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Local Food Supplies Market 

While there is an increase in the retail supermarkets offering a range of imported goods predominantly from Australia and New Zealand, this is underpinned by local food markets of tropical fruits, vegetables, meat and fish.  

Food Imports 

Australia supplies approximately 38 percent of the total food and beverage market in Fiji and shares a position of preferred supplier along with New Zealand. 

Fiji imports most of its food and beverage requirements. There is a small and relatively concentrated food processing industry with the grocery retail sector being the largest sub-sector, three times the size of the food service industry. 

The retail sector is relatively fragmented with four main players, the largest of which is Shop & Save Supermarket. Close to half of Fiji’s population lives in the greater Suva area thus it is this geographic region that dominates retail sales. Suva is also a hub for the Pacific Islands hosting several regional institutions and multinational corporations that service the Pacific. As a result, there is also a notable expatriate community. 

Australia currently supplies approximately one-third of the fruit and vegetables imported into Fiji. Those that are commonly imported include: 

  • Fruits – apples, oranges, grapes, pears, plums, dates, nectarines, peaches and nashi pears. 

  • Vegetables – carrots, peas, dried legumes, celery, cauliflower, broccoli, beetroot, asparagus, turnips, and parsley. 

Food Suppliers 

Retail 

There is a range of six to eight different supermarket retailers that operate in the major cities and towns. The largest is Shop & Save followed by NEWWORLD who also have a chain of supermarkets. 

4.11 Fiji Additional Service Provision Contact List 

Wholesale 

There are several wholesale food suppliers throughout Fiji who are also exporters. These are predominant suppliers of Indian food products throughout the Asia Pacific Region 

MaxVal-u – General Food 

  • MaxVal-u is a wholesale and retail organization with a chain of supermarkets across Fiji. 

  • Within the Lami-Nausori corridor, MaxVal-u has supermarkets in Lami, Suva CBD, Flagstaff, Valelevu, Nakasi and Nausori. 

  • Outside of Suva, it has supermarkets in Rakiraki, Tavua, Ba, Lautoka, Namaka, Sigatoka and Navua. In Vanua Levu, MaxVal-u has supermarkets in Labasa, Savusavu and Taveuni and there is an outlet in Levuka on the island of Ovalau. 

NEWWORLD IGA Supermarkets 

New World is a family business that started in the small town of Ba in 1933. Later, as the business grew, the Company started a chain of supermarkets, serving the major towns and cities in Viti Levu and Vanua Levu – the two major islands of Fiji. Currently, the group has 17 supermarkets with a total strength of around 1000 employees. 

NEWWORLD also holds and operates the master franchisee of IGA in Fiji. 

Suppliers of other commodities 

Hardware and NFIs 

Suppliers are generally reliable and the government will prioritise national procurement over the import of emergency relief items. Although, even if nearly all non-food humanitarian items (shelters, cooking kits, hygiene kits, etc) may be found in the country, the local suppliers only maintain stocks based on the general needs of the country and are not ready for a surge to support large humanitarian needs. The biggest stocks operators may rely on turn around 1,000 pcs maximum all agencies included. Furthermore, as a real competition will happen, including the local and national actors, it is predictable that the prices will increase significantly during emergencies. The process for replenishment of supplies may be slow. 

Vinod Patel & Company Ltd 

Vinod Patel & Company Ltd is an established company situated in Fiji, dealing in hardware retail. Since opening, the company has grown to become Fiji’s largest chain of hardware stores, with ten branches nationwide. Vinod Patel is a primary exporter of hardware to other Pacific Island countries making it the leading hardware retailer and exporter in the South Pacific region. 

Vinod Patel & Company Ltd. has branches in all major towns and cities in Fiji and has a product range of more than 35,000 items. 

In addition, associated manufacturing companies: Ba Industries Limited and Tubemakers & Roofmart (SP) Limited provide roofing nails, galvanized and wire nails, PVC pipes and fittings, metal roofing and walling materials, farm fencing, chain link fence, barbed wire and a complete range of structural and reinforcing steel. 

Carpenters Hardware Ltd 

Carpenters Hardware Ltd is a major supplier of building and industrial materials. Building materials on offer include general hardware, plumbing, floor and wall tiles and domestic and industrial electrical products. 

The division provides a range of services through the head office and Suva Branch in Walu Bay and a network of branches in Suva City, MHCC, Nausori, Sigatoka, Nadi, Lautoka, Ba, Rakiraki, Levuka, Taveuni, Labasa and Savusavu. 

The division offers a full range of timbers, including pine and native timber. Carpenters Hardware offers a range of steel products in beam sheets and rods including steel cutting and bending, as well as a wire rope cutting and splicing service. 

Carpenters Hardware is one of the largest wholesalers in commercial and industrial electrical products, including air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment, as well as providing backup spare parts and after-sale service. Carpenters Hardware also specializes in offering a full range of domestic electrical and lighting products. 

 

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.  

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider. 

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