Acting Prime Minister David Seymour is set to unveil new guidelines related to international investors in New Zealand’s supermarket sector. Seymour is hosting a press conference about 3.30pm today in lieu of Christopher Luxon’s normal Monday afternoon post-Cabinet press conference. Luxon is out of the country on leave. A livestream will be available at the top of the article. Seymour is expected to detail new Land Information New Zealand guidelines related to international investors and their involvement in New Zealand’s supermarket sector. The Government had been vocal in its intent to increase supermarket competition throughout this term, in an attempt to address high food prices. However, its progress had been slow. In June, the Commerce Commission’s most recent report on New Zealand’s highly concentrated grocery sector showed no meaningful change to weak competition, despite a slew of regulatory changes in recent years.The market share for the duopoly supermarkets, Woolworths and Foodstuffs (including the North Island and South Island entities), remained 82%. “Margins and profitability have remained largely stable [for Foodstuffs and Woolworths] suggesting that competition pressure is not meaningfully increasing,” the report said.“These patterns are not what we would expect in a market experiencing increasing competition, where sustained downward pressure on margins would be more likely.”Foodstuffs North Island (FSNI) and Woolworths New Zealand experienced small margin decreases over the period while Foodstuffs South Island’s (FSSI) margins rose across fresh and non-fresh categories.“Both FSNI and FSSI continue to sit at the top end of international profitability benchmarks,” the report found.This was despite regulatory changes introduced since a 2022 market study found only muted competition in the sector, and apparently high prices and profits for the duopoly.The changes include:Banning lease exclusivity arrangements and land covenants previously used by the major supermarkets to block competitors from specific retail locations.A grocery supply code to govern dealings between suppliers and the major supermarkets.A mandatory regime to force the major supermarkets to open their wholesale divisions to customers other than their own retail stores (including competitors).Reforms to planning and consenting rules for new supermarket building, including under the fast-track regime.