Foodstuffs connects local suppliers with new stores after Victoria Park closure

1 July 2025

Dozens of new product deals have been confirmed following a one-day expo organised by Foodstuffs North Island to support small suppliers affected by the closure of New World Victoria Park. 

The store was forced to shut its doors two weeks ago after a fire caused extensive damage to the building. The site will remain closed for some time while the complex clean-up and rebuild takes place. 

For many small and emerging suppliers, Victoria Park was a critical sales outlet, and in some cases, their largest. To help fill that gap, Foodstuffs brought together more than 50 local suppliers and over 70 Owner Operators from New World, PAK’nSAVE and Four Square stores from as far afield as Whangarei and Tauranga for a special “Meet & Greet” expo at its Māngere Support Centre.

The setup was simple: fast-paced meetings, direct conversations, and hands-on sampling. The result was dozens of confirmed new product listings,  which included stores that had never stocked these suppliers before.  

"This was about speed and support," said Jocelyn McCallum, Head of Edible, Grocery and Frozen at Foodstuffs North Island.

“We had suppliers who lost a key part of their business overnight. Rather than let them go store to store hoping for help, we brought our Owner-Operators together so they could act fast. The feedback from both sides was incredibly positive, and deals were being done across the room all day.” 

Devonport Chocolates, which had strong sales through Victoria Park, was one of the many suppliers directly affected. Co-owner Sarah Gardner said the event gave them a valuable opportunity to recover lost ground. 

“This was a chance to share our story face-to-face, get feedback, and hopefully get our products onto shelves in more stores. That kind of direct engagement is rare, and we’ve come away with genuine interest and new business in the pipeline.” 

Momojo, which sells probiotic kefir yoghurts, relied heavily on Victoria Park. Co-founder Scott Butland said the fire had hit them hard. 

“Vic Park was a big store for us. Before this event, we weren’t in any Four Square stores. Now we’ve got conversations underway. New World, Queen St Metro followed up just a few hours after the event and placed an order for our 225ml bottles that same day, our first ever Metro order, and such a central site too. It’s helped us move quickly to start replacing what we lost.” 

Radix Nutrition, known for high-performance protein smoothies and instant breakfasts, also gained new listings. Co-founder Leighton Cosgrave said the format made it easy to connect with those who made decisions about what stores would stock.  

“You don’t often get this kind of access. We met owners and buyers who were engaged and ready to make calls. We’ve picked up new stores and started conversations that would normally take months.” 

Perfectly Imperfect Pizzas, a fast-growing chilled food business, also made progress. 

Founder Simon Murray said: “It’s not easy for a small business to get time with dozens of store owners, but here we had it all in one place. It was a real shot in the arm for us.” 

Owner-Operators also backed the format, saying it delivered real commercial value. 

Rik Silby, Four Square Te Aroha, said: “What stood out to me was the passion and hunger from these smaller suppliers. There’s a real entrepreneurial spirit here , and it was terrific to meet them, hear their stories, and try their products.  

“We’ve already ranged some and will be ranging more.  I just couldn’t get around all the stands in time, which says a lot.”  

Mark Brittenden, Owner Operator of New World Birkenhead, said their store has picked up new customer traffic since the fire and is keen to expand its offer. 

“It was an awesome event,  we’ve seen 20-30 suppliers that we really liked, some we already stock and would like to extend their range with us, some we’ve not heard of and would like to stock and some local ones, close to our store that we didn’t know existed - and they’re going to come and see us.  We’re absolutely open to bringing in more of these suppliers. The quality and energy they brought to the room was outstanding.” 

Foodstuffs says the expo is just one part of its broader recovery plan. 

“Victoria Park will be back,” said McCallum. “But in the meantime, we’re working hard to keep momentum going for these local producers and making sure customers can still find and enjoy their products across our stores.”