NZ supermarket questions, answered
Correct as at 9 November 2026. Official election results are due on 27 November 2026. We will update the policy answers after that.
Short, sourced answers to the questions New Zealanders search about supermarkets: the duopoly, KiwiMart, the Foodstuffs break-up, the Supply Code and Four Square.
What this guide covers
The questions New Zealanders search most about supermarkets, answered in two or three sentences each, with a source. In short: three big grocery groups hold 82% of the market, several parties promised to change that at the 2026 election, and none of those promises is law yet.
The market
Is there a supermarket duopoly in NZ? Two businesses run the big chains: Foodstuffs, which is two separate co-ops, and Woolworths. The Commission calls the market highly concentrated. The three groups held 82% of national grocery sales in 2025 [1, printed pages 19 to 20].
Are PAK'nSAVE and New World owned by the same company? Both are Foodstuffs brands. Foodstuffs is two co-ops, North Island and South Island, run by owner-operators, and each runs PAK'nSAVE, New World and Four Square in its island [2][1, Table 1, printed page 11].
Is PAK'nSAVE cheaper than New World? We found no official, current price comparison. The Commission says the two brands are "deliberately differentiated" within the same co-op, which may affect how hard they compete [1].
Who owns Gilmours and Trents? The NZ Herald reported that Foodstuffs North Island, which owns Gilmours, bought Trents from Foodstuffs South Island in August 2026 [3].
The rules today
What is the Grocery Supply Code? Rules for how Foodstuffs and Woolworths deal with suppliers. The revised Code came into force on 1 May 2026 and applies to all supply agreements, old ones too [4].
What does the Grocery Commissioner do? Leads the Commerce Commission's grocery work under the Grocery Industry Competition Act 2023 [5].
Is the Grocery Commissioner role being phased out? A government bill would phase it out from 1 July 2027, with the current holder staying on as a specialist commissioner until his term ends. The select committee reported on 27 July 2026. It is not law as at 9 November 2026 [6].
Can independent grocers buy wholesale from the big groups? Yes, the 2023 law gives a way to ask. Sales through it were about $22 million from July 2023 to August 2025 [1, printed pages 15 to 16].
What happened to the Foodstuffs merger? The Commission declined clearance on 1 October 2024 [7]. The co-ops' court challenge began in March 2026 [8]. We found no published ruling.
The break-up and the election
Will Foodstuffs be broken up? Not yet. National and NZ First promised to split it into two nationwide chains by brand [9][10]. ACT opposes break-ups [11]. Official results are due on 27 November 2026 [12], then coalition talks decide.
What is KiwiMart? The Green Party's plan for a publicly owned chain of at least 120 stores bought from Foodstuffs and Woolworths, costed at $2.8 billion [13].
What is National's supermarket policy? Change the grocery law within 100 days, give the Commission six months and $5 million to test a Foodstuffs split, then legislate if it recommends one [9][14].
What is Labour's supermarket policy? Ban excessive prices for essentials [15], and make the big groups run their wholesale arms separately, with a right for independents to buy on fair terms [16].
What is NZ First's plan? Split Foodstuffs into two nationwide co-ops by law, with fines up to $10 million, three times the gain, or 10% of turnover [10].
Would a split lower prices? The government's study put the net benefit at about $2.9 billion over 20 years, falling to $920 million if costs rise 2% instead of 1% [17]. A Foodstuffs-funded review called the results "too good to be true" [18].
For suppliers and store owners
How do I become a Foodstuffs supplier? Foodstuffs points new suppliers to its supplier community site, which has a "Become a Supplier" section. It says it trades with over 3,500 product suppliers [19][20].
How do I get a product into Woolworths? We could not find a public Woolworths NZ supplier page on 9 November 2026. Contact Woolworths New Zealand's buying team directly, and read the Grocery Supply Code first.
Can I report a supermarket anonymously? Yes. The Commission's information for suppliers page links a secure anonymous reporting tool [21].
What are the supermarket ownership options? Compare Foodstuffs co-op ownership, a FreshChoice franchise and an independent grocery business. Foodstuffs lists 12 weeks of shop-floor training for its North Island Four Square route [22]. The buying guide links the official application pages.
General information, not legal, financial or investment advice. Check your own situation with a lawyer, accountant or the Commerce Commission.
The steps
Find your question.
Read the short answer and open its source.
Follow the link to the full guide for more.
How can someone buy a supermarket in New Zealand?
Compare Foodstuffs co-op ownership, a FreshChoice franchise and starting or buying an independent grocer. Read the buying guide for official application pages and questions about funding and selection.
Is there a supermarket duopoly in NZ?
Two businesses run the big chains: Foodstuffs, which is two separate co-ops, and Woolworths. The three groups held 82% of national grocery sales in 2025, according to the Commerce Commission.
