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FGC CONFERENCE 2017 Wellington played host to this years’ New Zealand Food and Grocery Council conference which saw members from around the country gather at Te Papa for three days of insights, workshops and networking opportunities. Highlights of the conference included insights from Aldi buying director Dean Fleischmann, Clive Stiff,

chairman of the Australian Food & Grocery Council and CEO of Unilever Australia and NZ who spoke about driving jobs, growth and investment in Australia’s food and grocery sector, Sandhya Pillay, country manager for Coca-Cola Oceania who discussed how brands can stay relevant in today’s market, and Gerry Lynch, general

manager at Mars NZ on creating a healthy workplace culture. Attendees networked over dinner and drinks at the Beehive. SupermarketNews magazine, NZFGC and NZTE worked together to produce the first F+B Market Ready publication that featured over 80 brands that are market and export ready. This was officially launched and presented to all attending banner groups, local and international, at the conference. For all the photos, visit www.supermarketnews.co.nz. n

FOODSTUFFS AND EAT MY LUNCH

NEW SMALLFORMAT OPENS

A new small-format grocery store has opened on Dominion Road in Auckland. The Grocer’s Market is owned and operated by former real estate agent Aaron Drever and occupies the old Nosh space. Drever purchased the Nosh brand from receivers in August, including fittings, IP and supplier networks. Although suppliers have been reluctant to come on board following the demise of Nosh, Drever is said to have personally guaranteed suppliers and staff to reassure them. Plans to open more sites is on the horizon but Drever wishes to focus on this store before opening a second. n

New World Victoria Park in Auckland has recently launched the Eat My Lunch programme meaning customers looking for lunch or dinner can now purchase a Michael Meredith designed meal as part of their everyday shop, knowing that a New Zealand child will, in turn, be gifted a free school lunch. “Our partnership with Eat My Lunch makes so much sense,” said Chris Quin, CEO Foodstuffs North Island. “Like them, we believe that good food is not a privilege, it’s a right. To date, they have provided more than 550,000 free lunches to children in need and by offering Eat My Lunch meals in our stores we can extend the reach of this innovative social enterprise even further. Our first day in New World Victoria Park, saw 90 extra lunches being made available to children, and it will only get bigger.” The customer response has been fantastic, with many commending the store for being the first to offer the range. Next us is Fresh Collective Alberton with others to follow when supply gets up to speed in Auckland and Wellington metro areas. “We’re delighted to be part of the next phase in Eat My Lunch’s drive to move from feeding 1,5000 children to 25,000,” said Jason Witehira, owneroperator of New World Victoria Park. “It’s a pretty

big goal and they need a partner like Foodstuffs to help them get there. Already we’ve been able to help them streamline their processes to ensure a consistent, high-quality supply of delicious, healthful meals to store – which in turn will support the growth of the ‘give’ part of their programme.” n

OMEGA LAMB WINNER

The programme behind a new kind of premium lamb, which has sparked a sensation among chefs in New Zealand and Hong Kong has won a prestigious innovation award. The Omega Lamb Project, which has developed Te Mana Lamb, won the Innovation in Food and Beverage category at the New Zealand Innovation Awards, which recognises innovation among New Zealand individuals and businesses. Te Mana Lamb has higher levels of polyunsaturated (good) fats and omega-3 fatty acids, which results in an entirely new lamb taste experience with outstanding succulence, tenderness and flavour. n

editorialcomment GOING ‘GREEN’ Sarah Mitchell Editorial Director

sarah@reviewmags.com

Over the past few years, retailers and brands alike have been working hard to meet growing consumer demand for ‘green’, ‘better for you’, and ‘good for the planet’ products that feature terms like organic, recyclable, fairtrade and sustainable on their labels. One trend in particular that has made itself a permanent category is functional with consumers demanding more out of food and beverage products than ever before. Humans have always been interested in food, but a rise in healthconscious consumers and access to information about food has seen the term ‘functional’ come to the forefront again after it was first described in the ancient Vedic texts from India and in Chinese traditional medicine. Although it is not regulated, it is recognised globally as foods that may

provide a health benefit beyond basic nutrition. It has been reported that one of the first official functional foods was Unilever’s cholesterol-lowering margarine in 1998 which contained eight percent plant sterols, a soybean extract proven to lower cholesterol. Most recently, Sanitarium launched its cholesterol-lowering Weetbix. To make products ‘functional’ they don’t always have to have something added to it, brands are constantly looking at replacing existing ingredients and eliminating those that are known or identified as having an effect on a consumer. Functional beverages appear to be leading the way in the category. Popular fermented functional beverage kombucha has seen huge growth in New Zealand with it reported to grow 25 percent each year through 2020 globally. Despite cost being associated with these functional food and beverages, recent studies show that Millennials are willing to pay for premium products and ingredients. The study showed that Millennials have a passion for premium that differs from other generations

in that they are more likely to expect features that have traditionally been seen as premium. ‘Organic’ and ‘natural’ products make millennials feel more responsible and health conscious, and they will place a lot of trust in small and local brands. In this issue of SupermarketNews we take a look at the functional food and beverage category trends and insights both here in New Zealand and globally. November is also the last chance for the industry to be listed in our Grocery Industry Buyers Guide. The form can be found on the website, or just get in touch with one of us to make sure you don’t miss out. Enjoy the issue. P.S Want to keep up to date with industry news as it happens? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter, or sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter and receive a $250 voucher to use towards your next print advertising booking with us.

The NEW ZEALAND BEVERAGE COUNCIL is an industry association whose members cover all aspects of the non-alcoholic beverage market both in New Zealand and the export markets. The Council members are spread throughout New Zealand and come together annually for an industry conference that covers industry issues and is addressed by international speakers. The organisation monitors product quality and sets standards for the industry and runs national competitions and awards.

THE NEW ZEALAND BEVERAGE COUNCIL (NZBC) P.O. Box 47, AUCKLAND 1140, New Zealand. Email: info@nzbc.nz Phone: +64 9 309 6100 DDI: +64 9 302 9932

diarynotes NOVEMBER 22-25 2017: SIAL Interfood, Jakarta, Indonesia DECEMBER 11-13 2017: SIAL Middle East, Abu Dhabi MARCH 20-23 2018: Anuga FoodTec, Cologne, Germany

APRIL 24-27 2018: FHA2018, Singapore APRIL 24-27 2018: Prowine Asia, Singapore MAY 2-4 2018: SIAL Canada, Montréal MAY 16-18 2018: SIAL Shanghai, China

JUNE 13-15 2018: SIAL Manila, Philippines OCTOBER 21-25 2018: SIAL Paris, France October 7-10: NACS Show 2018 Las Vegas, NV; Expo October 8-10

contents

01 News 08 Beverage News 14 Back to School 20 Functional Feature 28 What’s New

12 24 27 SupermarketNews is published under license. Please direct all enquiries and correspondence to SupermarketNews. The opinions and material published in this edition of SupermarketNews are not necessarily those of the publishers unless specifically stated. All material in this publication is copyright and may only be reproduced with the consent of the publisher. Copyright 2017

EDITORIAL STAFF Caitlan Mitchell, caitlan@reviewmags.com Mark Fullerton, mark@reviewmags.com

CHAIRMAN Peter Mitchell, peter@reviewmags.com PUBLISHER Tania Walters, tania@reviewmags.com

ADVERTISING SALES Felicity-Anne Flack, felicity@reviewmags.com

GENERAL MANAGER Kieran Mitchell, kieran@reviewmags.com

SENIOR DESIGNER Raymund Sarmiento, raymund@reviewmags.com

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Sarah Mitchell, sarah@reviewmags.com

ATTENTION GROCERY SUPPLIERS The Food and Grocery Council is an industry association for grocery suppliers providing members networking, events, industry information and strong advocacy. Contact us for information on the benefits of membership: Katherine.rich@fgc.org.nz • Networking • Industry Updates • Conference and Events • Education and Training • Advocacy and Law Reform

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Tay James Marriott, tjames@reviewmags.com

ISSN NO. 1173-3365

Suite 9, Level 3, 20 Augustus Tce Parnell, Auckland PO Box 37140 Parnell, Auckland Tel (09) 3040142 Fax (09) 3772794

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FOODSTUFFS APPOINT GM WHOLESALE

SHARPEST TEAM IN NZ

Six of the country’s top butchers have been named in the national butchery team who will be travelling to Belfast, Ireland in March 2018 to compete at the World Butchers’ Challenge. The competition started in 2011 as a Trans-Tasman affair and has grown with teams from Bulgaria, Brazil, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, South Africa and USA joining returning competitors, Great Britain, France and Australia. Team captain Corey Winder, from Elite Meats in Christchurch, is excited about the challenge ahead and believes that collectively, he and his team have not only the technique to rival the best in the world but also the passion and dedication. Joining Winder are returning members Hannah Miller Childs from A Lady Butcher in Auckland, Greg Egerton from Mad Butcher Dunedin and newcomers Jeremy Garth from New World Ferry Road in Christchurch, Zak Grammer from New World Eastridge in Auckland and Hohepa Smith. n

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Foodstuffs North Island has announced the appointment of Gemma Croombs as GM Wholesale. “This is a new position on our executive team,” said Foodstuffs North Island’s CEO Chris Quin. “We have been working to consolidate our wholesale team to one structure and have decided to appoint a new senior leader to focus on wholesale as one of our key initiatives.” Croombs’ most recent role was an advisory to the executive team at Mediaworks, where she was in a Transformation Leadership role. Prior to that she was CEO of Morepork (a start-up company), sat on the executive team of Spark’s retail business, and worked at Sabre (American Airlines) in a product and project management roles. “Gemma will be leading our new combined wholesale team, and will be responsible for helping us to develop and drive a world-class wholesale plan for customers. Our insights tell us that the wholesale market is growing and changing fast, which is why it’s a key area of focus for us,” said Quin. n

HONEY TO THE BEES

A New Zealand company has spent seven years developing a unique platform that will safeguard the more than 800,000 hives in New Zealand, and satisfy overseas market access requirements, with its globally unique software. ApiTrak, which launches this month, allows everyone – from hobbyists with 10

hives, to corporates with over 10,000, to easily track and verify their product throughout the value chain. Founder and chief executive officer, Hayden Stowell said ApiTrak maintains the confidence of overseas consumers and regulators in the integrity of NZ Manuka honey, by ring-fencing the industry to easily identify stolen or adulterated product and provide consumers with clear traceability. “Consumers worldwide are increasingly seeking assurances that everything they eat is safe and can be reliably traced back to its point of origin. They want to be able to connect with where their honey is from,” said Stowell. n

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news

INDUSTRY RAISES OVER $17,000

TECHNOLOGY IN HOT GRAB-AND-GO Meris Food Equipment is the Australian and New Zealand distributor for the Alan-Nuttall Partnership’s multi award winning Flexserve Zone, which offers flexible hot merchandising in one cabinet. The company says the Flexserve zone hot-air convection heating method has many advantages over heated-shelf cabinets and is “transforming the international hot food-to-go market; increasing hot food sales; reducing labour and energy costs; as well as changing customer expectations for the better”. Each zone has its own independent temperature control, so it can be set for optimum conditions to suit various products. It also allows operators to tailor their hot-food offer according to consumer demand,

while reducing product waste with the ability to turn off zones in quieter trading times to save energy. Meris states the patented technology is unique and creates the most suitable environment for banquettes and toasties, chicken and meats, bakery and pizza, curry dishes and fried food. The zoned temperature control helps to keep thot food looking and tasting better for longer. Flexserve Zone is available in two-tier countertop, plus three-tier and four-tier floor-standing cabinets all in three different widths. The units can be built into the surrounds and can also be customised with clients’ branding. For your local distributor contact Andrew Brick on andrew@ meris.com.au or +61 3 9877 7711. n

