New Zealand has passed Regulations that require many instore and online grocery retailers to provide the unit price (price per standard unit of measure) for most products sold.
However, for instore retailers the Regulations will only come fully into force in August 2024 and for online retailers in August 2025.
The requirements are similar to Australia’s which were introduced 2009 in that they will only apply to retailers that sell all of a list of grocery product categories, and in the case of physical stores to those with a floor space of 1000 square metres or more. This means that some instore and online grocery retailers will not be required to provide unit pricing. However, any instore retailers that do so voluntarily, and sell all the listed categories but have a floor space below the minimum, must also comply with the requirements.
As in Australia, the standard unit of measure for unit pricing products sold by weight is 100g and if by volume 100mL. However, as also in Australia, some specified products must be unit priced with other units of measure. For example meat, seafood, fruit and vegetables sold by weight must be unit priced per kg and beverages must be unit priced per litre.
The display requirements, that the unit price must be clearly legible, prominent and close to the purchase price, are very similar to Australia’s. However, unlike in Australia there is a minimum print size requirement. The unit price must be displayed in a font size no less than 25% of the font size of the purchase price.
To read the new legislation please click here.