**Hamilton**: Foodstuffs held its National Partnership Awards, recognising the essential contributions of over 400 suppliers from North and South Island co-operatives. The event highlighted strong supplier relationships, showcasing innovations and achievements in New Zealand’s grocery sector, with Mars receiving the prestigious National Partnership Award.
Foodstuffs celebrated its annual National Partnership Awards on the evening of last night at the Claudelands Event Centre in Hamilton, bringing together over 400 suppliers from its North Island and South Island co-operatives. This event was the highlight of their biannual Expo trade show, aimed at recognising the vital contributions that suppliers make to the grocery sector in New Zealand.
Chris Quin, the CEO of Foodstuffs North Island, emphasised the significance of supplier relationships in delivering quality and innovation to consumers. “Every day, our suppliers bring quality, creativity, and passion to the table. It’s this dedication that ensures we can offer Kiwis the very best products, value and experiences,” Quin stated. He highlighted the expansive product range within Foodstuffs’ stores, which includes over 60,000 items sourced from approximately 10,000 suppliers. Additionally, Quin noted the introduction of 160 new Kiwi suppliers in the past year, reinforcing Foodstuffs’ commitment to supporting local businesses.
The awards evening showcased 15 awards distributed across two primary categories: Category Excellence and National Awards. These accolades were aimed at recognising standout achievements from suppliers who are setting benchmarks within the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector in New Zealand.
Mary Devine, the CEO of Foodstuffs South Island, underscored the importance of collaboration and shared objectives between Foodstuffs and its suppliers. “It’s always a privilege to stand before a room filled with such talent, passion, and energy. Tonight, we come together as partners, innovators, and industry leaders – each of us playing a role in shaping the future of our industry,” Devine remarked. She expressed optimism about the company’s future direction, shaped by strong partnerships that have existed for decades.
Among the prestigious awards presented, the Foodstuffs National Partnership Award was given to Mars for its exemplary collaboration across the co-op network. Mars was nominated in four categories for both the North and South Island co-operatives. Commenting on Mars’ achievements, it was noted that their commitment to building robust value-driven partnerships exemplifies what genuine collaboration looks like.
The Foodstuffs co-operatives took the opportunity to congratulate all finalists and winners, emphasising that their collective successes reflect the importance of strong partnerships in advancing innovation, sustainability, and excellence throughout New Zealand’s grocery sector.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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