NAPPY DRIVE

Pak’NSave Silverdale owner-operator, Vinod Bhaga and his team were moved to get involved in the Nappy Drive project from Uber and Plunket. With many NZ families having a hard time financially, Bhaga stepped up to donate thousands of nappies to families in need. “We were really keen to get in behind this simple initiative to help young families as we head into Christmas,” said Bhaga. “While we work every day to offer NZ’s lowest prices, we know that some people still struggle to make ends meet. It gives our team great pleasure to give families the chance to ease up on the load they bear and release some of their hard-earned cash for other necessities.” n

For the past four months, John West has called on the industry to support Baden Ngan Kee, a well respected executive who has been diagnosed with lung cancer by donating funds to the Lung Foundation New Zealand. Since being diagnosed, Baden has become a passionate advocate for the Lung Foundation New Zealand, a non-government organisation dedicated to promoting healthy lungs and early detection of lung disease. Donations to the Lung Foundation were made on behalf of Baden via the ‘Team Baden’ Everyday hero fundraising web page, and a number of peers, friends and supporters also took part in the John west 12km Traverse in October to raise funds for the cause. “We’re very grateful for all the donations made by people in our industry in support of Team Baden and I’m pleased to announce that over $17,000 was raised which will go to the Lung Foundation,” said Chris Buddle, Simplot NZ Country Manager. “Baden really appreciates the industry’s support and would like to thank everyone who made a contribution and turned up to support Team Baden on this special day.” n

From paddock to plate, our chips move safely on Loscam – New Zealand’s safest rackable wooden hire pallet. Mike McLeod

Supply Chain Manager (far left)

Phyllis Smith

Export Coordinator (middle)

Junior Lupena

Logistics Team Leader (far right)

Scan this QR Code to find out more about the LOSCAM pallets.

www.loscam.com shaun.sievwright@loscam.com

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INCREASE CASH EFFICIENCY Where once the grocery conveyor belt was the height of supermarket automation, cash recycling is now leading the way in advanced supermarket technologies. A cashier can spend up to 30 minutes on a typical day handling cash at the start and end of their shift, and 75 percent of the total cost of cash acceptance is related to staff costs – both time and salary. The more people handle cash, the more room there is for error and shrinkage, with cash theft costing retailers one percent of their total revenue. One percent can add up to a significant amount and can severely impact store profitability. Cash recycling automates what was once a labour and time intensive process. With the time and labour saved by a cash recycling solution, administrative staff can be redeployed, increasing efficiency within the business. Back-office cash recycling

means that cashiers can deposit the takings from their shift into a machine which counts and sorts the cash for them. Security underpins every aspect of cash recycling. A machine which requires unique IDs and passwords means that business owners can keep a record of where the cash has come from and gone to, remotely and in real time. This process would normally require someone to oversee the transaction, increasing staff costs. Not only is the cash safe inside a secure unit but the automated nature of the system, as well as removing the need for human interaction with the cash, means that shrinkage can be greatly reduced, if not eradicated altogether. As cash recycling technology advances, cash recycling solutions are becoming increasingly available to businesses of all sizes. n

GOVERNMENT INTEREST IN F&B The New Zealand Food & Grocery Council welcomes the Government’s interest in food and beverage manufacturing and looks forward to sharing the success of its members’ reformulation and innovation work, and working constructively to see what more can be done to help Kiwis make healthier choices, said Katherine Rich CEO of NZFGC. “Our member companies are responsive to New Zealand consumers, and the number one consumer trend over the

past five years has been for food and drinks that are lower in salt, fat or sugar, or in a ‘better for you’ category,” said Rich. “The industry is serious about the issue of reformulation to lower levels of salt, fat and sugar in products. There are more low-or no-sugar products on the market new than at any time in New Zealand’s history, and the work continues, with sugar reduction prodgrammes for current products and new product development.”

PROXIMITY APP FOR COUNTDOWN

Countdown has launched an innovative new app designed to make its online grocery pick-up service even faster and easier for customers. The Countdown click&collect app, available for both Android and iOS, alerts customers that their online grocery order is ready for collection and then lets the store team know when that customer is on their way. In a first for New Zealand retailers, the click&collect app uses GPS to create a ‘geo-fence’ with a 400-metre radius around a Countdown store. As a customer approaches the store and ‘breaks’ the fence, the in-store team is alerted. A message is sent back to the customer’s device to let them know the store is aware they’re near and is getting their order ready for collection. When the customer arrives, the order is ready for collection at the same time. Countdown’s head of online, Sally Copland, said Countdown has been leading the online shopping industry for more than 20 years and the click&collect app is the latest technology available in the country. “This is brand new for New Zealand, using proximity technology to improve the customer’s online shopping experience. The app streamlines the whole process of collection and makes sure customers can quickly drop in, pick up their groceries, and get back on their way,” said Copland. Countdown is working with technology partner Localz to build the app. Based in Melbourne, Localz uses location and customer data to help businesses improve their delivery processes. n

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beveragenews

CANNABIS-INFUSED BEVERAGES

WINNING TRIO

Leading beverage alcohol company, Constellation Brands has announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire a minority stake in Canadabased Canopy Growth Corporation, a well-respected public company and leading provider of medicinal cannabis products. The investment and relationship is consistent with Constellation Brands’ long-term strategy to identify, meet and stay ahead of evolving consumer Sacred Hill has won gold at this year’s international Six Nations Wine Challenge for three of its iconic wines. Judges from six countries select their favourite local wines for entry in the annual competition. It is the only wine awards where entry is by invitation only. The entrants then compete against each other in a blind tasting of 600 wines to determine the winners. Sacred Hill took out gold in the Red Blends, Bordeaux Blends and Shiraz categories following an excellent growing season in 2014. A warm, dry spring and summer gave Sacred Hill winemakers plenty of time to hand pick fruit at optimum maturity for these complex, structured varietals that have gone on to win Gold. n

trends and market dynamics, while maintaining focus on its core total beverage alcohol business. Constellation has no plans to sell any cannabis products unless or until it is legally permissible to do so at all government levels. “Canopy Growth has a seasoned leadership team that understands the legal, regulatory and economic landscape for an emerging market that is predicted to become a significant consumer category in the future,” said Constellation Brands President and Chief Executive Officer, Rob Sands. “Our company’s success is the result of our focus on identifying early stage consumer trends, and this is another step in that direction.” n

WORLD FAMOUS IN NZ Villa Maria’s Private Bin Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc continues to take the world by storm with it now being the number one Sauvignon Blanc in the UK by value. It was also cited as US pro golfer Angela Stanford’s ‘new favourite’ wine in a Twitter post after she spent time in NZ as well as being awarded a gold medal at the prestigious Air New Zealand Wine Awards. “The Private Bin range is the entry point for the Villa Maria collection and our Sauvignon Blanc is exported to 60 countries,” said Sir George

Fistonich, founder and owner of Villa Maria. “The recent results and recognition for Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc are testament to our viticulturist’s and winemaker’s intuition and commitment to their craft of creating wines that people love to drink.” Almost nine percent of the total Air New Zealand Wine Award gold medals were awarded to Villa Maria, including wines from the Private Bin, Cellar Selection and Reserves ranges. n

TAP INTO THE BOOM 24 – 27 April 2018 • Singapore Expo, Hall 10 (Tuesday – Friday) 10am – 6pm daily

International Trade Fair for Wines and Spirits The 2nd edition of ProWine Asia (Singapore) is an industry platform with a showcase from 300 exhibitors. Featuring a wide selection of wines, spirits, wine accessories and services, trade professionals can look forward to establish connections, form partnerships and see the latest in wines & spirits.

Join Mailing List to receive event updates • www.prowineasia.com/sg Held alongside:

Supported by:

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internationalaisle MAC ‘N’ CHEESE BAR

PERSONAL ROBOT SHOPPER

Across a grid of crates, robots move quickly to collect and restock groceries as part of new technology implemented by Ocado, a British online-only supermarket that delivers orders to customers direct from the warehouse. The offering is exactly as you would find in a traditional physical supermarket. The company has been working on automation since opening in 2000 with speed and efficiency paramount for online delivery. While other companies rely on personal shoppers, Ocado is using robots, 1000 of them. The robots

Each Whole Foods site is fitted out with its own customised hot bar, but its newest opening looks to tower over the rest. The new Whole Foods location in Union Station in Denver, opening in November, is set to be the very first to have its own mac ‘n’ cheese bar. Although it is a standard option at most Whole Foods outlets, the newest addition will offer different varieties to please every macaroni lover. The offerings will include a pulled pork BBQ mac and cheese, roasted tomato mac and cheese, and vegan mac and cheese. The possibilities are endless with the salad and hot bar. In addition to being just a grocery store, the new 50,000 square food Whole Foods will feature a space outside for pop up mini restaurants as part of the Friends of Whole Foods initiative. n

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E-COMMERCE SET TO ECLIPSE OFFLINE Growth in the online FMCG sector is outpacing offline FMCG growth, with e-commerce sales growth set to surpass traditional retail sales growth within the next five years, according to Nielsen. While total FMCG retail sales growth currently sits at around four percent per annum, total retail e-commerce is predicted to grow by 20 percent, or an additional $2.1 trillion, by 2020. The latest trends in consumer purchasing online within the FMCG sector point to strengthening growth in online adoption and spend around the world according to a new report released by Nielsen, the What’s Next in E-Commerce report. The report illustrates that while FMCG has

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can put 50 groceries in a basket in just five minutes, whereas human counterparts can take up to two hours to complete. Robots move around the top level of a warehouse using a grid system that is suspended over crates of products divided into three sections based on storage temperatures. They can move around at a rate of four metres per second and are programmed to locate items within the chilled and ambient temperature sections, before using a hook to grab its crate and deliver to a human to pack it. n

historically trailled many other categories such as electronics, mobile goods and travel when it comes to online spending, that trend is set to change in the coming years. As many of the existing barriers to e-commerce adoption are overcome, such as retail infrastructure and supply, environmental and cultural factors like credit card fraud, and logistics to support the ‘last mile’, e-commerce is set for exponential growth. These factors are being compounded by surging consumer demand for anywhere, anytime convenience. For an in-depth look at e-commerce trends around the world and the factors driving growth across the online FMCG sector, visit www.supermarketnews.co.nz. n

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QUALITY AND INNOVATION IN PRIVATE LABEL Two years ago we embarked on a journey to revitalise Foodstuffs’ private label offer. Globally retailers have been using their knowledge of customer buying behaviour together with product trends to increasingly tailor their private label ranges to meet and exceed their customers’ needs.

At Foodstuffs we saw this as an opportunity and re-focused our private label business accordingly. ‘Budget’ brand has been replaced by ‘Value’. ‘Pams Finest’ was introduced as well as a range of sub-brands under Pams – Superfoods, Gluten Free, Organic and Free Range. And there is more brand innovation in the pipeline. It’s not just private label that we are using to meet customer needs. Where it makes sense we are using controlled labels and exclusive brands. A successful recent launch is the Rascal & Friends nappy range and we are excited to bring a new and exclusive wine brand, Monro, to market in November.

