Expressions of Interest for retail food vendors, outlet operators and product offerings at One New Zealand Stadium have opened with Venues Ōtautahi further enhancing its support local ethos.
The Christchurch City Council-owned events and venues company, which will operate the stadium when it opens in April 2026, opened the Expression of Interest (EOI) process on Friday as it looks to design the delivery framework for the stadium’s over 20 food outlets.
The EOI period closes on 31 July.
Venues Ōtautahi Chief Executive Caroline Harvie-Teare said it was a great opportunity to support local businesses.
“We are looking for local food and coffee retail providers to partner with us in delivering an exceptional retail experience at One New Zealand Stadium,” she said.
“Supporting local is such an important part of our business strategy and what better place to celebrate the best Waitaha, Canterbury has to offer than at New Zealand’s premier stadium.”
Venues Ōtautahi, which also operates the Christchurch Town Hall, Wolfbrook Arena, Air Force Museum of New Zealand, Apollo Projects Stadium and Hagley Oval, procured 82 percent of its food and beverage from local suppliers in the last financial year.
“By procuring locally, we not only bring the authentic taste of Canterbury to our guests but also contribute to the sustainability and economic growth of the community that supports us,” she said.
“The food on offer at a stadium has a huge role to play in the guest experience so we are seeking partners who can consistently deliver high-quality, locally sourced, sustainable, and scalable food and coffee offerings to enhance the guest experience and reflect the values of our region.”
Set to open in 2026, One New Zealand Stadium is not only a transformational piece of city-shaping infrastructure for Ōtautahi, Christchurch, it will be the premier home of major sport, entertainment and cultural events in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
One New Zealand Stadium is expected to host over 200 events annually, which will include over 20 large-scale events per year, with attendances frequently exceeding 20,000 for sports and over 36,000 for concerts and other marquee entertainment fixtures. Food vendors in the EOI process will generally only be required for large-scale events.
Venues Ōtautahi Executive Chef Daniel Shanks said the organisation has designed a retail food strategy and were now looking for vendors who would help deliver an unrivalled guest experience at the stadium.
"We want the locals to feel a real sense of pride when they are in the Stadium,” he said. “The result has to be a food experience that is thoughtfully crafted, supports our regional producers, efficient, fun and most importantly delicious.”
Food outlets at the stadium, which are under construction, are fitted out to align with the strategy. With all the equipment in place, operators chosen to operate outlets would only need to bring the food, staff and their expertise.
Outlets in the strategy include Waffles, Donuts and Ice-Cream, Grilled Bratwurst, Fish and Chips, Burgers, Fried Chicken, Pizza and Pasta, Barbecue, a Health-focused outlet, Coffee outlets and a Bakery.
Coffee was the only beverage included in the EOI with other agreements already in place. Venues Ōtautahi were open to coffee submissions, including the provision of equipment and locally roasted beans, that cover its full suite of venues.
Harvie-Teare said it was important to find vendors who could deliver on the outlets identified.
“The alignment is critical to assure we deliver a diverse range of quality offerings, so there’s something for everyone,” she said.
Venues Ōtautahi are also taking submissions from mobile food vendors to supplement the regular outlets for large events with crowds over 25,000.
All submissions will be assessed against eight key criteria: Capability and experience in similar venue/event settings; Operational excellence and scalability; Consistency of food quality and safety compliance; Alignment with Venues Ōtautahi’s food concept framework; Environmental and social impact commitments; Local sourcing commitments; Innovation and value-add to the guest experience; Pricing and commercial sustainability.
EOIs close on 31 July. Following a review of the EOIs, a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) process will open.
To submit an EOI or for further information, email karen.stanley@venuesotautahi.co.nz.
