Latest news with #Foodstuffs
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Four common supermarket price errors to look out for
Foodstuffs and Woolworths say they both have full refund policies. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly, Simon Rogers Consumer NZ says supermarkets are still making pricing errors, despite increasing pressure and scrutiny on them. Charges have been filed and a number of supermarkets have pleaded guilty to breaching the Fair Trading Act due to inaccurate pricing and misleading specials. But Consumer NZ says misleading specials are still costing shoppers tens of millions of dollars a year and has launched a petition calling for tougher penalties for breaches of the act. It provided examples of a number of ways that people could be caught out by misleading signage in supermarkets. A dodgy multibuy refers to a situation where the individual price and the multibuy price don't add up to a saving. A mince special where a tray of meat was $4 or people could buy three for $20. Photo: supplied Consumer NZ pointed to this mince special where a tray of meat was $4 or people could buy three for $20. In another case, packaging seemed to be making a confusing difference. The Gingernuts that were selling for $5 but the club price for a twin-pack was $5.59. Photo: supplied Two individual backs of Gingernuts were selling for $5 but the club price for a 500g twin-pack was $5.59. Sometimes the price on the shelf tag does not match what you pay at checkout. A box of Coca Cola a customer paid more at checkout for than the shelf price tag. Photo: Supplied In this case, supplied by Consumer, the price tag on the shelf said $27, but the customer paid more than $35 at the checkout. Sometimes it's just hard to work out what the price is. Double cream brie with two prices. Photo: supplied Consumer provided an example of double cream brie was "reduced" to $10.60 for a quick sale - or was it on sale for $9.80? Sometimes it seems as though there are multiple labels for the same item. In this case, two signs had two different prices for a single avocado. A sign saying a single avocado is $1.99. Photo: supplied Another sign at the same supermarket saying a single avocado is $1.69. Photo: supplied "One said $1.69. The other said $1.99," Consumer NZ spokesperson Abby Damen said. "The customer was charged $1.99. She returned two days later to ask what could be done about the pricing error. She was offered a refund of the price difference but after pointing out the supermarket's new refund policy, she was refunded $2 and also kept her avocado." Chief executive at Consumer Jon Duffy said anyone who was charged more than the shelf price was entitled by law to a refund of the difference. He said both supermarket chains promised a full refund in that scenario, but consumers sometimes had to know that was what was available. A Foodstuffs spokesperson said with more than 14,000 products in a typical supermarket, and prices changing frequently due to supplier costs, promotions or new product liens, pricing was a complex job. "But for our customers, it's simple. They rightly expect the price on the shelf to match what they pay at the checkout," he said. "We take pricing accuracy as seriously as health and safety, aiming for zero errors. "Across our local, family-owned stores, we manage tens of thousands of price labels and process millions of transactions every week, and we've invested in better systems, daily checks and electronic shelf labels to help get it right. "If we do get it wrong, our policy is that the customer gets a refund and keeps the product. We've also strengthened staff training and store processes to make sure pricing is clear and accurate." Woolworths said it had more 3.5 million transactions in our stores each week "and sometimes errors do occur". "When they do, we try to make things right, through our long-standing and market-leading refund policy. Under that policy, if a customer is charged more than the advertised price for a product, they get a full refund and can keep the product." Duffy said Consumer had received 20 complaints about supermarket pricing since Tuesday. A normal rate would be two a day, he said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
6 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
New World Launches New Zealand's First Reverse Vending Machine At A Supermarket