New brands are only the beginning however, it’s the products that really matter to our customers, and over the last two years we have deleted more than 400 of our poorer performing lines and introduced more than 400 new lines based on improved quality, innovation and cost advantages. This approach is seeing private label becoming a valuable tool to drive overall growth within categories. Examples of new products that are driving innovation, quality and sales are Pams Finest Chocolate Chip Cookies, Pams Finest Chia and Flaxseed Peanut Butter, Pams Finest Maple Syrup, Pams Superfood Bagged Salad, and the Pams Finest pate range. Each of these are new products that are offering our customers a level of quality, innovation and value that we have not offered previously under private label. The overall results have been incredibly strong and momentum continues to build. In fact, in a number of cases one of our biggest challenges is early forecasting as demand can often end up exceeding supply. Part of this is due to customers having a high degree of trust in the Pams brand, which is over 80 years old, and as a result they have been quick to develop trust in the new Pams sub-brands which have

effectively brought the Pams brand to life for a new generation of shoppers. Private label sales growth is now tracking on-par with branded products, and over recent months trending even stronger. Member stores are responding to customer demand by committing even more space to private label which in turn is driving sales higher. Success in retailing is always a partnership and it has been fantastic to work with innovative and committed suppliers and manufacturers to bring the new ideas and products to market. The pace and ‘can do’ attitude has been outstanding and is a reflection of the trust and goodwill that exists between Foodstuffs and the supply community. We are always looking to further develop our relationship with existing suppliers and develop relationships with new suppliers who share our relentless passion to bring Foodstuffs shoppers products that exceed their expectations. n

Rod Gibson

General Manager Foofstuffs Own Brands Limited

Christmas Muffin Wraps Our Christmas muffin wraps are perfect for promoting your muffins and cakes. Our stock lines include both plain and printed varieties in either a white or brown, and our new range of funky seasonal prints are also available for this festive season.

Freephone: 0800 107 620 Email: info@confoil.co.nz NOVEMBER MEANS

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SEARCH FOR SUCCESS IN EXPORT Katherine Rich

Chief Executive NZ Food & Grocery Council

The NZ Food & Grocery Council is always on the lookout for ways to create opportunities for member companies and the wider food sector, either in our domestic market or in an export market. One way we do this is by helping them make connections with supermarket buyers. We recently had a great opportunity to do this by way of an initiative designed to showcase products that are market ready, and the result proves the industry is thriving with innovation. The initiative was entitled F&B Market Ready, and was launched by Supermarket News with the support of NZ Trade & Enterprise and the Food and Grocery Council. It’s a magazine (and accompanying

website) that tells the stories of New Zealand suppliers who’re looking at getting a serious foothold in the New Zealand and Australian markets. It’s aimed at category buyers in both countries, and further afield, and showcases food and beverage products that are ready to expand and export, are interested in private label, and ready to explore different ways to market. The F&B Market Ready report asked 80-plus companies questions to see if their brand was market-ready: What is the brand story? What is the current product range and variants, and what makes these products stand out in the market? What is innovative or unique about the product? Who is your consumer and what benefit does the product bring them? What consumer trend does the product support? The answer to whether the brands were market ready was a resounding ‘yes’. The continuing search for success in export markets means being innovative, not just in product formulation and design but also in how the products are marketed, and the report reveals some fascinating insights behind some of our growing product lines. The conclusion is one that food and beverage companies will be familiar with: though price continues to be a

driver for consumers, the real winner is the popularity of healthy convenience, with health-conscious foods playing a major role, with this growing trend involving both brands and consumers pushing manufacturers to change their recipes and develop healthier lines. This demand has been behind the big product reformulation drive by companies in recent years that has also resulted in nearly 2500 products on supermarket shelves having the Health Star Rating scheme’s stars. I’m predicting a great response from buyers for supermarket to the products in F&B Market Ready. Working with the wider food sector also has its rewards, none more so than an opportunity that presented itself at the Food & Grocery Council’s annual conference in Wellington earlier this month. Most people will have heard of Eat My Lunch, an initiative that gives a free lunch to a child who would normally go without. It works on a ‘buy one, give one’, model, where someone who buys one of the lunches effectively sponsors a free one for a child. The child’s lunch typically consists of a wholegrain sandwich with a protein and salad filling, a healthy snack (eg. veggie sticks, yogurt or fruit) and a treat (biscuit, popcorn or pretzel), all inside a brown paper bag. All lunches, the bought ones and

the free ones, are freshly made and delivered the same day. It’s a fantastic idea, providing 1800 lunches a day to 51 schools in Auckland, Hamilton, and Wellington – a total so far of around 550,000. But being staffed mainly by volunteers, its reach was limited. That was until September, when Foodstuffs North Island bought 26 per cent of the company, a move CEO Chris Quin said was designed to help Eat My Lunch expand into regional areas by using Foodstuffs’ supply chain and retail knowledge. FGC has always admired what Eat My Lunch was doing, and Foodstuffs’ involvement prompted us to consider how we could do our bit. It seemed our conference was an opportune time to demonstrate our support, so we cancelled our lunch arrangements and ordered Eat My Lunch for the last day – which just so happened to be World Sandwich Day. It was a great end to a busy conference, knowing that 310 extra free lunches were being distributed to children who would otherwise have gone without. I encourage corporates, and not just those in the f&b sector, to give it a shot. Like F&B Market Ready, it’s an opportunity that will benefit New Zealanders and New Zealand. n

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COUNTDOWN’S CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 2017 In a rapidly changing world, with pressing environmental and social issues demanding comprehensive global responses, now more than ever, the business sector needs to step-up. I believe we have both a responsibility and an opportunity to do the right thing. I also believe having a strong sustainability focus is a core component and measure of economic success and prosperity. While we are already committed to being a great corporate citizen, from this month, we are taking this commitment further with the

Dave Chambers

Managing Director Countdown

launch of twenty new corporate social responsibility commitments out to 2020. These targets align with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, which were launched in 2015. The UN Goals aim to end issues like poverty, gender inequity and climate change by building partnership between governments, communities and business. As a large New Zealand business we have a role to play and I am proud our new goals have the potential to support transformational changes throughout our society. Our twenty goals fall under three categories: people, planet and prosperity. The goals around people mainly relate to our team. We want to be the employer of choice in New Zealand, and will continue to build on recent policies such as Family Violence and Transgender Transitioning designed to ensure we are a progressive, inclusive and supportive employer. Going forward we are committing to further advancing gender equity, developing youth and driving cultural diversity. You’ll have seen during the recent election campaign the significance placed on issues like water quality and swimmable rivers in New Zealand. Our new commitments introduce a number of measures to play our role in improving the New Zealand environment planet.

Last month’s decision to phase out single use plastic bags is an example of our intention to strengthen our focus on sustainability and take further action to reduce our carbon footprint. We also have some ambitious goals to reduce our refrigerant leakage rates, improve recyclability and further strengthen our ethical sourcing. The final platform involves prosperity which is essentially about the relationships we have with suppliers, stakeholders, communities and of course our customers. We recognise that together with our suppliers, we drive considerable economic activity in New Zealand, producing the food and groceries New Zealanders need, as well as providing a huge number of jobs. These relationships with our suppliers must always be built on fairness and transparency, which is underpinned by our Supplier Charter. We will continue to deliver community initiatives like food rescue, the Foodbank project and Food for Good. One of our new goals is to invest the equivalent of one per cent of our EBIT to community partnerships and programmes. I am delighted to let you know that in the 2017 financial year Countdown donated the equivalent of 2.2 percent of our EBIT in cash and in-kind, which was $6.8 million. Many of you will be stakeholders in our business, and we thank you for the role you will play in us pursuing these targets. n

2 Venues. 1 Mega Show. 24 - 27 April 2018 Singapore Expo

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TAKE YOUR TASTEBUDS ON A WORLD TOUR Meadows is excited to launch its limited edition summer inspiration packs which are due to hit stores later this month. Featuring four new international themed meal ideas - sushi bowl, burger, tapas and Bánh mì - these are no ordinary mushrooms. Packed with b-group vitamins, selenium and gluten free, mushrooms are the go-to food this summer in salads or on the barbeque. Plus, the new packs are supported by some divine summer recipes including – Manchego Crumbed Tapas Mushrooms with Romesco Aioli, Vietnamese Bánh mì with Pork & Mushroom Meatballs and Salmon & Mushroom Sushi Bowl with Wasabi Avocado.

The only fully recyclable mushroom packs in New Zealand, Meadows’ punnets are compostable or recyclable and their partnership with the Love NZ Soft Plastic Recycling Programme means you can remove the film (with label) and drop it in the bins at your local supermarket for recycling too. Not only do pre-packed mushrooms offer fun meal inspiration, the packs have been especially developed to help protect your mushrooms and help keep them fresh and retain as much goodness as possible before use. Check out www.meadowmushrooms.co.nz for all you need to know about the health benefits of mushrooms and their latest recipe inspiration.

Happy Holidays from your

INSIDE EVERY PACK YOU’LL NOT ONLY FIND: • Certified Free Range Eggs • Kitchen Safe – we wash our eggs so you don’t have to • Higher protein • Lower saturated fat – thanks to 24/7 FREE RANGE • Higher Omega 3 • Nutritious Delicious natural goodness for you and your family

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from FRENZ Fresh Air + Green Pastures = The Happiest Hens on Earth

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November 2017

I 13

back2school

SALES BOOMING FOR ANNIES

DRIVING CATEGORY GROWTH

The Nutritious Snacks category continues to see good growth in 2017, with dollars growth of 10 percent vs YA*. Mother Earth lunchbox products continue to grow strongly up 17.2 percent vs YA*, driving category growth. Mother Earth favourites Baked Oaty Slices continue to be the market leader in the Nutritious Snacks category, and with the introduction of two new interesting flavours including Very Berry and Black Forest, they have continued to grow strongly with 13.7 percent growth vs YA*. Shaking up the category this year, Mother Earth launched the innovative product range, Vege Fruit Sticks, into the kids baked bar segment in February. The idea is based on Mother Earth’s successful Fruit Sticks range with the addition of real vegetable puree. The challenge with introducing vegetables into a lunchbox product, was giving parents the confidence to purchase knowing their kids would eat and enjoy it. We gathered research using consumer testing via Colmar Brunton to ensure kids loved the product, as well as airing a personable TVC to support the launch, showing kids eating our new Vege Fruit Sticks without realising they

were actually eating veggies, because they tasted so good. Mother Earth Vege Fruit Sticks have incrementally grown the Kids Baked Bar segment; this is up +41.4 percent in unit sales for the MAT to 01/10/17*. The addition of Vege Fruit Sticks to the Mother Earth baked bars offering has not cannibalised the existing Mother Earth Fruit Sticks range, which are in fact still showing strong growth, up 13.7 percent, for the same period. Mother Earth’s Gluten Free Nut Bar range offers something delicious for adults. As the consumer trends of plant-power and protein are still popular in the market, Mother Earth launched a tasty new Nuts About flavour – Superseeds, in April. The Nuts About range are showing good growth up 8.4 percent vs YA* and are an affordable Gluten Free snacking option. The brand is very excited about the year ahead, with some delicious innovation in the pipeline which will launch early next year. For more information contact Julia Turner, senior brand manager, jturner@prolife. co.nz or call 07 959 0904. *IRI-Aztec MarketEdge TKA NZ Grocery Nutritious Snacks - Dollars & Units Growth MAT 01/10/2017 n

NFLEAVWOUR Delicious new NUTS ABOUT bar with peanuts, almonds and the goodness of seeds. In line with the growing consumer trend to eat more plant-based foods Source of protein, source of fibre and no artificial colours or flavours Packaging refresh for entire range: great new look and shorter pack for better fit on-shelf

For more information please contact your Prolife Foods Sales Representative or call Customer Services on 0800 80 80 88. www.motherearth.co.nz

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Annies is food consumers can trust. The proudly owned New Zealand brand has been making delicious and healthy fruit snack options for over 30 years. Its range is increasingly popular for the school lunchbox market due to the 100 percent natural, no additives, no nasties, no concentrates and gluten, dairy, nut and no added sugar recipe. Sales for the brand are booming. What began as a cottage industry business, is now owned by Kono, a premium Maori brand representing the highest quality food and beverages from New Zealand. Kono have a dedicated product development department and the recent addition of Mango Passion flavour is proving to be a number one seller for the brand. Keep an eye out for Annies latest product, Fruit Bites. Delicious bite-sized pieces available in two flavours – Mango Passion and Mixed Berry. If the market research is anything to go by these are going to be a very popular lunchbox item. For more information please contact Antony Burke on 03 546 8648 n

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November 2017

I 15

storecheck This month the SupermarketNews team headed down to Wellington for the FGC conference and took the opportunity to meet up with our mystery shoppers. We were taken to a range of stores and we have to say Wellingtonians are well served with the range of supermarkets. From the fresh offering at Moore Wilson, to the very busy Countdown Cable Car Lane, and then to the highest scoring supermarket we’ve seen in a while at New World Newlands. Out of stocks and merchandising was a problem in most stores, so how this was handled in-store made the difference to scores. Congratulations Wellington retailers, the biggest storecheck month the mystery shoppers have been asked to do and you nailed it. Storecheck takes a break for the holidays but will be back with some exciting changes in February 2018. Merry Christmas and all the best for the holiday season.

