Independent New Zealand grocery retailer Paddock to Pantry has announced an ambitious $25 million expansion plan, with more than 20 new stores and up to 1,000 jobs expected over the next five years.
The Kiwi-owned business has its sights set on becoming New Zealand’s third-largest grocery retailer, offering greater competition and more affordable grocery options in communities where supermarket choice is limited.
The first new store, a 500sqm outlet in Kinloch near Taupō, is scheduled to open in December 2026, followed by locations on the North Island’s East Coast and in South Auckland in early 2027. The company plans to open approximately one store every three months, growing its network from two stores to more than 22 nationwide.
The expansion follows a remarkable 197% increase in sales over the past year, with online shopping currently accounting for around 90% of the business.
Paddock to Pantry business manager John Kennerley says the company already has the infrastructure and supplier relationships needed to compete with New Zealand’s major supermarket chains. “We’re not building a handful of specialty food stores,” he says. “Our ambition is to become New Zealand’s third-largest grocery retailer and provide a genuine alternative to the two dominant supermarket groups.”
The investment will include approximately $10 million in new retail stores, a proposed 5,000sqm distribution centre and an expanded delivery fleet.
To help accelerate growth across the independent grocery sector, Paddock to Pantry is also calling for a government-backed Supermarket Growth Fund, offering low-interest, repayable loans to established retailers.
John believes this could help independent operators expand faster, bringing more jobs, investment and competitive grocery pricing to communities sooner.
“We believe New Zealand’s next major source of supermarket competition can come from the privately owned operators already in the market,” he says. “The opportunity now is to give those locally owned businesses the means to grow much faster.”