New Grocery Commissioner Pierre Van Heerden; 17 July, 2023

The Grocery sector has been in the spotlight since it was reported that food prices increased 12.5 percent from last year. 

This increase in food prices matched with a cost of living crisis has left many New Zealanders choosing between which of their basic needs is most important.

However, the cause of the cost of living crisis has had little effect on supermarket profits, with the two biggest supermarket retailers in New Zealand recording a combined profit of 430 million dollars last year.

In an unprecedented move, the Labour government has chosen to create a new commission to look at measures needed to regulate the supermarket industry in order to get fairer prices for ordinary Kiwis

Nicholas spoke to newly appointed grocery commissioner Pierre Van Heerden about his experience and his ideas on what needs to change in the grocery sector.