NEW WORLD NEWLANDS: A+

STORE EXTERIOR (Max 30 pts) INCLUDING: Outside of the building and grounds tidy, well signed, adequate trolley bays; Windows and exterior clean, tidy; Signage well presented and up to date; Car Parking number of spaces well marked; Trolley condition.

New World

Countdown New World

Newlands Crofton Downs Thorndon

New World

Countdown Pak’nSave

Wakefield St Cable Car Ln

Kilbirnie

New World New World Island Bay

Railway Stn

SCORE 29 29 28 28 28 28 29 28

STORE INTERIOR (Max 30 pts) INCLUDING: First impressions; Flooring, type, upkeep, clean? Lighting/heating, is store heated/cooled? Lighting adequate and/or task specific? Instore signage; Promo/seasonal products; End of aisle promotions; Condition of fridges, freezers and chilled shelving, condition and layout.

New World

Countdown New World

Newlands Crofton Downs Thorndon

New World

Countdown Pak’nSave

Wakefield St Cable Car Ln

Kilbirnie

New World New World Island Bay

Railway Stn

SCORE 30 28 28 28 29 29 29 29

STORE LAYOUT (Max 20 pts) INCLUDING: Layout of store, Aisle width; Shelf edge labels/ticketing; State of store, shelving, clean, no damage, neat & tidy; Sufficient number of trolleys/baskets available given shopper numbers.

New World

Countdown New World

Newlands Crofton Downs Thorndon

New World

Countdown Pak’nSave

Wakefield St Cable Car Ln

Kilbirnie

New World New World Island Bay

Railway Stn

SCORE 20 19 19 19 18 17 19 19

Plenty of carparks at this store, trolleys and baskets in good condition and sufficient for customer levels. Good signage. Smaller store but excellent layout and care taken to display all categories. Staff were very engaged, lots of merchandising happening on this visit as store changed over from Halloween to Christmas. Produce layout excellent, deli and food to go options plentiful and looked fresh and inviting. Interest, interaction and care about the customer experience was top of mind for the team and it showed. This is an excellent example of the banner, well managed, with staff who are there not just for a job, they are engaged in their roles and friendly and efficient with customers. Customer experience score was a ten.

PRODUCT RANGING, AVAILABILITY, CONDITION, FOR SIZE OF STORE (Max 25 pts) INCLUDING: Range, stock levels, condition of packaging, use by expiry.

New World

Countdown New World

Newlands Crofton Downs Thorndon

New World

Countdown Pak’nSave

Wakefield St Cable Car Ln

Kilbirnie

New World New World Island Bay

Railway Stn

SCORE 25 22 24 25 24 21 24 24

GENERAL MERCHANDISE (Max 15 pts)

COUNTDOWN CROFTON DOWNS: A

INCLUDING: Range, stock levels, condition of general merchandise, including newspapers, magazines and cards.

New World

Countdown New World

Newlands Crofton Downs Thorndon

New World

Countdown Pak’nSave

Wakefield St Cable Car Ln

Kilbirnie

New World New World Island Bay

Railway Stn

SCORE 15 13 14 14 14 14 14 14

STAFF & CHECKOUTS (Max 30 pts) INCLUDING: Staff uniforms and name badges, attitude to customer including acknowledgement, thanks; Adequate checkouts open considering the time of day and number of customers; Speed and efficiency; Checkout area, tidy, merchandised; All counters staffed to levels compatible with customer numbers.

Countdown New World

Newlands Crofton Downs Thorndon

New World

Countdown Pak’nSave

Wakefield St Cable Car Ln

Kilbirnie

New World New World Island Bay

Railway Stn

SCORE 30 28 29 30 28 28 29 30

Big carpark with plenty of parking. Signage good. Lotto and pharmacy at entrance along with café. Wide aisles, good ticketing, some merchandising needed and a few out of stocks. Produce, fish/seafood, deli and centre store all well maintained. Good freezer/fridge/cabinets. This store provides a good destination shop for customers but more could be done to make customer experience more exciting.

NEW WORLD THORNDON: A

New World

FRESH (Max 30 pts) INCLUDING: Variety and appeal, stock levels/merchandising of fresh products, including produce, meat, fish, deli, bakery.

New World

Countdown New World

Newlands Crofton Downs Thorndon

New World

Countdown Pak’nSave

Wakefield St Cable Car Ln

Kilbirnie

New World New World Island Bay

Railway Stn

SCORE 30 28 29 30 27 29 29 29

INTERNATIONAL CUISINE (Max 5 pts) INCLUDING: Range, stock levels/merchandising.

New World

Countdown New World

Newlands Crofton Downs Thorndon

New World

Countdown Pak’nSavee New World New World

Wakefield St Cable Car Ln

Kilbirnie

Island Bay

Railway Stn

SCORE 4 4 4 4 3 3 4 4

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Carparking plentiful but awkward on the lower level with a long walk to store. Good entry area with lotto available. Trolleys, freezers and cabinets in good order, store ticketing good. Lighting and flooring good with clear ailses. Excellent layout of store and probably the best food to go ranging seen by the mystery shoppers. Busy store very popular with workers calling in for lunch. Not sure if the international foods situtated above the freezers works but the range was good.

ARTISAN/GOURMET/INDULGENCE (Max 5 pts) INCLUDING: Gourmet, Indulgence, Local or Artisan products range and stock levels. New World

Countdown New World

Newlands Crofton Downs Thorndon

New World

Countdown Pak’nSave

Wakefield St Cable Car Ln

Kilbirnie

New World New World Island Bay

Railway Stn

SCORE 4 3 4 4 3 2 4 4

NEW WORLD WAKEFIELD STREET: A+ SHOPPER EXPERIENCE (Max 10 pts) INCLUDING: From carpark to entry to exit - overall shopper experience. New World

Countdown New World

Newlands Crofton Downs Thorndon

New World

Countdown Pak’nSave

Wakefield St Cable Car Ln

Kilbirnie

New World New World Island Bay

Railway Stn

SCORE 10 8 9 10 8 9 10 10

HOW THEY SCORE (Max 200 pts) New World

Countdown New World

Newlands Crofton Downs Thorndon

SCORE 197: A+ 182: A

Excellent fruit and vege layout, the locals serving locals signage engaged with customers. Confectionery range excellent. Well merchandised store, with minimal out of stocks. Excellent salad choices in deli, good range of hot and cold food to go options. Clear area around checkout. This is an open, light busy store with friendly engaged staff.

COUNTDOWN CABLE CAR LANE: A

New World

Countdown Pak’nSave

Wakefield St Cable Car Ln

188: A 192: A+ 182: A

Kilbirnie

New World New World Island Bay

Railway Stn

180: A 191: A+ 191: A

TOP SCORE

A+ Exceeded shopper expectations to provide the gold class of shopper experience A

Meets all shopper expectations across areas rated

Meets most of shopper expectations across areas rated

Basics covered with some extras but not all shopper expectations met, improvements required

D Attention needed to areas rated, poor overall shopper experience E

Poor level of achievement in shopper expectations across areas rated

NEW WORLD ISLAND BAY: A+

Small metro store, sufficient trolleys and baskets available. Good entry, clear ailses. Well ranged store with SKU’s reflecting customer needs. Busy, but though they have an awkward site the layout works and there is a good flow. Bakery was depleted on this visit, but cabinets in good order. Smaller range of food to go options but very good sandwich selection. Staff were efficient and willing to answer questions.

PAK’nSAVE KILBIRNIE: A

Exterior clean, well signed and caparking available. Flooring, lighting good, with clean baskets and trolleys in good supply. Older freezers but clean and well stocked. Ticketing good. Good deli, fish, bakery, with an excellent range of food to go, love the corn stacks. This is a well merchandised store, with out-of-stocks minimal. Narrower area past checkout was a bit congested. Well run store.

NEW WORLD RAILWAY STATION: A

Lots of carparks but very busy. Signage good, lighting and flooring up to standard. This was a busy store, produce well displayed and replenished. Deli options were well displayed but food to go options needed tidy up and restocking. Dry grocery well stocked, ailse end promotions in need of restocking on this visit. Freezers and chillers showing some signs of wear but clean, tidy and well stocked. Checkout staff friendly and efficient. Quirky store but it works. Caters well for city workers with a lot of food to go options. The odd footprint of the store was laid out as the best possible option with the nooks filled with interesting displays. Very busy store that is well merchandised. More basket use than trolleys visible on this visit, but both plentiful. All the grocery basics covered and ranging reflects customer profile for the store. (continued page 18)

November 2017

I 17

storecheck COUNTDOWN NEWTOWN: A

Countdown New World New World Moore Wilson Countdown New World Countdown New World Countdown Newtown

Miramar

Newtown

Fresh

Johnsonville Rd Khandallah Johnsonville Mall Willis St

Kilbirnie

SCORE 28 28 27 25 28 28 23 28 27

STORE INTERIOR (Max 30 pts)

Busy carpark but parks available. Trolleys in good supply. Meat, fish and deli all well stocked and displayed, staff really taking care and it shows. Some out of stocks in dry grocery with H&B well merchandised. Shelving, cabinets and fridge/freezers all clean and tidy. Ticketing clear. Bakery had a good display of essentials. Clear area around checkout and aisles clear.

INCLUDING: First impressions; Flooring, type, upkeep, clean? Lighting/heating, is store heated/cooled? Lighting adequate and/or task specific? Instore signage; Promo/seasonal products; End of aisle promotions; Condition of fridges, freezers and chilled shelving, condition and layout.

Countdown New World New World Moore Wilson Countdown New World Countdown New World Countdown Newtown

Miramar

Newtown

Fresh

Johnsonville Rd Khandallah Johnsonville Mall Willis St

Kilbirnie

SCORE 28 27 25 26 27 26 25 27 24

NEW WORLD MIRAMAR: A

Countdown New World New World Moore Wilson Countdown New World Countdown New World Countdown Newtown

Miramar

Newtown

Fresh

Johnsonville Rd Khandallah Johnsonville Mall Willis St

Kilbirnie

SCORE 18 18 19 18 16 17 18 16 16

PRODUCT RANGING, AVAILABILITY, CONDITION, FOR SIZE OF STORE (Max 25 pts) INCLUDING: Range, stock levels, condition of packaging, use by expiry.

