Cyclone Gabrielle recovery update
Foodstuffs North Island Announces Plan to Support Growers and Partners to Recover from Cyclone Gabrielle
Updated Friday 10 March 2023
Foodstuffs North Island, the 100% New Zealand owned and operated co-operative behind PAK’nSAVE, New World and Four Square has announced a plan to help growers and partners to rebuild after Cyclone Gabrielle. The plan includes a commitment of $250,000 in the form of targeted assistance for affected regions and an offer of early payment to affected suppliers to help with immediate cash flow.
Chris Quin, Chief Executive of Foodstuffs North Island said: "The impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on some of our growers and partners has been really significant and we’re committed to supporting them as they recover and rebuild. Our plan aims to provide immediate relief and longer-term support to help growers and partners get back on their feet. Together, we can rebuild and come back stronger.”
The first point of the plan is a commitment to provide $250,000 in funding to assist growers impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. This funding will be coordinated by Foodstuffs North Island’s Here for NZ team and will focus on supporting growers in Northland, Coromandel, Gisborne, and Hawkes Bay. Foodstuffs North Island will partner with industry groups from hard hit areas to provide support for rebuilding and recovery.
Secondly, Foodstuffs North Island will provide early payment to growers and partners to accelerate cash flow and help them meet immediate expenses.
Quin said: "We want to get the support into the hands of our growers and suppliers who need it the most, as quickly as possible. Our support can be used for any number of activities including cleaning up, replacing and hiring equipment, paying for temporary labour, and providing workers with support payments or wages. Our suppliers are telling us what they need now is cash flow, so by paying suppliers early, we’re accelerating cash flow and getting the money into their pockets faster so they can put it to work.”
“Whether you’re growing, farming or running supermarkets, it’s all about the people. Our category and store teams work really closely daily with local producers. We know there’s still plenty to do to help communities recover and we want to provide reassurance that we’re in it for the long term.”
The aim is to meet the needs of many suppliers and growers while they work with insurance providers and other funding support mechanisms. The co-op will partner with industry groups who can determine how best the contribution can be distributed within their group.
Foodstuffs North Island will focus its support on enabling suppliers to get back up and running quickly and rebuilding communities. Federated Farmers will receive an initial $50,000 for support of the Farmy Army an organisation helping to clean up the Hawke's Bay. Horticulture NZ will receive an initial $50,000 to support their grower relief fund and Rural Support Trust will receive an initial $50,000, with the final $100,000 to be allocated based on need.
Foodstuffs North Island has made a commitment to be Here for New Zealand and the plan for growers and suppliers is part of a promise to support local communities to thrive. The package is the latest initiative from the co-op to support communities affected by the extreme weather and follows:
The chartering of helicopters to fly in product to cut off communities
Waka Kai taking to the water delivering essentials to isolated communities in the Coromandel
IT support flying in Starlink kits to restore connectivity
Donations from Foodstuffs North Island of over $425,000 worth of product, or cash funding to support the immediate need of affected communities
A donation of $575,000 from PAK’nSAVE Owner Operators
Foodstuffs North Island partnering with Whakarongorau Aotearoa // New Zealand Telehealth Services, to help ensure those impacted and affected know there’s free, 24x7 mental health support available by calling or texting 1737, the national mental health helpline.
Foodstuffs enabling customers to donate directly to the Red Cross New Zealand Disaster Fund instore posters and QR codes across its 550 stores throughout the North Island and the South Island.
Foodstuffs North Island remains committed to supporting affected communities as they recover from the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Foodstuffs enables customers to donate to Red Cross at stores
Updated 1.20pm, Thursday 2 March 2023.
Foodstuffs, the 100% New Zealand owned and operated co-operative behind PAK’nSAVE, New World, Four Square, Raeward Fresh and On the Spot has enabled customers to donate to Red Cross New Zealand at its stores, following Cyclone Gabrielle. The co-operative's 550+ stores will be displaying posters in store with QR codes, so customers can easily donate to the Red Cross New Zealand’s Disaster Fund.
Cyclone Gabrielle brought strong winds, heavy rain and flooding to the North Island, causing loss of life, damage to homes, businesses and crops. Since the cyclone hit, Foodstuffs teams have worked around the clock to send in Starlinks, generators and specialist support to affected areas to reopen its 33 affected stores. The co-operative has been providing affected communities with access to essential products and has used trucks, Unimog’s, boats and helicopters to deliver product to its stores.
At the same time, Foodstuffs HereforNZ team has pledged over $365,000 worth of product, or cash funding, to support those in immediate need. Over the next week, the co-op will be increasing its support as it works with its community partners while enabling customers to show their support too.
