Te Kaha stadium hosts big turnout for 2026 Foodies Forum
Foodstuffs South Island (FSSI) has wrapped its largest-ever Foodies Forum, after welcoming suppliers from across New Zealand to share insights, strengthen relationships, and discuss how the grocery sector can continue to deliver for South Island communities.
With a record turnout of more than 500 people from about 250 supplier partners at Christchurch’s impressive new stadium, Te Kaha, the event reinforced the co-operative’s focus on building strong, mutually beneficial supplier partnerships, anchored in its purpose to feed the South Island.
FSSI Chief Executive Mary Devine said the event highlighted both the strength of the sector and the value of working closely together.
“Foodstuffs South Island has always believed strongly in partnership and today reinforced the importance of that,” she said.
“It has been really valuable sharing where we’re heading, what we’re seeing in the market, and listening to what is important to our supplier partners so we can continue building success together.
“Te Kaha represents confidence, ambition and momentum for Christchurch and the wider South Island, and it was a fitting backdrop for today’s conversations.”
A key theme throughout the day was FSSI’s commitment to be suppliers’ partner of choice.
Sessions covered strategy, customer insights and customer engagement, all areas identified as critical to delivering choice and value for customers.
The programme also included an emerging supplier session, providing up-and-coming businesses an opportunity to understand how both Foodstuffs South Island and Foodstuffs North Island operate, and how to engage with them. It was the first time both co-ops had joined forces for such an event, with the aim of improving supplier pathways.
“That partnership mindset, regardless of whether it’s with a local family producer or a large multi-national, has always been at the heart of Foodstuffs South Island and remains fundamental to how we want to continue working,” Devine said.