Auckland's New World Birkenhead is proudly trialling New Zealand's first supermarket-based reverse vending machine (RVM), giving locals the chance to recycle single-use drink containers while raising funds for their local schools and charities. Delivered in partnership with TOMRA, the world's largest manufacturer of RVM's and technology supporting return schemes, the trial is designed to showcase how RVMs work, test consumer appetite for this collection method, and demonstrate how this technology can boost recycling rates and improve the quality of materials recovered. RVMs are widely used in Europe and other parts of the world. The machines accept empty plastic and glass bottles, and aluminium cans. Customers simply remove the cap, insert the container, and the machine uses sensors to identify and sort materials by type. The goal is to understand consumer support for a future rollout of a regulated container return scheme in Aotearoa. 'We're really excited to be giving this a go at New World Birkenhead,' says Sandy Botterill, Head of ESG for Foodstuffs, the co-operative behind the nations New World, PAK'nSAVE and Four Square stores. 'People here have already gotten in behind other recycling efforts like soft plastics and caps and lids, so we're pretty sure they'll back the reverse vending machine too, especially with the chance to help out local schools at the same time.' Every container returned through the machine contributes 10 cents to one of four local schools. Customers choose where their donation goes with the monthly New World Birkenhead donation capped at $1,500 per month. New World Birkenhead was chosen for the trial because locals are already keen recyclers and the lids and caps collection at the store have been significant. Local school principal, Thomas Bigge, from Kauri Park School in Beachhaven, says the initiative is a win-win: "It's a great way to get tamariki thinking about recycling and making a tangible difference in their community. Every bottle or can they bring back helps their school. It's a fantastic incentive." Auckland Council is backing the idea as it is in line with its continued advocacy for a nationwide container return scheme, and its goal to achieve zero waste by 2040. North Shore Ward Councillor, and Chair of Auckland's Policy and Planning Committee Richard Hills said: "It is great to see this innovative trial taking place in our community, and with the opportunity to spread citywide, if successful.' 'The fact that it involves and supports our local schools at the same time is an awesome incentive to reduce waste to landfill, in addition to the clear environmental benefits. Congratulations to New World Birkenhead, Foodstuffs, and everyone involved." Foodstuffs supports researching how a regulated, nationwide container return scheme with voluntary participation of supermarkets could deliver consistency and scale. "We see this as an important step towards learning what the public thinks about recycling in this way," says Botterill. "This trial will help us understand how to successfully integrate reverse vending machines into a supermarket environment on a voluntary basis, and support community recycling at the same time. It's not about rolling anything out, more about seeing what's possible.'
RNZ News
22-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Foodstuffs commits to rebuilding New World Victoria Park after fire
Fire engulfed the supermarket in June. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi Foodstuffs says it's "100 percent committed to rebuilding" New World Victoria Park at the same site as its fire-damaged predecessor . A massive blaze broke out at the central Auckland supermarket in June, taking more than 10 hours to extinguish and significantly damaging the building. The announcement of a new store was made on the supermarket's social media. "Work is well under way to make our fire-damaged site safe for entry. "Right now, it's still too dangerous for anyone to go inside, but specialist crews and structural engineers are on-site, carefully stabilising the building so we can begin the recovery." "We're 100 percent committed to rebuilding a new supermarket on the same site. Our focus is on getting back up and running as quickly as we can, but safety comes first." The statement went on to say it has brought forward the opening of the store in Point Chevalier to 19 August, which is 5km away. The New World store in Victoria Park had employed more than 180 people . Foodstuffs said it continues to work with affected staff. "To our amazing team, we're continuing to work one-on-one with each of you and are so grateful for your patience and resilience. "Being part of the Foodstuffs North Island co-operative means Foodstuffs have been able to off over 100 roles across 23 Auckland stores, and we're doing everything we can to help our people find the right next step," the statement on social media said.