Chris Quin, Managing Director of Foodstuffs New Zealand said: "With so many New Zealanders impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle and the recent Auckland flooding, we’ve been mucking in to help the country recover. Customers have asked us to get behind Red Cross New Zealand and we’re happy to use our systems and network of 550+ stores to support the critical work they’re doing to deliver vital assistance and relief to those in need."
Foodstuffs stores across New Zealand are displaying posters in store promoting the Red Cross’s New Zealand Disaster Fund alongside a QR code. Customers can scan the QR code while they shop and donate using their mobile device. When a customer scans the QR code on their phone, they’re taken to the Red Cross’s New Zealand Disaster fund webpage where they can donate.
Quin also emphasised the importance of community support during times of crisis. "As a co-operative, we’re driven by the principle of working together for the greater good. We believe that by coming together as a community, we can make a real difference in the lives of those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle."
To donate to the Red Cross while you shop, look out for the QR code posters at PAK’nSAVE, New World, Four Square, On the Spot, Gilmours, Raeward Fresh and Trents stores across New Zealand.
Foodstuffs partners with Whakarongorau Aotearoa to Promote the 1737 National Mental Health Helpline.
Updated 4.20pm, Monday 27 February 2023.
In response to the distress caused by Cyclone Gabrielle and the ongoing bad weather, Foodstuffs, the 100% New Zealand owned and operated co-operative behind PAK’nSAVE, New World and Four Square, has partnered with Whakarongorau Aotearoa // New Zealand Telehealth Services, to help ensure those impacted and affected know free, 24x7 mental health support is available by calling or texting 1737, the national mental health helpline.
Chris Quin, Managing Director of Foodstuffs New Zealand says: "We understand events like Cyclone Gabrielle and the ongoing bad weather can cause significant stress and anxiety for individuals and communities. That's why we're partnering with Whakarongorau Aotearoa, to remind people that support, and advice is available, and how to access it when they’re ready."
“If someone is feeling stressed or overwhelmed, we want them to know there’s free, specialist support available, so for our stores in affected areas, we’ve added messages promoting 1737 to our till receipts, we’re running announcements over instore speaker systems and we’re promoting the service via our Facebook pages and over email.”
The 1737 service provides free, confidential support for anyone feeling distressed, overwhelmed, or anxious. By calling or texting 1737, people can connect with a trained counsellor who can provide support, advice, and ideas to help manage stress and anxiety, and what’s happening for them right now.
Glynis Sandland, Acting Chief Executive of Whakarongorau Aotearoa said: “The impact of Cyclone Gabrielle is far reaching. Just as important as physical and practical support is providing psychosocial support, for people’s wellbeing. With the help of Foodstuffs, we’re ensuring people know that if they, or someone they know, needs mental wellbeing support or advice they can call or text 1737 anytime.”
"The 1737 team can support people and their whānau during this difficult time" added Sandland.
For more information on the 1737 helpline, visit www.1737.org.nz.
Updated Thursday 23 February 2023.
Foodstuffs North Island, the 100% New Zealand owned and operated co-operative behind PAK’nSAVE, New World and Four Square in the North Island is pleased to announce all its affected stores have successfully reopened following the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle.
Cyclone Gabrielle brought strong winds, heavy rain and flooding to the North Island, causing loss of life, damage to homes, businesses and crops. When the Cyclone hit, Foodstuffs North Island had 33 stores that were unable to open.
Chris Quin, Chief Executive of Foodstuffs North Island said: "Our thoughts remain with all those who continue to be affected by Cyclone Gabrielle, our teams have done an incredible job getting all the affected stores open. We’re now delivering stock by road to all stores, except Four Square Tokomaru Bay, where we’re continuing to deliver stock by helicopter. The safety of our customers and our teams is always our top priority, and we took the necessary steps to ensure our stores were safe to re-open.”
“Having seen the devastation first hand, I’ve got so much respect and admiration for the hard work of our owner operators, truck drivers, team members, support teams, business and supplier partners. Given the cyclone struck a week ago, it’s a big milestone to have all our stores open and its testament to the dedication, commitment and culture we have here at Foodies.”
The final store to re-open was Four Square Taradale in Napier. With the area being evacuated on Tuesday, 14 February, the store was without power and unable to trade for a week before regaining access to mains power on Tuesday, 21 February.
“Getting all the stores open and serving our communities is just the beginning, we want New Zealanders to know we’re fully committed to supporting the recovery from here. I’m proud of our team's response to the cyclone, we’ve had team members chartering helicopters to fly in product, Waka Kai has been on the water delivering essentials to isolated communities in the Coromandel, our IT team has been flying in Starlink kits to restore connectivity and our truck drivers have shown great bravery delivering through the storm. We’d like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this time.”