Good entry, well lit and clean. Trolley condition varied as there were some older trolleys. Good signage and carpark. Fresh well displayed and merchandised. Bakery good and deli well set out with some good food to go options. General merchandise was a good display but dry grocery needed some merchandising. Busy friendly store with helpful staff.

Countdown New World New World Moore Wilson Countdown New World Countdown New World Countdown Newtown

Miramar

Newtown

Fresh

Johnsonville Rd Khandallah Johnsonville Mall Willis St

Kilbirnie

SCORE 23 23 23 25 19 20 20 23 17

NEW WORLD NEWTOWN: B+

GENERAL MERCHANDISE (Max 15 pts) INCLUDING: Range, stock levels, condition of general merchandise, including newspapers, magazines and cards.

Countdown New World New World Moore Wilson Countdown New World Countdown New World Countdown Newtown

Miramar

Newtown

Fresh

Johnsonville Rd Khandallah Johnsonville Mall Willis St

Kilbirnie

SCORE 14 15 13 - 13 13 12 13 13

Older styled store, with flooring in need of replacement in some areas. Wide aisles, sufficient trolleys and baskets for customer numbers, refrigeration/freezers and cabinets in good condition. This is a clean, well merchandised store and though older in style it carried a good range, fish/seafood excellent display and the staff related very well to customers, being friendly and efficient.

Countdown New World New World Moore Wilson Countdown New World Countdown New World Countdown Newtown

Miramar

Newtown

Fresh

Johnsonville Rd Khandallah Johnsonville Mall Willis St

Kilbirnie

SCORE 28 28 30 30 27 27 25 28 24

FRESH (Max 30 pts)

MOORE WILSON - FRESH: A*

INCLUDING: Variety and appeal, stock levels/merchandising of fresh products, including produce, meat, fish, deli, bakery.

Countdown New World New World Moore Wilson Countdown New World Countdown New World Countdown Newtown

Miramar

Newtown

Fresh

Johnsonville Rd Khandallah Johnsonville Mall Willis St

Kilbirnie

SCORE 29 29 27 30 26 29 25 28 25

INTERNATIONAL CUISINE (Max 5 pts) INCLUDING: Range, stock levels/merchandising.

Carpark available for shoppers, some odour from surrounding businesses. A great fresh offering for customers with excellent ranging in cheeses and bakery in particular.

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Countdown New World New World Moore Wilson Countdown New World Countdown New World Countdown Newtown

Miramar

Newtown

Fresh

Johnsonville Rd Khandallah Johnsonville Mall Willis St

Kilbirnie

SCORE 4 4 3 3 4 2 3 4 3

Fresh offering, well displayed and excellent variety. Quality was excellent. This is a warehouse look store more in the style of an indoor farmers market and the signage reflects this. Staff are knowledgable, friendly and deliver excellent service. A great customer experience.

COUNTDOWN JOHNSONVILLE RD: B

ARTISAN/GOURMET/INDULGENCE (Max 5 pts) INCLUDING: Gourmet, Indulgence, Local or Artisan products range and stock levels. Countdown New World New World Moore Wilson Countdown New World Countdown New World Countdown

Newtown

Miramar

Newtown

Fresh

Johnsonville Rd Khandallah Johnsonville Mall Willis St

Kilbirnie

SCORE 3 3 3 5 3 2 3 3 3

SHOPPER EXPERIENCE (Max 10 pts) INCLUDING: From carpark to entry to exit - overall shopper experience. Countdown New World New World Moore Wilson Countdown New World Countdown New World Countdown

Newtown

Miramar

Newtown

Fresh

Johnsonville Rd Khandallah Johnsonville Mall Willis St

Kilbirnie

SCORE 10 9 9 10 7 8 7 8 6

Good carpark with plenty of spaces, signage on roadside and store front. Trolleys plentiful. This is a well laid out store, with wide clear ailses. Merchandising needed in most categories. Like a lot of stores the out of stocks were noticable. Fish and meat were well displayed and ticketed. Deli had the usual range but inspiration needed in display and offering. Bakery needs more attention to make this a good customer experience. Food to go offerings were disappointing, very little range on offer on this visit.

NEW WORLD KHANDALLAH: B

HOW THEY SCORE (Max 200 pts) Countdown New World New World Moore Wilson Countdown New World Countdown New World Countdown

Newtown

Miramar

Newtown

Fresh

SCORE 185: A 184: A 179: B+

Johnsonville Rd Khandallah Johnsonville Mall Willis St

Kilbirnie

170: B 172: B 161: B- 178: B+ 158: B-

* Adjusted as general merchandise not scored.

A+ Exceeded shopper expectations to provide the gold class of shopper experience A

Meets all shopper expectations across areas rated

Meets most of shopper expectations across areas rated

Basics covered with some extras but not all shopper expectations met, improvements required

D Attention needed to areas rated, poor overall shopper experience E

Poor level of achievement in shopper expectations across areas rated

NEW WORLD WILLIS STREET: B+

Good parking and signage. Modern facade. Trolleys ample for customer levels and they were clean. Store layout was a problem here, the footprint doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lend itself to a good working customer flow. Random cabinets jutting out that hid some products. Meat needed merchandising, lots of gaps. Good fish display for size of store and bakery well presented with few gaps. Small range in food to go, perhaps some growth potential here. Out of stocks continued to be an issue in this store as in most of Wellington. Milk needed merchandising as did some categories in dry grocery. A good local serving customers well with friendly staff.

COUNTDOWN JOHNSONVILLE MALL: B-

Small busy store in CBD. Good selection and display in produce, deli and bakery. Excellent food to go options and a good range of salads. Deli well merchandised. This store is in an awkward site and the layout does not flow, some innovation around use of space may help this.

COUNTDOWN KILBIRNIE: B-

This is a store of two halves - entering from the carpark means that you are in a more warehouse styled store, but enter from the Mall and you get a much better experience. Carparking was available, but difficult to find a park on this visit as very busy. On entering via the Mall the store is open light and well set out, modern signage with good displays. Once again out of stocks were a problem. Fish/seafood was well displayed and staff obviously care in this department. Deli and bakery were in keeping with style of banner with basics covered but lacking inspiration to drive customer experience. Beer/wine well merchandised. Very busy store, wide aisles and checkout staff efficient and friendly.

This store was poorly merchandised with a lot of out of stocks, almost every category had empty shelves, combined they make this store look empty. A poorly displayed deli area with lots of gaps. Food to go options were slim and ailse ends not merchandised. Lighting good and clear aisles but looked like no interest taken and it definitely reflected in the overall store experience.

November 2017

I 19

functionalfeature

Functional food and beverage has come a long way since the first product came on the market twenty years ago. It was Unilever’s debut of spreads that boasted an ability to lower cholesterol thanks to their active ingredient, plant sterol esters, that kicked off what is now one of the largest categories. However, consumers tend not to have ‘functional foods’ listed on their grocery lists so brands have developed products that feature health benefits in a way that is easy to understand and is more personalised. When thinking about

functional food and beverage, ten years ago what first came to mind was probiotic yoghurts that contain ‘live and active cultures’. Today functional appears across almost all categories with everything from omega-3 bread, milk with melatonin, and fermented beverages, to weight-loss chocolate. This month, SupermarketNews Magazine took a look at the functional food and beverage category and what is trending, flying off shelves and innovative npd.

THE POWER OF PROTEIN

throughout the day**. Protein helps maintain and grow muscles, supporting athletic performance and healthy aging, when combined with a healthy diet and exercise. The range is primarily targeted at health conscious, active adults who are aware of the benefits of protein and looking to consume more. They’re also part of the 69 percent of consumers who tend to trust the advice of nutritionists when it comes to diet – and due to its high protein content, Anchor protein+ is recommended by gyms nationwide. With a 22 percent value growth of yoghurt within the natural and alternative health category, the Anchor protein+ yoghurt pouch has hit the shelves at the perfect time. On top of meeting the needs of a well-established target market, the convenience of Anchor’s protein+ yoghurt pouches also cater for those looking to join in the healthy eating trend for the first time. Plus, with a range of flavours and formats, as well as a protein-packed two litre lite milk and a range of delicious smoothie boosters, there’s something for everyone. With dairy becoming increasingly recognised as a contender amongst its proteinpacked counterparts, it’s hugely beneficial having a versatile product available to consumers that’s not only accessible on-the-go, but delicious while still being low in fat. To learn more about the range, visit: www.anchordairy.com * Project Pathfinder & Anchor Protein90, December 2016, N=312 ** Individual protein targets will vary. The Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range for protein is 15-20% of your daily energy intake. For an adult consuming 8360kJ (2000Cal) a day, this is between 74-123g. n

A survey* into the nutritional knowledge and habits of Kiwis has found more than half of respondents didn’t realise that protein should be consumed throughout the day, and perceptions of how much protein is required for health and wellbeing ranged from five grams to more than a kilogram. To help combat this confusion, Anchor have released a new range of delicious high protein products, designed to help consumers keep track of their protein intake. Better yet, Anchor protein+ yoghurt is now available in a convenient squeezable pouch, helping Kiwis meet their daily protein needs. Being able to get protein on-the-go is more important than you might think. Spreading your protein intake throughout the day helps to ensure your body has a chance to use it efficiently. Most Kiwi adults need 90 grams of protein spread

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LIFE TAKES STRENGTH

November 2017

I 21

functionalfeature ENHANCED HEALTH BENEFITS Back in 2015 Something To Crow About identified that functional foods were a growing trend, with consumers looking to buy everyday food items that provided enhanced health benefits. One emerging functional food trend that caught their eye was the focus on gut or digestive health. With this in mind, the brand developed its range of probiotic mueslis. The product offers consumers a unique and convenient way to incorporate

probiotics into their diet to support gut health. Launched in Nov 2016, the range has quickly become a best seller, with sales doubling month on month in 2017. The range includes two flavours, a delicious Nuts and Berries Muesli, plus a gluten free, paleo blend, Almond Maple and Cacao, with retail price points from $13.99 - $15.99. More and more consumers are understanding that mueslis, like the Something to Crow About range, with high ratios of nuts and seeds, have naturally functional benefits. These benefits include digestive health, heart health, lowering cholesterol, weight management and overall health and wellness. To further inform customers its packaging displays the health star rating, an extended nutritional panel and percentage ratios of ingredients plus details about functional benefits on the back of the back. For more information on this range and other products see www.crowabout.co.nz. For orders contact Mike@ crowabout.co.nz or call 021 555 852.

