44266 (2025). Arena Williams to the Acting Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (Grocery Sector)

44266 (2025). Arena Williams to the Acting Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (Grocery Sector): Does the Minister support requiring supermarkets to automatically compensate consumers when pricing errors occur?

Hon Nicola Willis: Foodstuffs North Island, Foodstuffs South Island and Woolworths (who comprise more than 80% of the market) have begun introducing refund policies that include automatic compensation when pricing errors occur. I am pleased to see these steps being taken. The Commerce Commission also recently released a consumer complaints disclosure standard that requires regulated grocery retailers to disclose their refund policies to the Commission, publish refund policies in-store and online, and to keep records of complaints and refunds issued and disclose this information to the Commission.