Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi, Simon Rogers
The failure of the online grocer Supie has renewed calls for structural intervention in the supermarket sector.
Supie was set up two years ago to try and bring more competition into the market, but yesterday went into voluntary administration with debt of about 3-million dollars, after a key investor pulled out. Supie founder Sarah Balle says she is working with administrators on closing the business as efficiently as possible.
Last year, the Commerce Commission published its final report into the grocery sector with one proposal, the structural separation of the wholesale food market and the forced sale of some sites - but in the end that option was not adopted. Instead, the Commission reccomended the establishment of a Grocery Commissioner and a Code of Conduct for the sector.
Matthew Lane is the General Manager of the Night 'n Day chain of convenience stores, who says the only way real competition can happen is if it is forced upon the incumbent duopoly.