NATURE’S NECTA There’s a new plant-based drink in town out to rival the ubiquitous coconut water. Packed full of electrolytes and low in calories, the subtly sweet sap from the maple tree is quickly becoming the popular health drink for people on the go. Not to be confused with maple syrup, maple water is the clear and nutrient-rich sap, which is sustainably harvested each spring by tapping into the maple tree (a technique that was passed onto early Canadian settlers by indigenous American Indians). Like coconut water, maple water is a great natural hydrator but is lower

in calories and has a fresher, cleaner taste with a hint of maple sweetness. Containing over 46 bioactive nutrients including antioxidants, electrolytes minerals and amino acids, maple water is perfect for a hot summer’s day or a post workout recovery drink. Matakana SuperFoods offers three delicious flavours of USDA certified organic NECTA Maple Water; Cranberry & Blueberry, Pure Maple Water and Lemon Tea. For more information email info@matakanasuperfoods.com, call 09 422 9618 or visit www. matakanasuperfoods.com today. n

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November 2017

I 23

functionalfeature EMBRACING HEALTHIER INGREDIENTS

The old saying ‘let food by thy medicine and medicine be thy food’ couldn’t be more true in today’s society with consumers from all demographics demanding more out of their food choices than ever before and even shifting beyond food for weight-loss or diet to food for wellbeing. A demographic in particular that is demanding more from food is millennials, who are gravitating towards a more holistic approach to their life, focussing on day-to-day health maintenance choices. According to a new study, nine out of ten consider healthy food to be one of the pillars of wellness and that they exclude ingredients from their diet that they believe to be harmful. This trend to choose ingredients that are fresh, whole and natural is rising but millennials also want it to be healthy convenience. Consumers are looking for terms like ‘natural’, ‘organic’ and ‘free-from’ to make quick decisions in the supermarket aisles. Nielsen have reported in studies that roughly 61 percent of consumers believe that the shorter the ingredients list on a product label, the healthier that product. When it comes to ingredients, a back-to-basics mindset, focused on simple ingredients and fewer artificial

or processed foods, is a priority for the majority of consumers. Among the top ingredients that global shoppers say they try to avoid are artificial flavours, preservatives, colours, and sweeteners – now commonly known as ‘nasties’. With this knowledge of ingredients consumers want to make informed decisions based on their values and desires and has created a ‘reason to reject’ thought pattern sparking avoidance of the ‘nasties’ and a pursuit of transparency and recognisable ingredients. “There was a day when an ingredient listing alone, especially if properly tidied up, could suffice for saying here is what is in our product,” said Rachel Cheatham, CEO and founder of Foodscape Group. “This is no longer adequate. Now, each ingredient on the label listing must have a pedigree and convincing story to tell in its own right. And the company behind that ingredient listing must tell its story of the who, how, and why about each ingredient choice.” Personalisation and fragmentation have, over the years become some of the biggest drivers of change in the functional food and beverage category. Consumers want to be in control of their choices in the supermarket aisle

and feel confident in making their own choices that cater to their needs and are increasingly looking to inherent health benefits from natural ingredients which convey ‘better for you’ appeal. The CleanPaleo brand encompasses a range of premium wholefoods that lead with flavour and defy convention. Launched in 2013, it is a premium brand targeted at consumers seeking to maintain a Paleo, glutenfree or healthy lifestyle, and is characterised by products that are free from gluten, grains, dairy, preservatives and additives. Starting from a simple range of breakfast blends, the range now includes over 20 products which span across the snacking, protein powder and bread categories. The range currently includes Breakfast Blends (cereals), Protein Powders, Biltong (dried beef) and Bread (gluten-free). The brand has struck a chord with informed, discerning, health conscious consumers who have influence over the food purchased for the household. The concept of clean label food and beverage products has been in the spotlight for some years now and it is no longer considered a fad or trend, rather the new ‘norm’ sparking innovation from all categories. Seventy-three percent of consumers are happy to pay a higher retail price for a food or drink product made with ingredients they recognise and trust. Another recent survey found that recognition of ingredients is one of the biggest drivers of product choice. This ability to recognise ingredients by name was rated more important than quality and taste. CleanPaleo Breakfast Blends are made from natural nuts, coconut, and seeds

and certified organic fruit. There are four variants; Manuka Crunch, Original Crunch, Cacao Berry and Fruit Fusion. CleanPaleo Biltong is made with the finest grass-fed beef that is then air dried with the perfect blend of salt, pepper and coriander to give it a wonderful aroma and balanced flavour. There are three variants including; Original Grass-Fed, Smoky Chilli and Chipotle, and Garlic. Protein has moved away from being predominately associated with fitness to more of a symbol of health and nutrition in the food space. Consumers continue to search for food offerings where there is a value-added protein label and have been brought up to speed on how protein can cater to not only healthy diets, weight management and building muscle but also to boost energy and manage appetites. “There is a growing realisation about the value of proteins,” said Kelvin Wickham, chief operating officer of NZMP – Fonterra’s ingredients business. “The stuff that was for the body builders in the gym – mainstream consumers are becoming more aware of.” CleanPaleo’s Protein Powders are 100 percent natural and do not contain any artificial or chemically engineered ingredients. They are made from freerange egg white powder, flavoured with natural ingredients and lightly sweetened with certified organic dried coconut nectar. This makes them not only highly nutritious and safe for diabetics, but also Paleo-friendly. Consumers who are trying to achieve balance and optimum health in their lives, but are unwilling to compromise on taste and convenience can always feel confident when purchasing CleanPaleo products. For more information visit www.cleanpaleo.com or contact Tim Holt on 021 873 146 or email tim@ riotfoods.com. n

GUILT-FREE ALTERNATIVE Emmet Condon, co-founder of Remedy kombucha, started making kombucha as part of a wider obsession with fermented foods. Becoming increasingly frustrated with the food industry and the number of misleading so-called ‘healthy’ products on shelves, Condon decided to put that energy towards doing good. “We saw the opportunity to turn our passion into a business that would offer more people the chance to enjoy a real, wholesome drink,” he told SupermarketNews. “A healthy, organic, guilt-free alternative to sugary soft drinks and fruit juices.” Condon identified kombucha as one of the fastest growing markets in the functional beverages category in the US, while in Australia at the time there were only a couple of other small-scale producers selling kombucha commercially. “The commercial kombucha market in

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the US is about ten years ahead,” he said. “We looked to the US as a guide and insight into the opportunity in the Australian market.” The functional beverage category is on the rise thanks to two key trends – increasing awareness of gut health, and increasing awareness of the problems associated with a high sugar diet. “At Remedy, we are really proud to craft a kombucha that is naturally free from sugar but also still really tasty. “We have an official tick of approval from Sarah Wilson and her team at I Quit Sugar,” explained Condon. “We’ve known and worked with Sarah since our beginnings and her support has been really valuable.” However, being part of an emerging category isn’t without its challenges. “While the category is growing, we’re coming off a very low base – the category didn’t even

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exist 10 years ago,” said Condon. “Awareness of kombucha, in general, is still low in New Zealand and Australia. In our experience, trial is key. The more people who try Remedy, the quicker word spreads of its benefits.” Education is also key through the supply chain, as raw kombucha such as Remedy produces needs to be

refrigerated at all times to maintain the quality and integrity of the product. Remedy recently added 250ml cans to its range as an on-thego option for the petrol and convenience sector. The company is also gearing up to release another kind of fermented, live-cultured drink very soon. n

functional food & beverage global what’s new

SPECIALTY TEAS PREMIUM Harney & Sons has announced it will PLANT-BASED introduce a new line of specialty tea for athletes. AthleTea is blended with the active body in mind according to the company. The launch of AthleTea comes after the brand partnered with mental strength and conditioning platform, AthleteMinder. AthleTea is available in three flavours; Orange ManGo For It Performance Hydration Plus, Get Your Passion Berry Performance Hydration, and Go To Goji Recovery Hydration. “We are excited to offer a line of teas for athletes and fitness-minded people,” said Emeric Harney, marketing manager at Harney & Sons. “Together, with AthleteMinder, we are combining world-class tea knowledge, sourcing and production, with the needs of athletes, active people and tea lovers alike.” It will be produced in small batches using high quality ingredients.

Après has launched a new range of plantbased protein beverages that are designed for premium whole-body replenishment. Plant proteins are used in the beverage like virgin coconut oil and coconut water in a shelf-stable format for convenient on-the-go consumption. Health and fitness enthusiasts Sonny McCracken and Darby Jackson say they aren’t directly targeting the traditional sports nutrition consumer. “It’s our belief that modern wellness consumers, especially women, have been all but overlooked from a replenishment point-of-view,” said McCracken. “We spent more than a year working hand-in-hand with this consumer group to develop a product that could not only provide the clean label and nutrition they’re looking for, but also deliver great taste.” Organic plant proteins like pea, chia, cacao and hemp feature in the beverage and it is available in three flavours; Mint Cacao, Sea Salt Chocolate and Chai Spiced Vanilla.

A natural energy-creating beverage free of added sugar, artificial flavours, sweeteners, and preservatives is now on the market. Well-Beyond, a new direct sales company that develops targeted health and wellness and weight management solutions, has launched Xe Lite. Xe Lite is a healthy alternative to traditional energy drinks. In a review of over 30 energy drinks currently on the market, including the top-selling beverages, 97 percent contained one or several of the previously mentioned additives. In addition to containing none of these, Xe Lite provides longer lasting, natural energy from 28 percent juice, a unique energy-creating blend, and Palatinose, a natural low-glycaemic sugar, derived from sugar beet, that has been scientifically shown to provide longer lasting energy. Xe Lite is a delicious companion to Well-Beyond’s Xe Energy for fitness-conscious consumers seeking a lower-calorie option.

Boston-based food company, Eat Your Coffee, has launched new energy bars that are caffeinated with real coffee. Currently available in three flavours including Mocha Latte, Coconut Mocha and Caramel Macchiato. The brand looks to expand the range in the coming months.

BIRCH WATER

Treo has introduced three new flavours of its birch water; Raspberry Lemonade, Kiwi Watermelon and Orange Apricot which joins its other four varieties. The beverage infuses hand-tapped birch water with organic juices, fruit flavours and natural sweeteners, and has only 10 calories.

WELLNESS SHOTS

WEIGHT-LOSS CHOCOLATE

Silver Fern Brand this year launched a new line of chocolate that is sweetened with the natural sweetener Kakato. Developed specifically for the brand by world-renowned chocolatier Art Polland, Cenavi has no added sugar or sugar alcohols, high in fibre and contains the only strain of probiotics to boost he body’s metabolism for longterm weight-loss. The range includes a 70 percent dark chocolate flats, chocolate-covered almonds and barks in three flavours; Spicy Mango; Cranberry, Blueberry and Ginger; and Hemp Seed and Toasted Coconut. As well as the Kakato sweetener, a natural prebiotic fibre sweetener with 0g of sugar, Cenavi is a great source of Bacillus probiotics, known for its ability to create short chain fatty acids that supercharge the body’s metabolism.

COFFEE YOU NATURAL ENERGY DRINK CAN EAT

BREAKFAST PROTEINS

Optimum Nutrition wants to help consumers make protein-rich breakfasts that are quick and easy, putting fitness goals in reach. Earlier this year the company launched two new protein mixes; Greek Yoghurt Protein Smoothie and Whey & Oats varieties. ON Greek Yoghurt Protein Smoothie combines whey protein with Greek yoghurt proteins and chia that give a smooth, creamy texture. Its Whey & Oats variety combines whey protein, with a finemilled whole oat blend and is available in three flavours; Vanilla Almond Pastry, Blueberry Muffin and Chocolate Glazed Donut.

So Good So You have formulated a new range of refrigerated, certified organic, non-GMO and vegan wellness shots that give consumers a dose of immuneboosting ingredients via cold-pressed, raw vegetables, fruits, spices and specialty ingredients. The probiotic wellness shots feature as many as 1 billion colony forming units of probiotics. Ingredients include blue-green algae, raw honey, and apple cider vinegar. The shots are available in five flavours; Immunity – featuring ginger, citrus, cayenne and raw honey; Longevity – featuring turmeric, cinnamon, raw honey and orange juice; Digestion – apple cider vinegar, carrot, apple and lemon; Detox – pineapple, blue-green algae and digestionsupporting enzymes; and Endurance – beetroots and antioxidants from apples and aronia berries.

