Foodstuffs South Island is expanding facial recognition technology to a fourth Christchurch supermarket after a trial recorded 531 confirmed matches with people of interest and no reported false positives.
The company confirmed that New World Stanmore will begin using the technology, joining New World St Martins, Pak’nSave Papanui and Pak’nSave Moorhouse, which participated in a trial that ran from October 2025 through January 2026. The initiative was introduced to help identify and manage people with a history of serious and harmful in-store behaviour.
According to Foodstuffs South Island, the trial produced 531 confirmed matches and recorded no cases of misidentification or false-positive alerts. The company said the technology was used specifically to help staff respond to known individuals associated with previous incidents involving threats, violence or other harmful behaviour.
The results have encouraged the supermarket operator to continue using facial recognition at the original three stores while adding New World Stanmore to the programme. Although Foodstuffs said other stores have expressed interest in the technology, no additional rollouts have been confirmed.
Trial Results Show Fewer Repeat Offenders
Foodstuffs said store teams involved in the trial reported positive results. Staff observed that repeat offenders appeared less likely to return to participating supermarkets, while incidents involving threatening or harmful behaviour declined during the trial period.
Kent Mahon, Head of Retail for Foodstuffs South Island, said the company was encouraged by the findings.
“The focus has always been on reducing harm. The trial showed we can do that while keeping accuracy high and respecting customer privacy,” Mahon said.
The company believes the trial demonstrates that facial recognition can be deployed responsibly while helping improve safety for employees and customers. Retail crime and aggressive behaviour have become growing concerns across New Zealand supermarkets, prompting retailers to explore additional security measures.
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Privacy Safeguards Remain Central
Foodstuffs said every supermarket seeking to use facial recognition technology must first complete privacy, legal and risk assessments before implementation. Customers will also be informed through prominent signage whenever the system is operating.
The supermarket operator stated it will continue monitoring the technology’s performance and maintain an updated list of participating stores through its official facial recognition information page.
The Christchurch expansion comes as major supermarket operators continue to face public attention over both security measures and workplace-related issues. Earlier this year, Pak’nSave faced public criticism after a disabled employee lost her role after nearly 30 years with the company, highlighting the level of scrutiny facing New Zealand’s grocery sector.
For now, New World Stanmore becomes the fourth Christchurch supermarket using facial recognition technology, marking the next stage of Foodstuffs South Island’s efforts to address harmful in-store behaviour while balancing privacy and security considerations.
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