Otago Daily Times
21-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Supermarket pricing errors costing millions of dollars a year
Consumer NZ wants the government to crack down on what it calls a systemic problem of misleading supermarket prices. The consumer organisation said shoppers were too often being stung at the checkout and paying more than the advertised shelf price for items. New World and Pak'n Save owner, Foodstuffs said it took pricing accuracy seriously and had invested in systems and staff training to reduce errors. RNZ has approached Woolworths for comment. Consumer NZ chief Jon Duffy said pricing errors might seem small for individuals but the practice was costing New Zealanders tens of millions of dollars a year. He said the government needed to step in and a petition had been launched calling for tougher penalties for breaches of the Fair Trading Act. Consumer also wanted to see the introduction of a mandatory pricing accuracy code to hold supermarkets to account for errors and automatic compensation for shoppers who were overcharged. Duffy said a recent Consumer survey found 62 percent of shoppers noticed pricing errors over the past year. "This isn't okay, particularly at a time when people are struggling to pay their bills," he said. "It's already illegal for businesses to mislead consumers about prices, but the current law is not forcing supermarkets to up their game." A Foodstuffs spokesperson said the company had invested heavily in better systems, daily checks, and electronic shelf labels to reduce errors. "Our policy is that if a customer is overcharged, they get a refund of that product and get to keep the product. We've also strengthened staff training and store processes to ensure pricing is clear, accurate, and fair." Duffy told RNZ the Fair Trading Act was letting consumers down, citing two cases where Pak'n Save supermarkets had pleaded guilty to breaches, with charges including inaccurate pricing and misleading specials. Duffy said the maximum penalty of $600,000 was not enough of a deterrent. He said while New Zealand didn't need to follow in the footsteps of Australia's $50 million penalty, a fine closer to $10m would be more appropriate. He told RNZ there also needed to be more specific rules in the Act around advertising specials so as not to mislead customers, such as specials on multi-buy products. "There's a double pack of biscuits ... but it's cheaper to buy each pack individually than the special that's advertised as a twin pack. "Those are really common examples that we see." He said if buyers got home and realised they were overcharged after checking their receipt, they should get both a refund and keep the product for free. "Because no doubt you've probably had to get back in the car and drive back to the supermarket to do the supermarket's job for them. You're helping them correct a process they should be getting right in the first place."
Otago Daily Times
21-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Supermarket pricing errors costing Kiwis millions
Consumer NZ wants the government to crackdown on what it calls a systemic problem of misleading supermarket prices. The consumer organisation said shoppers were too often being stung at the checkout and paying more than the advertised shelf price for items. New World and Pak'n Save owner, Foodstuffs said it took pricing accuracy seriously and had invested in systems and staff training to reduce errors. RNZ has approached Woolworths for comment. Consumer NZ chief Jon Duffy said pricing errors might seem small for individuals but the practice was costing New Zealanders tens of millions of dollars a year. He said the government needed to step in and a petition had been launched calling for tougher penalties for breaches of the Fair Trading Act. Consumer also wanted to see the introduction of a mandatory pricing accuracy code to hold supermarkets to account for errors and automatic compensation for shoppers who were overcharged. Duffy said a recent Consumer survey found 62 percent of shoppers noticed pricing errors over the past year. "This isn't okay, particularly at a time when people are struggling to pay their bills," he said. "It's already illegal for businesses to mislead consumers about prices, but the current law is not forcing supermarkets to up their game." A Foodstuffs spokesperson said the company had invested heavily in better systems, daily checks, and electronic shelf labels to reduce errors. "Our policy is that if a customer is overcharged, they get a refund of that product and get to keep the product. We've also strengthened staff training and store processes to ensure pricing is clear, accurate, and fair." Duffy told RNZ the Fair Trading Act was letting consumers down, citing two cases where Pak'n Save supermarkets had pleaded guilty to breaches, with charges including inaccurate pricing and misleading specials. Duffy said the maximum penalty of $600,000 was not enough of a deterrent and said while New Zealand didn't need to follow in the footsteps of Australian's $50 million penalty, a fine closer to $10m would be more appropriate. He told RNZ there also needed to be more specific rules in the Act around advertising specials so as not to mislead customers, such as specials on multi-buy products. "There's a double pack of biscuits ... but it's cheaper to buy each pack individually than the special that's advertised as a twin pack. "Those are really common examples that we see." He said if buyers got home and realised they were overcharged after checking their receipt, they should get both a refund and keep the product for free. "Because no doubt you've probably had to get back in the car and drive back to the supermarket to do the supermarket's job for them. You're helping them correct a process they should be getting right in the first place."
