Supermarket inquiry hits impasse on divestment options

Grocery Council head Katherine Rich says it's the lack of supermarket competition that is "outrageous". (Image: Supplied)

Pattrick Smellie

Mon, 01 Nov 2021

Supermarket owners have stonewalled the Commerce Commission’s attempts to get them to advise on their own dismemberment while their critics failed to land many punches in the most contentious day of grocery market competition hearings so far.Monday morning’s hearings sought advice from both the major supermarket chain owners – Foodstuffs and Woolworths NZ – on how best to approach the separation of their wholesale and retail businesses, and the best approach to compulsory divestment of assets, if such an outcome were man...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Policy

University reforms focus on economic impact

The Government is set to reject recommendations for a new oversight agency.

Greg Hurrell 5:00am

Opinion

Cameron Bagrie: Hold on: The 2026 election is going to be close

Watch out for the undecided vote percentages in upcoming polls.

Cameron Bagrie 5:00am

Hold on: The 2026 election is going to be close

Infrastructure

Analysts upbeat on POT, watching and waiting on Stella

The result beat guidance.

Rebecca Howard 5:00am

Analysts upbeat on POT, watching and waiting on Stella

Sponsored

Bold Steps: reshaping women’s leadership in Aotearoa

Dame Therese Walsh and Dame Joan Withers reflect on the summit’s unlikely beginnings – and how it has evolved into a platform for ambition and impact today.

OnBeingBold

Sponsored