Selling private-label to Australian and New Zealand supermarkets

Layer 1 is farm assurance — Freshcare (Australian fresh produce), AusGAP, NZ GAP, GlobalG.A.P. where export-relevant, the Australian Pork Industry Quality Assurance Program (APIQ), the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework, the New Zealand Farm Assurance Programme (NZFAP). Layer 2 is the GFSI processor scheme — BRCGS and SQF widely accepted; WQA (Woolworths Quality Assurance) is a GFSI-recognised retailer-specific scheme used heavily across Woolworths' supplier base; HARPS (Harmonised Australian Retailer Produce Scheme) consolidates produce requirements across Australian retailers. Layer 3 is the retailer code: Woolworths Supplier Excellence; Coles' Supplier Quality Requirements; ALDI Australia's supplier manual; IGA/Metcash supplier programme; Foodstuffs and Woolworths NZ standards.

Woolworths Quality Assurance (WQA) is a GFSI-recognised standard owned and operated by Woolworths, applied across the bulk of its own-brand supply. WQA covers food safety, quality, integrity, animal welfare and sustainability with category-specific modules. Above WQA, Woolworths' Supplier Excellence programme structures complaint thresholds, sustainability commitments (Sustainability Plan 2025), animal welfare expectations (cage-free egg commitment, sow-stall-free pork) and packaging requirements (APCO targets). Woolworths technical visits are announced and unannounced and reviews are at least quarterly.

Coles' Supplier Quality Requirements (CSQR) layer above BRCGS/SQF with category-specific testing schedules, declaration-accuracy expectations and complaint-rate ceilings. Coles' 'Together to Zero' sustainability framework and the Coles Brand portfolio drive specific commitments on packaging, carbon and animal welfare. Coles technical visits and complaint dashboards work on a similar cadence to Woolworths.

ALDI Australia applies the ALDI group supplier programme described in the DACH guide, adapted for Australian origin and welfare expectations and integrated with HARPS for produce. IGA/Metcash runs a wholesaler-distributor model with the IGA Quality programme. Costco Australia runs Kirkland Signature requirements. HARPS is the produce-side common denominator across the big retailers — a single HARPS audit covers Woolworths, Coles, ALDI, IGA and Costco for in-scope produce, which materially cuts supplier audit burden.

New Zealand grocery is a duopoly: Foodstuffs (Pak'nSave, New World, Four Square, in North Island/South Island co-ops) and Woolworths NZ (formerly Countdown, rebranded to Woolworths). NZFAP (New Zealand Farm Assurance Programme) is the national livestock farm scheme. Foodstuffs operates own-brand programmes (Pams, Value, Pams Plus) with category-specific supplier standards. Woolworths NZ applies the Woolworths group apparatus adapted for NZ origin and welfare law. NZ origin claims (Made in NZ vs Product of NZ) are nationally distinctive and verifiable on demand.