From adversity to accolades: Finalists announced for Foodstuffs 2024 Partnership Awards

Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin (L) and Foodstuffs South Island CEO Mary Devine (R) with the team from Reckitt Benckiser Hygiene who won the National Partnership award in 2023.

FoodstuffsNorth Island and Foodstuffs South Island have announced this year’sfinalists in their upcoming 2024 Foodstuffs Partnership Awards, celebrating supplier excellence and innovation within New Zealand’s FMCG industry, despite a disruptive year marked by the aftermath of flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle, as well as rising inflation and supply issues.

Over 500 guests, including representatives from46finalists alongsideFoodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island team memberswill gather at Christchurch’s iconic Te PaeConvention Centre on 4 April 2024,where winners will be announced across the13 award categories.

Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin says that this year is a particularly notable one given the turbulent few years the industry has had.

“This time last year we had just come through the Auckland Anniversary flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle,which was a massive disruption for many of our suppliers and over the course of the year, many have facedsupply challenges because of the weather, as well as rising inflation across their business operation,” he says.

“How the industry has responded to those challenges and continued to deliver for New Zealandersabsolutely deserves recognition.”

Each co-operative will present fourawards for excellence in Grocery, Fresh, Liquor, and Vendor Managed Inventory partnerships, alongside four national awards for excellence in Wholesale, Precision Media Campaign,Foodstuffs Own Brands and the HereforNZpartnership delivering on the co-operative's social promises to provide New Zealanders access healthy and affordable food, sustainable leadership and supporting local communities to thrive.

An overall Foodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island Partnership Award is also beingpresented at the event from amongst the 46finalists, which last year, was awarded to the team at Reckitt Benckiser Hygiene.

Foodstuffs South Island CEO Mary Devine says the Partnership Awards celebrates the more than 500 suppliers from 170 organisations across New Zealand for the integral role they play in delivering customers with the best shopping experience.

“We continue to see outstanding innovation and a commitment to excellence from our partners, andI see this fantastic event as a way to acknowledge and celebrate commitment,” she says.

“I look forward to it each year as an opportunity to connect with our suppliers, give thanks and celebrate our shared commitment to be HereforNZ that we see demonstrated every dayacross our stores.”

Congratulations to the following finalists: