New Zealand Eases Rules to Attract Rivals to Supermarket Duopoly

New Zealand will streamline regulations to encourage new supermarket operators, part of a drive to loosen the nation’s longstanding grocery duopoly and curb food prices, Finance Minister Nicola Willis said on Wednesday in Wellington. Willis noted that Costco sees opportunities to open additional stores under the revised framework, while discount chains Aldi and Lidl have so far declined to take part in the government’s information-gathering process. She acknowledged that challenging the existing market structure could entail costs and operational risks but argued that increased competition would ultimately benefit consumers.