for the first time since Foodstuffs North Island cancelled a large chunk of its frozen fish range.  The company says it's decreasing products in New World and Pak n Save in the North Island by 50 to 70 percent, reducing the number of products from 24 to between 4 and 11.  Sealord's chief executive Doug Paulin told Heather du Plessis-Allan it's nothing personal and that Foodstuff's North Island are looking to implement similar measures across other categories. “This is something they're doing across both of their banners, Pak'n'Save and New World, and across all categories. It just happens that ours is one of the first to be done.” LISTEN ABOVE  

Foodstuffs North Island is denying claims it's destroying big parts of Sealord's operation by taking their product off the shelves.Katherine Rich from the Food and Grocery Council said Sealord had been told that their product is being deleted because it doesn't give the product margin Foodstuffs North Island want.Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin told Heather du Plessis-Allan the amount of Sealord as a brand will change in their freezers by 30 per cent.“We have not made way for imported products like Alaskan pollock, and we are sticking with New Zealand fish that is fished in New Zealand, that is marketed in New Zealand and going into our freezers.”Quin said that customers can still get frozen Sealord products, but there is a change to their range to make it easier for customers to shop and keep prices under control or get better prices.LISTEN ABOVE

Frustrated businesses are urging the Government to allow them to bring in rapid Covid-19 tests to protect New Zealand work sites.A powerful group of 25 businesses across a range of sectors employing thousands of staff have formed a coalition to jointly import 370,000 rapid antigen tests to be introduced on workplaces around the country.Mainfreight's managing director Don Braid said the businesses were seeking urgent approval from the Government "to allow for the importation of rapid surveillance tests as a critical part of health and safety management in the workplace".The 25 companies requesting urgent approval to introduce the tests at critical work sites include Mainfreight, Foodstuffs North Island, Genesis, Hynds Pipe Systems, Mercury, Summerset Group, Wellington Airport, Christchurch Airport, Sky NZ, Queenstown Airport, Spark, Vodafone, The Warehouse Group, ANZ Bank, Contact Energy, Fulton Hogan, Woolworths NZ, Fletcher Building, Chorus, Carter Holt Harvey, Meridian Energy, DHL Express NZ, Air NZ and Auckland Airport.The plea is a sign of businesses increasingly frustrated with the slow rollout of rapid testing as the latest border failure hit in August when the Government's mass vaccination programme had got off to a slow start.Braid said businesses wanted to take care of their people from a health and safety perspective and to keep their sites operational.''Vaccinations and testing are key to this and it is bewildering that the rapid testing we are using in 26 locations around the world is unavailable to us at our home base in New Zealand.''Mainfreight managing director Don Braid. Photo / NZMEComment has been sought from Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. There will be an update from the Government on testing tomorrow.Last month it announced a trial at Middlemore Hospital of the tests which use swabs taken from the nose or throat for surveillance testing for Covid. In Britain the National Health Service encourages people to do them at home.Braid said: "We believe the Government shares our concern that the addition of antigen testing cannot suffer the long delays that occurred in introducing saliva testing. With the current Delta outbreak we are confident they will act decisively and work with us to make it happen."He told the Herald relevant Government ministers had been willing to consider all options but he feared the push to import the tests for use within businesses could get bogged down at the Ministry of Health.''We asked for a workplace opportunity to try these antigen testing units three or four weeks ago but it was stymied by the ministry.''There was heavy demand for the kits - priced at around $10 - around the world and he was worried this could lead to a shortage if this country didn't act quickly to import them.Testing didn't replace vaccination as the most important way of fighting Covid, said Braid but was another tool.''Business has been trying to assist the Government and the ministry and we feel we have a vital role to play.''Rapid antigen tests are used widely overseas as an additional tool to curb the spread of Covid-19, providing on-the-spot results in minutes to help identify chains of transmission, provide reassurance to employees and ensure workplace continuity.The 25 companies, which are looking to procure 370,000 tests via medical supplies wholesaler and distributor EBOS Healthcare, have written to the Government seeking emergency clearance to import the tests within the next seven days.The tests, which would not take the place of existing PCR tests for border workers or those who are experiencing symptoms, provide results in about 15 minutes, unlike PCR tests which can take days to return results.Five of the six rapid tests under consideration are approved and in use in Australia with final option currently under an approvals process, the coalition says.Foodstuffs North Island chief executive Chris Quin said the company was focused on keeping its staff and cu...

Foodstuffs North Island says it would be happy to support a consumer-focused code of conduct for the supermarket industry.  Supermarkets have also come under fire for the way that they deal with their suppliers, but Foodstuffs North Island Chief Executive Chris Quinn told Mike Hosking this morning that he thinks the relationship is a healthy one. Chief Executive of the Food and Grocery Council Katherine Rich however disagrees. LISTEN ABOVE 

A suggestion changes being agreed to by one of our major supermarket chains don't go far enough.  It comes after a report by the Commerce Commission found competition was lacking in the grocery sector. Foodstuffs North Island, which owns New World, Four Square and Pak'nSave, says it's now willing to support a consumer-focused code of conduct that aims to treat suppliers better. It adds it'll look at simplifying promotions and loyalty schemes. Consumer NZ Chief Executive Jon Duffy says told Kate Hawkesby the company is doing the bare minimum. "This was inevitable, that the code of conduct for suppliers is very much the low-hanging fruit in the analysis that's being done, it was going to happen." LISTEN ABOVE 

Auckland supermarkets are running low on staff as more head into isolation.Stores are operating on reduced hours with skeleton staff, or even having to close as a result.Foodstuffs North Island boss Chris Quin says no stores under his chain have had to close yet.But he says the outbreak is still having an impact."We've got about 130 in self-isolation at this point. As each store that is a location of interest gets communicated to us, the guys are doing a great job of going immediately to knowing who was involved."LISTEN ABOVE