From Paper and Spreadsheets to Real-Time, Compliant Rostering

About Foodstuffs North Island

Foodstuffs North Island is one of New Zealand’s largest grocery organisations, operating over 160 individually owned and operated stores under well-known brands such as New World, PAK’nSAVE, and Four Square. With thousands of employees across hundreds of locations, they needed a rostering and workforce management solution that would eliminate manual processes, improve staffing efficiency, and enhance employee engagement.

The Challenge

Before Simplifi, Foodstuffs NI relied on Lauranka time clocks, paper-based processes, and the PayGlobal (MYOB) system. These tools only captured time and attendance but not how staff were scheduled throughout the day.

As a result, Foodstuffs NI faced a series of operational challenges:

• Multiple disconnected systems with no central workforce view
• Real-time visibility of staffing allocation
• Inefficiencies in leave management
• Gaps in shift coverage and slow replacement processes
• Time consuming manual roster building
• Heavy reliance on Excel spreadsheets to plan staff placement
• Lengthy processing of timesheets

The Solution

Foodstuffs NI selected Simplifi for its:

• Kiwi-first approach: understanding local business needs and culture
• Focus on the end user: intuitive design for store managers and staff, not just head office
• Flexibility and adaptability: willingness to evolve alongside the business
• Friendly, responsive team: easy to work with and supportive throughout implementation

“They were friendly, easy to work with, willing to adapt and grow with us. They understood Kiwi business and focused on the end user, not just the head office. Since using Simplifi, we’ve reduced overtime, improved rostering efficiency, and in some stores we now fill shifts in minutes instead of hours.”
— Tristram Verrell, Productivity, Efficiency & Workforce Manager, Foodstuffs North Island

The Results

Since rolling out Simplifi across 160+ stores, Foodstuffs NI has seen measurable improvements:

• Reduced overtime across the network, cutting fatigue and controlling labour costs
• Faster shift coverage and in some stores, filling shifts in minutes instead of hours
• Improved staffing balance with instantly identifying over- or under-staffed periods
• Higher staff engagement and a slight increase in retention
• Significant efficiency gains in rostering
• Reduced paper usage and greater environmental sustainability

Biggest Impact

Simplifi’s ability to reduce overtime, ensure correct staff placement, and fill vacant shifts instantly has delivered major operational benefits. Store managers now spend less time chasing replacements and more time focusing on customers and teams.

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