What is KiwiMart?
The Green Party's plan for a publicly owned supermarket chain of at least 120 stores, costed at $2.8 billion. It is a promise, not law.
Will Foodstuffs be broken up?
Not yet. National and NZ First promised to split it by brand; ACT opposes break-ups. Official election results are due on 27 November 2026, then coalition talks decide.
Are PAK'nSAVE and New World owned by the same company?
Both are Foodstuffs brands. Foodstuffs is two co-ops, North Island and South Island, and each runs PAK'nSAVE, New World and Four Square in its island.
What is the Grocery Supply Code?
Rules for how Foodstuffs and Woolworths deal with suppliers. The revised Code came into force on 1 May 2026 and applies to all supply agreements.
How do I become a Foodstuffs supplier?
Start with Foodstuffs' supplier community site and its Become a Supplier section. Foodstuffs says it trades with over 3,500 product suppliers.
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] Foodstuffs, FAQs, checked 9 November 2026: https://www.foodstuffs.co.nz/who-we-are/faqs
[3] NZ Herald, Foodstuffs combines Gilmours and Trents wholesale businesses despite Commerce Commission blocking merger of parents (Kate MacNamara), 15 September 2026: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/companies/retail/foodstuffs-combines-gilmours-and-trents-wholesale-businesses-despite-merger-block/premium/RSUSCGZ2BJAETKCELXWNTIDNBE/
[4] Commerce Commission, Grocery Supply Code page, checked 8 November 2026: https://www.comcom.govt.nz/regulated-industries/grocery/grocery-supply-code/
[5] Commerce Commission, Grocery (regulated industries page), checked 9 November 2026: https://www.comcom.govt.nz/regulated-industries/grocery/
[6] New Zealand Legislation, Commerce (Commerce Commission Reform) Amendment Bill (as reported from select committee), checked 9 November 2026: https://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2026/250/en/latest/
[7] Commerce Commission, Commerce Commission declines clearance for the proposed Foodstuffs merger, 1 October 2024: https://comcom.govt.nz/news-and-media/media-releases/2024/commerce-commission-declines-clearance-for-the-proposed-foodstuffs-merger
[8] Inside Retail NZ, Foodstuffs' court challenge of ComCom's merger decision begins, 2 March 2026: https://insideretail.co.nz/2026/03/02/foodstuffs-court-challenge-of-comcoms-merger-decision-begins/
[9] National Party, National to pursue separation of Foodstuffs, 16 September 2026: https://www.national.org.nz/news/260916-nicolawillis
[10] NZ First, NZ First will break up the supermarket duopoly (release via Scoop), 19 April 2026: https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2604/S00094/nz-first-campaign-policy-announcement-nz-first-will-break-up-the-supermarket-duopoly-bring-food-prices-down-for-kiwis.htm
[11] 1News, ACT reveals supermarkets policy, decries 'insane' break-up proposals, 28 September 2026: https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/09/28/act-reveals-supermarkets-policy-decries-insane-break-up-proposals/
[12] RNZ, 2026 election results in full (preliminary), 8 November 2026: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/election-2026-results
[13] Green Party, Affordable food for all of us (policy PDF), September 2026: https://www.greens.org.nz/affordable_food_full_policy
[14] interest.co.nz, Nicola Willis says National will look at breaking up Foodstuffs, 16 September 2026: https://www.interest.co.nz/public-policy/140274/national%E2%80%99s-nicola-willis-says-if-re-elected-government-her-party-will-look
[15] Labour Party, Banning price gouging (page undated), checked 9 November 2026: https://www.labour.org.nz/banning-price-gouging
[16] 1News, It's breakup season: Labour, National clash on tearing up grocery duopoly, 20 September 2026: https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/09/20/labour-proposes-splitting-foodstuffs-woolworths-from-wholesale-arms/
[17] 1News, National to 'pursue' Pak'nSave and New World break-up, 16 September 2026: https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/09/16/national-to-pursue-paknsave-and-new-world-break-up/
[18] 1News (from RNZ), Foodstuffs-commissioned review criticises break-up modelling, 4 October 2026: https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/10/04/foodstuffs-commissioned-review-criticises-break-up-modelling/
[19] Foodstuffs, Foodstuffs Supplier Community (Foodstuffs Exchange), checked 9 November 2026: https://www.foodstuffs-exchange.co.nz/
[20] Foodstuffs, Partnering with us, checked 9 November 2026: https://www.foodstuffs.co.nz/partnering-with-us
[21] Commerce Commission, information for suppliers, checked 8 November 2026: https://www.comcom.govt.nz/regulated-industries/grocery/information-for-suppliers/
[22] Foodstuffs, Careers: Becoming an Owner, checked 9 November 2026: https://www.foodstuffs.co.nz/working-at-foodies/becoming-an-owner