Foodstuffs combines Gilmours and Trents wholesale businesses despite Commerce Commission blocking merger of parents

Business Journalist·NZ Herald·15 Sep, 2026 09:00 PM4 mins to read‌Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick accused the Government of “sitting on its hands while Foodstuffs attempts to quietly merge”. Photo / NZMEFoodstuffs North Island and Foodstuffs South Island have combined their wholesale divisions, despite a Commerce Commission ruling that the entities’ larger businesses cannot merge. Last month, Foodstuffs NI, which owns wholesaler Gilmours, quietly bought Foodstuffs SI’s Trents Wholesale. This time the competition watchdog is