The Warehouse says it's setting up its own financial services operation with the aim of becoming a leader in the NZ field.

The queue to buy Lotto tickets at a separate supermarket counter after the weekend shopping could disappear as Countdown introduces checkout ticket sales.

A government-backed venture investment fund is looking to partner with angel investment groups and the public in crowd funding deals for local start-ups.

After throwing the idea of government-owned supermarkets into the ring, I have been exhorted to visit North Korea (preferably permanently), writes Dita De Boni.

New Zealand fast-food operator BurgerFuel faces a major challenge as it takes "coals to Newcastle" by expanding into the US.

The allegations aired under parliamentary privilege by Shane Jones about the "Countdown Shakedown" are ugly in many ways, but not the obvious.

Farmers has stood proud in Auckland's central city for nearly a century - but the iconic store is about to close its doors for the last time in the CBD.

NZ suppliers are fearful of speaking to the Commerce Commission about anti-competitive behaviour in case they are blacklisted across the Tasman, claims MP Shane Jones.

The Commerce Commission has received several complaints from suppliers about their dealings with Countdown.

Countdown supermarkets' Australian owners no doubt think their treatment of suppliers here came under attack this week.

Whistleblowers who come forward with information about alleged unfair business practices by supermarket giant Countdown can do so under cover of anonymity.

The company that ran Nando's in NZ had defaulted on royalty payments and owed $1.6m to its bank when it went into receivership, according to the first receivers' report.

Countdown owner Progressive Enterprises has confirmed it received up to $2m from a liquor company - but denies it's a payment Labour's Shane Jones was talking about.

Consumers would be the ultimate losers if supermarkets were extracting retrospective payments from their suppliers, Commerce Minister Craig Foss said this afternoon.

Since Key's return, the PM's department has reached out to various New Zealand businesses to ask them for their views, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Dressed in expensive suits and designer frocks, they make a beeline for Britomart bars like Tyler Street Garage and 1885.

The chances of GST being applied to all overseas web-based retail purchases appear more distant after the Govt changed tack on a review into tax of online shopping.

Customers are being tracked by bugging devices fixed to their shopping trolleys and baskets as they shop in an Auckland supermarket.

The Warehouse Group has flagged a drop in interim profit after strong Christmas trading failed to offset a decline in first quarter margins.

Budget retailer the Warehouse is warning its first-half profit will fall by as much as 13 percent after strong Christmas sales failed to compensate for a margin squeeze in the first quarter.

Shares in lightbulb maker Energy Mad surged after it announced it had begun selling its energy-efficient products online in the United States through internet retail giant Amazon.