NZFGC has announced a partnership with NextGen Group to help us deliver a suite of options to members so they know what the Grocery Supply Code allows and what it prohibits.
NZFGC Chief Executive Raewyn Bleakley says NextGen have almost a decade of experience working with the Australian Food and Grocery Council and their members, where they have provided training to more than 4000 industry executives, ensuring they understood the Australian Grocery Code.
She says testimonials from those suppliers supported NZFGC’s decision to partner with them.
Matthews Law will support the partnership with legal advice required throughout the consultation on the draft Code and its implementation.
Where we are at
The grocery industry is getting ever closer to the launch of the Grocery Supply Code. The bill that enables the Code, the Grocery Industry Competition Bill, is moving through the parliamentary process and is expected to become law before the general election on October 14. NZFGC has been a strong advocate for the Code on behalf of members as something that will benefit the wider industry and consumers.
What we are doing to get ready
NZFGC is in regular contact with the Minister’s office, MBIE, and Commerce Commission officials as the bill progresses. We have also looked at how codes operate in other jurisdictions and talked to our international colleagues about their experiences. Our priority is to develop a support package to inform and upskill members, and the wider industry, so they’re equipped to operate in the new regulated environment. One of the critical success factors in the effective implementation of a Code has been identified as supplier awareness, understanding and preparedness.
What will be available to NZFGC members
NextGen
The partnership with NextGen will help us deliver a suite of options to help members know what the Code allows and what it prohibits, and the avenues available to raise concerns.
NextGen have almost a decade of experience working with the Australian Food and Grocery Council and their members, where they have provided training to more than 4000 industry executives in Australia, ensuring they understood the Australian Grocery Code and how to use it. Testimonials from suppliers in Australia have supported our decision to partner with them.
Matthews Law
As our key adviser on competition matters over the past decade, Matthews Law will support the partnership with NextGen by appearing in training videos and providing legal advice to us as required throughout the consultation on the draft Code and its implementation.
Workshops, digital learning
This partnership will enable NZFGC to offer members a mix of open and in-house workshops (virtual or in-person delivery) and self-paced digital learning (eLearning). NextGen promotes “task based” learning, meaning lots of active participation, case studies, debate, and questions.
We will also be offering a series of webinars to provide members with advice on how to prepare for what we expect the Code to bring.