YUCA ROOT CHIPS

Plant Snacks has introduced Cassava Crunch, a new chip that sits in the better-for-you category made with the root vegetable cassava, also known as yuca. The product combines cassava flour with natural and simple ingredients to form chips that are gluten-free, non-GMO, paleo friendly and free from added sugars, grains, corn, trans fat, artificial flavours and preservatives. The chips are available in four flavours; Sea Salt, Seeds, Beet with Goat Cheese and Cheddar. November 2017

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FOCUS ON HEALTH

As the environment in which our food and beverage ecosystem operates in evolves, consumer preferences are moving. Products are no longer just products as consumers are demanding more from their food. Added functionality and personalisation are trending and products are being tailored to meet every single condition. Not just in terms of nutrition and associated health benefits, but also convenience and how our food is packaged.

A functional food or beverage is considered to be an enhanced or enriched food that has the ability to provide, or at least facilitate, health benefits beyond the provision of essential nutrients (e.g., vitamins and minerals). The attraction and desire for these types of products are expedited if they offer a solution. If a product holds a desired functionality that was not formerly present, there will be substantial preference to purchase specifically if they facilitate positive health and a healthier lifestyle. Probiotic functions are a great example of a functional aspect of food that has gained popularity. As there has been a spotlight on gut health and its overall effect on health (mentally and physically), products such as kombucha, coconut kefir, and probiotic yoghurts, have gained immense popularity given their gut health promoting components. Additionally, consumers aren’t afraid to pay a premium for these products as they value their health above price. As there is an increasing focus on health, consumers are starting to challenge and scrutinize everything they put in their mouths. Food companies are re-thinking their strategy to position themselves as nutritional businesses, providing scientifically enhanced functional foods. Looking to companies such as Nestle who earlier in the year indicated they want to sell their confectionery arm and realign their strategy with healthy options as consumers are shifting away from sugary indulgent foods. Functional, high-health foods are

Emma Wheeler

Agri- Food Manager KPMG

Vanessa O’Neill

Director, Enterprise Food and Beverage Sector Lead, KPMG

With a pivot to focus on health, major players in the food and beverage industry are realigning their strategy and refocusing on consumer need.

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therefore permeating our markets as there is a strong desire to transition from curative healthcare to preventative and consumers actively seek out options to optimise the function of their bodies. This is opening doors for pharmaceutical companies to leverage on a new market, as the gap between nutrition and medicine is closed. With a natural and intrinsic health benefit, companies can convey a compelling message. With social media connecting channels faster than ever, there is a lot of buzz around natural, and as close to nature as possible, products. If enough buzz is created around a specific quality of a product and people are able to draw their own conclusions about the benefits of a naturally functional ingredient or product, then a health claim isn’t necessary. With a pivot to focus on health, major players in the food and beverage industry are realigning their strategy and refocusing on consumer need. An example being General Mills, a US packaged foods giant, which has been investing in various functional food companies. Recently they invested US$6.5m in probiotic startup Farmhouse Culture and earlier in the year one investing in an organic granola company that uses functional mushroom powder to enhance its wellness bars with benefits like increased energy, vitality and immunity. With a food ecosystem saturated with options, if a consumer isn’t satisfied with a product they will just find another product that fulfils

their requests. Coca Cola are shifting their long term play and creating products in line with health and nutrition appeal. Not only releasing a range of naturally flavoured waters, they have released Coca-Cola Plus, a beverage to promote weight-loss. They recognise following the path of sugar filled beverages is no longer viable and need to rethink their products and how they fit into a in a competitive market heading down the path of healthy alternatives and functionality. The entire industry has seen a major shift towards healthy habits and a holistic view to health. Increased education and awareness in health has prompted a clear shift towards food with high nutrition and function. Today’s fast paced lifestyle, means that consumers are seeking solutions that enable them to minimise the time doing the things they like least, concurrently increasing those things that give them pleasure. Convenient functional options ensure this is achievable. Products such as Soylent are targeting this growth area. Soylent has been developed in the United States as a nutritionally “perfect” drink that contains everything the body needs to thrive. With a tag line of “providing maximum nutrition, with minimal effort” consumers can use this drink as a meal replacement, with zero prep and zero thought. In an environment with abundant options, to remain relevant, innovation in food capability needs to be highly considered in an evolving ecosystem. n

SUPPLEMENTS IN FOODS CAN INTERFERE WITH MEDICATIONS It is important to inform your shoppers on some popular supplement-medication interactions.

Phil Lempert

Supermarket Guru

Phil@SupermarketGuru.com

The popularity of “exotic” vitamin supplements, boosters, enzymes and herbs, previously only found in health food shops and juice bars is increasing, and these “wonder ingredients” are more frequently found in our everyday foods. In addition, more and more consumers are taking medications for heart disease, diabetes, cancers, obesity and depression, while supplementing, juicing and consuming meal replacement bars, thus a greater potential for adverse interactions.

Shoppers may assume that manufacturers, retailers, servers, and even baristas understand exactly what these combinations will (and will not) accomplish for our health. This assumption is dangerous, and it is especially important for those consumers with medical conditions or who are taking medications to do their research. All retailers who sell nutritional supplements, or the products that contain them, should provide a complete list of ingredients and precautions in each store. Quality training of employees who “dispense” these products is necessary; and at the same time, employees should be cautioned not to “play doctor or nutritionist and diagnose” customers’ conditions or imply that a dietary supplement will be a cure or replace conventional medical therapy.

To help get you up to speed on some supplement-medication interactions your shoppers should be aware of: • Calcium and heart medication, thiazide-type diuretics, and aluminum and magnesiumcontaining antacids- calcium can negate or cause adverse effects. • Magnesium and thiazide/ loop diuretics, some cancer drugs, and magnesium-containing antacids. • Vitamin K and blood thinners (vitamin K rich foods should also be avoided when taking blood thinners) • St. John’s Wort and birth control pills - compromises effect of birth control pills. Those prescribed antipsychotic drugs should not take St. John’s Wort.

• Ginseng and anti-depressant drugs - this combination has been associated with insomnia and headaches. Ginseng also lessens the effects of antipsychotic drugs. We at SupermarketGuru.com cannot stress enough the fact that anyone currently taking prescription drugs, should not begin taking supplements until they have consulted their health care provider. Remind your shoppers to always read ingredient labels carefully and always check for food or drug interactions. Resource guides like The Natural Pharmacy and Encyclopaedia of Nutritional Supplements is a good source. n

MARC DOWMAN

OWNER OPERATOR New World Merrilands, Taranaki

Marc Dowman grew up in a range of towns and cities throughout New Zealand but spent most of his time growing up in Raetihi. “Looking back, I enjoyed moving around as much as I did,” Dowman told Supermarket News. “I got to meet a lot of people and experiences of living life in different places. Each place we lived was special but I have enjoyed Taranaki the most.” As a young man Dowman wanted to be a detective, but “somewhere along the way my career path changed and supermarkets are where I have landed!” After completing High School at New Plymouth Boys, Dowman went to Victoria University, studying Commerce and

Administration. “I really enjoyed the HR element of my studies and how people interact with their workplaces and work colleagues,” he said. “I’m excited to see people succeeding in both their personal and professional lives and I love being a part of that!” Dowman has been in supermarkets for around 20 years. He started working for his parents and New World Merrilands (the very same business he would go on to own), before moving to Waitara New World. After a stint in Australia, the pull of supermarkets brought him back to New World in New Plymouth, where he worked in shift supervisor, department team leader and store management roles. In mid-2016, he and his wife decided to take the plunge and purchase their own store. “I enjoy the speed and the nature of the industry,” he said. “There is never a dull moment. I look forward to the challenge and joy of creating a special shopping experience. I get thrills when customers tell me they love the store and love what we do.” Dowman tries his best to inspire his team and make a difference. “To do

There is never a dull moment. I look forward to the challenge and joy of creating something special about a shopping experience when doing your supermarket shop. I get thrills when customers tell me they love the store and love what we do. this I need to be open, approachable and willing to accept challenges for the betterment of the customer, the shopping experience, the team and the business.” When he gets the chance to make something right for a customer, Dowman treats this as an opportunity to review the system and process and work out a way that he can improve what he does. “The shopping experience should be effortless from

when you walk into the store to when you walk out,” he said. “I am always looking at the ways we can meet our customers’ expectations.” Dowman works hard on the culture of the business, believing that a business strategy is nothing without the culture. “Any time a customer or team member tells me that I have made their day for whatever reason, to me that is the best compliment!” n November 2017

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50 percent Less Added Sugar

Kiwis love the unmistakable taste of Wattie’s Baked Beans and Wattie’s Spaghetti. Now families can enjoy their favourite beans and spaghetti, while making a healthier choice, with the launch of Wattie’s Baked Beanz 50 precent less added sugar and Wattie’s Spaghetti 50 percent less added sugar. The new Wattie’s Baked Beanz 50 percent less added sugar and Wattie’s Spaghetti 50 percent less added sugar have added sweetness from the extracts of the stevia leaf and are also 30 percent lower in salt than the regular versions. Tinkering with the recipe of these iconic Kiwi foods was no small undertaking. It’s taken a lot of hard work to perfect the recipe and get this version just right, with that great Wattie’s taste but with just half the added sugar and 30 percent less salt.

Punchy Hop

Mac’s has released an American Pale Ale brewed with US hop varieties. Mac’s Interstate is a classic APA that’s full of punchy hop flavour, but refreshing enough to be a go-to craft brew for summer. The most dominant part of this beer’s personality comes from its US hops, used in a way to show off their citrus-like, floral and fruity aromas and flavours. Interstate pours a deep golden colour, sits at a 5 on the Mac’s flavour scale and has an ABV of 5 percent. “We start brewing Interstate with a base of Pilsner and Crystal malts to give it just enough body to carry the hops. Next, we use Amarillo and Simcoe hops in the Brewhouse to give the beer its crisp bitterness. But the real stars of the show are the Mosaic and Citra hops, used to dry hop the brew and add their citrus and grapefruit notes,” said Mac’s ambassador Kurt Gross.

Festive Season Ready

Waitoa free range Festive Roast is a limited edition product perfect for Festive Season sales. A large 1.9kg free range chicken with a spicy orange marinade and filled with a tasty honey, currant and couscous stuffing. Designed with attractive seasonal branding they are ideal for mainstream fresh free range shoppers looking for quality and convenience over the summer period. Waitoa fresh products have been supported through October, November and early December with strong above-the-line media programme. Waitoa free range continuing to lead through category innovation. For more information contact Waitoa sales on free phone 0508 800 785.

Premium Crisps

New Zealand’s multi-award-winning artisan crisps producers, Proper Crisps, have created an exciting medley of crisp, artisan batch cooked and lightly sprinkled with Marlborough Sea Salt. With the Beetroot, Carrots and Parsnips sourced from up the Carrot Capital Ohakune and further North, Kumara from Kaipara. Proper Crisps continue to lead the way with a history of producing a great quality product. Proper Crisps, #2 in the premium category and #1 in the vegetable crisp market, have brought to the table this stunningly beautiful product. All Proper Crisps are 100 percent natural, gluten free, dairy free, trans fat free, GMO free, vegan and contain no added MSG.

Cat And Mouse

Temptations have launched a new tasty toy that turns treat time into play time. Simply fill the Snacky Mouse with Temptations treats and watch as your feline friend tries everything in their furry power to get their paws on them. The bobble Snacky Mouse dispenses treats as they enjoy a deliciously good game of cat and mouse. If you’re cat enjoys the treats a little too much, rest assured in the knowledge that each Temptation treat has just two calories per piece. Snacky Mouse is FREE with every purchase of Temptations Cat Treats.

