Foodstuffs North Island has delivered its first wholesale order of products to three non-member businesses.

The businesses are The Wild Rose, Celebration Box, and Kennerley Gourmet Grocery. The gourmet grocery and gifting firms use Foodstuffs’ wholesale service to buy the supplies it needs in big quantities to keep a steady quantity of products in stock.

CEO of Kennerley Gourmet Grocery, Wayne Kennerley, said many suppliers in New Zealand do not provide a direct-to-trade supply network for mid-sized enterprises, forcing businesses like his to buy products in supermarkets at retail pricing in order to offer customers a full selection.

“Being able to tap into Foodstuffs’ wholesale network brings great opportunities,” Kennerley said. 

“It will give us access to a broader range of goods, at better prices, and provide a more consistent supply network. This is only the first step in the journey, and we are working closely with Foodstuffs North Island to ensure it is an efficient process for both sides.” 

Chris Quin, CEO at Foodstuffs North Island, says the company is delighted to expand the reach of its wholesale business beyond its own network.

“Our wholesale team is continuing to work hard on this end-to-end solution and whilst progress has been made, we acknowledge that there is still work to be done to ensure that we provide the best experience for all parties involved.” 

Quin said the team was working on solutions for other retailers who were interested in using Foodstuffs’ new wholesale offering.

Earlier this month, Foodstuffs trialled Whywaste, a stock management tool designed to help supermarkets reduce the amount of food that goes to waste.