The food sector in 2026: Stable supply, shifting economics
Insight
New Zealand’s food sector has avoided major supply chain disruption so far this year, but rising fuel, freight, insurance and input costs are continuing to squeeze margins and cashflow across manufacturing, wholesale and retail. Joel Gauntlett says these are no longer temporary economic conditions; they are now part of normal trading. He reveals what the more resilient businesses are focusing on to cope with this perpetual volatility.