Foodstuffs North Island has a long-standing commitment of supporting local communities and being HereforNZ and one of our promises is to make sure every New Zealander has access to food. Every locally owned New World and PAK’nSAVE has a direct link to at least one foodbank, food rescue, or social supermarket partner and we’ve been working with them and other community organisations and charities to honour this promise in the wake of the recent Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.
In the last few weeks, our HereforNZ team has donated over $335,000 worth of product, or cash funding to support the immediate need and in the coming days, we’ll be increasing our support as we work with our community partners.
Updated 10am Sunday 19 February 2023.
Our thoughts continue to be with all with the families of the people who’ve lost their lives due to Cyclone Gabrielle, those who’ve lost their homes and property and who aren’t able to reach their families and loved ones. We were deeply saddened by the tragic passing of one of our team members, Marie Greene, who worked on checkout at New World Greenmeadows in Napier. Marie lost her life at home due to the cyclone.
We’re getting to all but one of our stores by road now, New World Wairoa has received two large deliveries, which was really reassuring for the community and gratefully received. The only store we can’t get to by road right now is Four Square Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast, 91km north of Gisborne - we’ll continue to get essentials to the store by helicopter until we can reach the store with a truck. We’d like to say a huge thank you to all our drivers who’ve gone above and beyond, battling through in the most extreme of circumstances to make sure we can get the essentials through.
All PAK’nSAVE and New World stores are open nationwide, we have a couple of Four Squares not yet able to open and they’re in communities where there are other larger shopping options. We’re asking customers in the worst affected areas to continue to only buy what they need, so everyone can get their fair share when they shop, if there’s a gap on the shelf at the store, know there’s more stock on its way.
Now all PAK’nSAVE and New World stores are open, shoppers in the Hawkes Bay cities and suburbs of Hastings and Napier are encouraged to shop at their local store, this will help even out the load between all the stores.
Foodstuffs stores are 100% New Zealand owned and operated, we have a long-term commitment to be HereforNZ and one of our promises is to make sure every New Zealander has access to food. Every locally owned New World and PAK’nSAVE has a direct link to at least one foodbank, food rescue, or social supermarket partner and we’ve been working with them and other community organisations and charities to honour this promise in the wake of the recent Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle. In the last few weeks, our HereforNZ team has pledged over $300,000 worth of product, or cash funding to support the immediate need and in the next week, we’ll be increasing our support as we work with our community partners.
We’d like to say a huge thank you to our teams, supplier partners, communities, absolutely everyone who’s pulled together to help get all the stores affected by the cyclone back up and running. It’s a really stressful time so we’re asking to please remember to be respectful to each other and our team members when you shop with us, we’re all going through a lot and we’re in this together. Kia kaha, take care.
Updated 1pm, Thursday 16 February 2023.
What a tragic 72 hours, so many New Zealanders lives have been impacted. Our deepest condolences go to those who have lost loved ones and who are facing the challenge of rebuilding. To everyone affected, please know our teams have been working around the clock. We’ve got the stock, we’ve got the plan and we’ve got the means to get essential items to you as we support your towns and communities to recover.
In the past 24 hours our team has made significant progress getting essentials to isolated communities and reopening and replenishing our stores where we can make deliveries.
All our PAK’nSAVE stores are open, and we have just one New World closed, New World Onekawa in Napier, and there are options available for shoppers. Today, we hope to gain road access to Onekawa in order to move a generator through to enable the store to reopen. We have seven Four Squares not yet able to open, all in the Hawkes Bay.
Replenishing isolated communities is our absolute focus. While there’s lots of great work going on to clear slips and reopen roads, people need the essentials now. We have a plan to re-open each store and we have the required stock and resources to make it happen. The biggest hurdle for us remains the roads. To get stock through in the past 24 hours we’ve used back roads, Unimog's and we’ve contracted a helicopter that can lift 2-3 ton to get essentials like toilet paper and water into stores that cannot yet get a delivery by road.
We’re using our Hasting depot as a staging point with the helicopter helping shift up to 40 pallets of stock and technology, such as Starlink kits for connecting to the internet, into the communities of Wairoa, Tokomaru Bay, Tologa Bay and Ruatoria.
Where connectivity allows, for the latest information on local stores, customers should check the store’s Facebook page.
Our HereforNZ team is working with community partners like Civil Defense Centres, Foodbanks, Social Supermarkets, City Missions, Community Trusts and charities like Butter Bean Motivation to provide support. We’ve now given at least $260,000 worth of food and goods to our partners.
Yesterday we provided around $50,000 to Hawkes Bay community partners and we’re actively working with Gisborne partners as well.
A huge shout out to our incredible teams for their heroic work and for continuing to go the extra mile every hour, while we make sure we get essentials to New Zealanders to recover from the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.