Frequently asked questions

We have been watching how the sustainability landscape has been changing, alongside what is meaningful and relevant to consumers since Simply Milk launched four years ago.

Listening to feedback from New Zealanders, it was evident that offering a 10-cent a bottle donation is more appealing and easier to understand because it’s meaningful to consumers and gives them a chance to make a positive impact through their purchase, compared to ‘net carbon zero’ which had lower appeal and understanding.

Food insecurity is an increasing issue for New Zealanders. We have made this change so Simply Milk can support local communities here in New Zealand. For every bottle of Simply Milk purchased, 10c will be donated to Social Supermarkets. This helps consumers see firsthand how their purchase makes a positive impact in New Zealand.

The new look labels will be in-store from mid-December 2024.

Social Supermarkets are a contemporary take on the traditional food bank approach, providing food support with greater levels of choice and dignity. People experiencing food insecurity choose what they need for themselves in a supermarket-style environment, rather than being given a pre-filled food parcel that might not meet the specific dietary and cultural needs or the personal preferences of the family.

Each of the Social Supermarkets are run as a partnership with a local community organisation, strengthening relationships and helping local communities to thrive.

There are currently 12 Social Supermarkets (soon to be 13) in the North Island of New Zealand. By clicking on the link below you can find out more about your local Social Supermarket and how you can make an impact by donating now;

• Wellington City Mission, Wellington
• Te Hiku, Kaitaia
• BBM, Tokoroa
• Whare Kaie, Whangarei
• Otumoetai, Tauranga
• Manaaki Kai, West Auckland
• Koha Kai, Palmerston North
• Nourished for Nill , Napier
• Pataka Kai Paeroa
• Te Umu, Porirua
• Tatou, South Auckland
• Whare Aio Whakatane

Since launching in March 2021 there have been over 41,000 shoppers through Social Supermarkets, which are set up alongside community partnerships to provide food support with greater levels of choice and dignity.

Social Supermarket partners support families by easing the pressure on food bills while they work through these (hopefully) short term challenges.

Feedback from a Social Supermarket Shopper:

"We are a double income household and just managing to cover our household living costs when our car broke down. The mechanic bill was just over $1,000 and we didn’t know how we were going to work through this situation. I reached out to my local Community support who were able to assist me with budgeting advice, supported me to make a payment plan with the mechanic and referred me to the local Social Supermarket where I was able to get groceries for my family while we diverted the grocery budget to the mechanic until the debt was paid. It was a huge relief at a stressful time, it's an amazing service."

Every quarter, Simply Milk will make a donation to Social Supermarkets based on the number of bottles sold over a 3-month period.

The donation will be allocated to Social Supermarkets based on a percentage of foot traffic – meaning the highest volume stores will get a larger proportion of the donation to help them meet community demand.

Foodstuffs North Island is committed to opening many more Social Supermarkets across the North Island over the next few years. Each Social Supermarket will be run as a partnership with a local community organisation already doing amazing mahi in their community, strengthening relationships and helping local communities to thrive.

Social Supermarkets are predominantly self-funded. Foodstuffs North Island undertake the initial cost of setting up and fitting out the Social Supermarket, including filling the shelves for opening.

Social Supermarkets receive support from Foodstuffs North Island and donation partners, Fonterra, Sanitarium and Wattie’s. Other suppliers do provide stock donations when they can. The community partners rely heavily on donations and fundraising activity to keep the shelves filled, maintain the Social Supermarkets and serve their communities.

The Simply Milk brand is donating 10c from every bottle of Simply Milk purchased to Social Supermarkets. This gives consumers a more tangible connection to how their purchase will make a positive impact in New Zealand communities.