The Commerce Commission grocery report in five plain findings
What the Commerce Commission found about NZ supermarkets and their suppliers in its June 2026 reports, in five plain findings with page numbers and limits.
What this guide covers
The Commerce Commission says NZ grocery is still highly concentrated. The three big grocery groups held 82% of the national market in 2025. Supermarkets and suppliers traded about $6 billion in rebates, discounts and payments. And 83% of suppliers who answered its survey reported a problem.
Which reports this covers
The Commission published two reports on 2 June 2026 [1][2]. The Annual Grocery Report 2025 mainly covers the 2025 year [1]. The Grocery Supplier Survey Report 2026 was run by Ipsos from 17 February to 20 March 2026 [2].
The "three big grocery groups" are Foodstuffs North Island, Foodstuffs South Island and Woolworths New Zealand. The law calls them regulated grocery retailers [1].
Each figure below comes from one official source: the Commission's own report. We checked every figure against the PDF on 9 November 2026 and give the page so you can check it too.
1. Three groups still sell most of the groceries
The three big groups held 82% of the national grocery market in 2025. It was also 82% in 2023 and 2024 [1, printed pages 19 to 20].
By store brand, Woolworths had 27%, PAK'nSAVE 25% and New World 22% [1, printed page 20].
Limit
A national share does not describe every town. It does not prove anyone broke the law.
2. A quarter of the money moves through rebates and deals
Rebates, discounts and payments between the big groups and their suppliers were worth about $6 billion in the 2025 financial year. That is 26% of the big groups' combined sales revenue [1, printed pages 1 and 36 to 37].
Limit
This is money flowing between businesses. It is not profit and not a measure of overcharging.
3. Most suppliers who answered report a problem
83% of suppliers who answered the 2026 survey reported at least one issue with the big groups. In 2024 it was 74% [2, pages 38 to 39].
340 suppliers answered in 2026, out of more than 4,000 contacted. In 2024, 500 answered [2, pages 4 and 38].
Limit
These are suppliers' own reports. They are not proven breaches of the rules, and not every supplier answered.
4. More suppliers struggle to get sales data
29% of survey respondents reported trouble getting data and insights from the big groups, up from 22% in 2024. The Commission marks the rise as statistically significant [2, pages 38 and 40].
Without sales data, a supplier cannot easily check whether a paid promotion worked.
Limit
Respondents could pick more than one issue. The survey does not say why the number rose.
5. The survey came before the new rules
The survey ended on 20 March 2026 [2, pages 4 to 5]. The revised Grocery Supply Code came into force on 1 May 2026 [3].
So this survey cannot tell us whether the revised Code is working. The next survey will show what suppliers report after the revised Code began.
What has happened since June
Wholesale inquiry closed. The Commission closed its wholesale supply inquiry on 7 July 2026. It is not recommending new rules "at this stage", and will focus on making the big groups follow the existing law [4][5].
A court case is running. The report says the Commission has filed civil proceedings against Foodstuffs North Island and Gilmours Wholesale for alleged cartel conduct. They are defending the case. The Commission expects a trial in February 2027 [1, printed page 2].
An election. New Zealand voted on 7 November 2026. Several parties promise changes to supermarkets. See our plain guide to every party's supermarket policy.
What this means if you supply supermarkets
Three things to do now
List every charge in your supply deal and what you get for it. Finding 2 shows how much money flows this way.
Ask in writing for the sales data you need to check a promotion: products, dates, units sold and the funding you paid.
Keep dated notes of any problem, what it cost you and the reply you got. Finding 3 shows you are not alone.
Our guide for small suppliers and independent grocers explains your rights under the Code and where to report a problem.
General information, not legal, financial or investment advice. Check your own situation with a lawyer, accountant or the Commerce Commission.
The steps
Read the five findings and note which one affects your business.
Open the page number we give and read the Commission's own words.
If you supply a supermarket, start a dated record of charges and issues.
Use the Commission's supplier page if you want to report a concern.
Is there a supermarket duopoly in NZ?
The Commission calls the market highly concentrated. Two businesses run the big chains: Foodstuffs, which is two separate co-operatives, and Woolworths. Together the three groups held 82% of national grocery sales in 2025.
Does the report prove supermarkets broke the law?
No. It reports market shares, money flows and suppliers' own experiences. Breaches are dealt with through investigations and the courts.
Where can I read the full report?
On the Commerce Commission website. We link the PDF and give printed page numbers for every figure on this page.
How often does the Commission publish this?
The 2025 report was its third annual grocery report. We will update this page when the next one comes out.
Sources, checked 9 November 2026
[1] Commerce Commission, Annual Grocery Report 2025 (PDF), published 2 June 2026: https://www.comcom.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Annual-Grocery-Report-2025-2-June-2026.pdf
[2] Commerce Commission and Ipsos, Grocery Supplier Survey Report 2026 (PDF), published 2 June 2026: https://www.comcom.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Grocery-Supplier-Survey-Report-2026-2-June-2026.pdf
[3] Commerce Commission, Grocery Supply Code page, checked 8 November 2026: https://www.comcom.govt.nz/regulated-industries/grocery/grocery-supply-code/
[4] Commerce Commission, Wholesale Supply Inquiry project page (closure 7 July 2026), checked 8 November 2026: https://www.comcom.govt.nz/regulated-industries/projects/wholesale-supply-inquiry2/
[5] Commerce Commission, Wholesale Supply Inquiry FAQs (outcome), checked 8 November 2026: https://www.comcom.govt.nz/regulated-industries/grocery/wholesale-supply-inquiry-faqs/