Supermarkets Review by the Commerce Commission

19 January 2021

The Commerce Commission has been directed by the Government to enquire into the cost of groceries and produce sold by New Zealand supermarkets. 

This enquiry provides an opportunity to consider whether competition in the retail grocery sector could work better for the benefit of New Zealand consumers.

This includes competition between retailers when buying groceries from suppliers, and competition between retailers when selling groceries to consumers.

The issues the Commission is proposing to look at are grouped under four headings:

  1. Competition at the retail level
  2. Competition at the wholesale and supplier levels of the supply chain
  3. The grocery procurement practices of the major grocery retailers
  4. Grocery retailers’ pricing practices and consumer purchasing behaviour.

HortNZ will be making a submission, is working together with VegetablesNZ. If any grower is interested in completing a short survey to inform our submission, please contact Mike.Chapman@hortnz.co.nz.