Traditional Cookies

Cookie Time has introduced a new offering called Cookie Bake, homestyle cookies made in smaller batch mixes and baked in traditional rack ovens. Made like real cookies should be, with real chocolate, real butter, and real ingredients with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. Available in 200g bags, in three chocolate-rich flavours – Chocolate Chunk, Chewy Apricot Chocolate Chunk and Salted Caramel Chocolate Chunk.

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Classic Kiwi Combo

Coca-Cola has launched a classic Kiwi combination just in time for summer – Coca-Cola Raspberry is the new limited edition flavour. In keeping with the company’s commitment to reduce sugar across its range, Coke Raspberry also has 25 percent less sugar. “We know that Kiwis love creating their own Coke and Raspberry mix and it’s seen as adding something a little bit ‘special’ to your Coke. Coke Raspberry is going to be the perfect treat for people to take to their summer BBQ or party,” said Tracey Evans, marketing manager at Coca-Cola Oceania. “Kiwis have been very vocal in their desire for Coke and Raspberry especially on social media, this has been an influence on us bringing it back – Kiwis asked and we listened!” Originally hitting shelves in 2006, Coke Raspberry was one of the most popular limited-edition flavours ever released, and Kiwis have been asking for its return to shelves ever since.

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I 29

Goodbye SANDFLY New Zealand’s number one selling natural bug repellent, Goodbye SANDFLY, has just grown its distribution with full ranging of its large Sandfly 150ml size. The Kerikeri natural products company founder, Becky Cashman said Goodbye SANDFLY was initially developed to target the tourist market in South Island sandfly country but has quickly grown to be the go-to repellent for Kiwis around the country. “When Goodbye SANDFLY began 18 years ago it was largely a tourist supported product but it has very much become the choice for family fun and summer holidays, highlighting the growing demand for good natural products. “Given the average spend for the repellent category is under $9.00 and the SANDFLY 150ml bottle is $19.99, there is massive incremental growth

New Format

L’Authentique has been on a decade-long journey to create quality products that distinguished themselves clearly from the market. This now extends to its new format long-life parfaits, pates, rillettes and terrine in quality glass preserve jars. Attention is paid to every detail throughout the production process, high standards that deliver a refined and flavourful taste. They are free-range, preservative free, gluten, dairy, starch and flour free and now with a fourmonth minimum shelf-life in its recyclable format. “We are motivated to reduce the amount of plastic in our business and also aesthetically to provide a better-looking format for this very popular range that’s easier to manage instore. They stack better and present one cohesive range.” co-owner Wade Lewis said. The premium long-life glass jars’ RRP starts at $7.99 for 100g, comes in seven flavours and also has a limited 180g range. For more information call 021 613 939 or email orders@lauthentique.co.nz

for retailers,” said Cashman. Goodbye SANDFLY is made from quality essential oils of Eucalyptus, Lavender, Pine, Manuka, Tea Tree and Lemongrass blended with sweet almond oil. The unique combination of oils delivers both a bug repellent and skin soothing properties and is available in a 40ml dropper, and in 50ml, 150ml and 1litre spray bottles.

Festive Chocolate Bark

A decadent range of Chocolate Bark, Handcrafted by Loaf, has hit shelves for the festive season. The bark packs make a fantastic handcrafted Christmas gift for those that appreciate the finer things. They’re also perfect for summer entertaining whether it is as part of a platter to kick things off, or a hassle-free finish to the evening served with some nice cheeses and summer fruit. The range comes in four distinct flavours, the Cherry & Hazelnut and Pretzel & Raspberry barks celebrating sensational summer berries. Gingerbread and Chocolate Pistachio is a nostalgic slice that embraces the Christmas spirit. The Popcorn and Salted Caramel bark rounds off the range and is a real crowd pleaser, with its moreish combination of salty and sweet.

Summer In A Bottle

Lewis Road is capturing summer in a bottle with its launch of a new range of premium apple ciders. Lewis Road Orchard Premium Apple Ciders are made with the best, certifiedorganic apples from Bostock’s orchards in the sunshine-filled Hawke’s Bay, with a delightful difference. In this case, it is infusing an already great cider with delicate blossom flavours to elevate it from good to sublime. The crisp, dry premium cider has noticeable botanical scent on the nose and a well-balanced taste that is fresh and not overly sweet or acidic allowing the blossom flavours to shine through. In another unique twist, the cider is brewed in a winery, not a brewery – Mills Reef in Tauranga. This ensures it is crafted to the level of care of a good wine, as it deserves. The cider is then infused with natural botanical blossom flavours – apple blossom, peach blossom and orange blossom.

A New Generation

Garnier has released a new range that boasts a 96 percent natural formula – SkinActive Naturals. This new generation of cleansers and moisturisers are free from parabens, silicones, and synthetic colourants. Garnier SkinActive Naturals combines the best natural-origin ingredients into high-performing formulas that answer the needs of various skin types. Proudly presenting a natural, gentle and effective solution; the SkinActive Naturals range features a Soothing Cleansing Milk, a Soothing Moisturiser, a Purifying Gel Wash, and a Purifying Moisturiser.

Party Time

Dippin’ Good Dunk

Labneh is a natural strained yoghurt that’s silky and spreadable thick, originating from the Middle East. Now the chefs behind The Collective have paired it perfectly with inspired toppings, to deliver a collection of seriously good dips that are perfect for summer. With a delicious texture that’s similar to that of soft cheese, The Collective’s labneh is perfect for dipping or dunking with crackers, flatbreads and raw veggies, or try it as a delicious spread on wraps. It’s even brilliant paired with meals such as Moroccan chicken or rubbed lamb rack. With the goodness of active cultures and containing hundreds of millions of live probiotics, these yoghurt-based dips are gluten free, suitable for vegetarians and free from all nasties like artificial colours, flavours and preservatives. The Collective’s Labneh Dips are available in 150g tubs in five Middle Eastern inspired flavours; Capsicum Pesto, Harissa, Sweet Chilli, Smoke Tomato and Moroccan Relish.

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I Love Pies has launched a new range of sausage rolls in time for the party season, adding not just a chorizo variety but also a re-sealable bag of pre-cut snack size sausage rolls to its existing range. The two new varieties answer consumer demand for convenience. The chorizo morsels are perfect for lunch or as a canapé. They include tasty beef, smoked paprika and sweet red pepper. Both varieties are made with the I Love Pies delicious sour cream pastry. No I Love Pies products contain any MSG, palm oil, preservatives or artificial flavours or colours.

Burger Buns

MacKenzie High Country Bread have introduced burger buns to its range in two flavours; Sprouted Grans, and White Rye. The Sprouted Grain bun has a special blend of South Island barley, wheat and rye, which are steeped and allowed to sprout before being roasted and stoneground for a delicious malty flavour. The Sprouted Grains buns are fermented overnight and are topped with Canterbury linseeds, sesame and soy. Whereas the White Rye is fermented overnight to bring out flavour, then is corn dusted and water split for their distinctive look, resulting in a soft and delicious bun that is high in fibre. Both buns are generous in size and big on taste.

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Pure Leaf Matcha Teas

Unilever has added its first-ever home-brewed matcha teas to its Pure Leaf range of hot and cold tea products. The two new offerings, sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified tea estates in Kagoshima, Japan, Pure Matcha and Matcha with Ginger, are available in pre-portioned individually wrapped sachets to ensure a perfect cup to consumers every time.

Pepsi Cake-Flavoured Soda

Pepsi is getting into the spirit of Christmas with the launch of its new flavour in Japan. It has been reported they are launching a cake-flavoured beverage called Pepsi Christmas Cola. The soda is based on the traditional sponge cake that is a celebratory custom in Japan for Christmas. The sponge cake is covered in whipped cream and garnished with strawberries. It is said to launch exclusively in Japan.

Almond-Oil Cooked Chips

Kettle Brand is launching the first packaged potato chips cooked in 100 percent almond oil. The new range is available in two varieties; Fiery Thai and Wood Smoked Sea Salt. The all natural chips are extra crunchy and are non-GMO Project Verified. The Fiery Thai chips fuse sweet lemongrass, ginger and classic Thai heat. The Wood Smoked Sea Salt have a smoky and grounded flavour.

Chocolate Wine

Avocado Chocolate Bar

James Cadbury, the great-great-great-grandson of Cadbury chocolate brand founder John Cadbury has recently announced the launch of his brand’s Love Cocoa Avocado Dark Chocolate Bar. “Growing up a Cadbury, I’ve always loved chocolate and experimenting in the kitchen,” said Cadbury. “And like the millions on Instagram, I’m also an avocado fan, so I thought why not mix two of the most loved flavours and foods together – ant that’s how the avocado chocolate bar was born.” Although the brand is not specifically vegan, the avocado bar is made from animal-free ingredients, including fair-trade organic 70 percent dark chocolate, vanilla extract, and avocado pulp – sourced from Hass avocados. It is currently only available in the UK.

Cheese Advent Calendar

After a sell-out season last year, blogger Annem Hobson, is making cheese dreams come true once again with a new edition of a Cheese Advent Calendar. Partnering up with Hobson to create the calendar includes: Norseland, Ilchester, Applewood, Mexicana, and Jarlsberg.

New Line Up From Snickers

Snickers have launched three new flavours Espresso, Fiery and Salty & Sweet with new packaging, replacing the Snickers logo with moods like grouchy, whiny, and impatient.

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Keri Juice Blenders

Coca-Cola has launched Keri Juice Blenders. Crafted for the adult palate, the juices blend a variety of fruit and vegetables, and are sold in premium single serve options. “Launching Keri Juice Blenders in Australia is a major move for the business and offers and exciting new option for health-conscious consumers to enjoy a vibrant and great-tasting product,” said brand activation manager, Kate Solomon. The product range is available in five flavours that all have a juice content greater than 99.9 percent. Flavours include Orange; Cloudy Apple, Carrot, Apple, Orange, Lemon and Ginger; Apple, Beetroot, Blackcurrant, Pomegranate and Hibiscus; and Apple, Pear, Cucumber, Kale and Gardena Extract.

Pepsi Salted Caramel PepsiCo has announced a range of holiday-themed food and beverages including Pepsi Salted Caramel, and Mountain Dew ‘Holiday Brew’ that combines the green Mtn Dew flavour with its Mtn Dew Code Red variety.

Gourmet Gummies

Project 7 has introduced its Moscow Mule Gourmet Gummies following the Champagne and Rosé gummy bear craze. Although the gummies don’t contain actual alcohol, they are made with organic sweeteners and taste almost like the real thing.

Chocolate is the new red when it comes to wine with the launch of a new wine company called Rubis. Not to be confused with chocolate liqueurs, this boozy chocolate product is chocolate-flavoured Spanish fortified wine made from the Tempranillo grape and infused with a luxurious chocolate essence. Rubis describes the flavour as having notes of rich cherry and red fruit enveloped in velvety premium dark chocolate. It is best served at room temperature, chilled or over ice.

Hershey’s Gold Peanuts & Pretzels

Said to be Hershey’s fanciest bar yet, it is the first new flavour for the brand in over 20 years. The confectionery giant is adding an unexpected flavour to its lineup with Hershey’s Gold Peanuts & Pretzels. The new bar looks to launch on December 1 in the USA.

Outrageous Bar From Reese’s A chocolate bar set to overtake the beloved Peanut Butter Cup, Reese’s has launched a new chocolate bar filled with Reese’s Pieces with a peanut butter and caramel core. The bar is set to launch in May 2018.

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