Foodservice Market Update | November 2026

Fresh seasonal opportunities, market movements and supply updates as summer approaches.

As we head into the busy summer and Christmas trading period, November brings a mix of seasonal opportunities and market developments across key foodservice categories.

Warmer weather is bringing an exciting range of fresh produce to the market, with asparagus at its peak, New Zealand berries becoming more plentiful and new-season stone fruit beginning to arrive. Meanwhile, competitive meat supply and seasonal seafood options are creating opportunities for summer menus.

However, shifting weather conditions, currency movements and ongoing freight pressures remain important factors to watch as businesses prepare for increased festive demand.

Here's what's happening across the market this November to help you plan ahead, manage food costs and make informed purchasing decisions.

Beef

• Pricing of steak cuts and round cuts has remained stable. There is potentially price pressure ahead, though not spoken about yet.

• The expanding UK tariff-free beef quota on 1 January 2027 could lift or support domestic New Zealand beef prices.

• New Zealand is experiencing a rapidly intensifying El Niño event that was officially declared in July 2026 and is forecast to persist until at least the end of February 2027. This could create cattle supply ‘holes’ to processors.

• Weaker NZD.

• Trimmings for mincing/grinding meats etc. have recently seen a decrease but are now stable at current levels.

• On the supply front, later spring often creates supply lumpiness as processors grapple with stock supply, grass growth and seasonal northern hemisphere ‘Christmas’ chilled order fulfilment. We have managed to secure good volume for this time of year with programmed Silver Fern Farms and Pure South supply but need to be wary of these factors, along with the El Niño now upon us. Processors can’t always control what actually turns up to be processed.

• PR/PB cattle for processing have been slow to build.

• Alternative Prime Beef (PR/PB) cuts have found a solid following as a value alternative to Prime Steer (PS). However, we still need to remember that Prime Beef (PB/PR) doesn’t eat as well as Prime Steer.

  
  

Lamb

• Lamb will be impacted by the El Niño weather event, like beef above.

• Cost of lambs to processors is holding up. We are not yet seeing the expected drop in lamb ‘farmgate’ prices/schedules.

• A good winter and favourable lambing conditions are producing excellent stock for the new season.

• Underlying offshore/global demand for NZ lamb remains strong. Australia has forecast a 2.5% flock decrease this year. This will help support pricing.

• Structural shifts (with farmers increasingly switching land use from sheep over to beef or carbon forestry) have placed a long-term lid on total national flock expansion.

• The total number of lambs processed during the 2026/2027 season is forecast to remain steady at approximately 16.9 million head. This is largely in line with 2025/2026 and after previous years of decline.

  
  

NZ Pork

• Freshpork pork pricing remains steady. At this time, we don’t expect to see price increases as we go into Christmas. Supply is steady, as we have come to expect.

• Increasing feed costs are putting pressure on this industry in NZ at present.

Imported Pork

Ample global supply is supporting a stable near-term outlook.

Global pork supply remains strong, with good export availability from Europe and the US. Chinese import demand continues below historical levels, keeping exporters competitive and creating potential buying opportunities, particularly in Europe.

Global pork prices are expected to remain generally stable in the near term. However, currency movements remain the key risk for New Zealand importers. A weaker NZD against the EUR or USD could increase landed costs even if offshore prices remain unchanged.

What this means for your business: Global supply conditions are favourable, but imported pork pricing may still be affected by exchange rates.

Our recommendation: Continue purchasing to requirements and look for opportunities across competitively priced imported pork. Speak with your account manager about current pricing and availability.

Poultry

As we head into summer, demand across most poultry lines is expected to increase significantly. While additional production volumes have been planned to support this seasonal growth, any long weekends will reduce processing capacity and may create short-term supply pressure on some lines.

To help minimise any potential disruption, we recommend considering suitable frozen alternatives as backup and, where practical, maintaining some contingency stock. As always, we will work closely with customers to help ensure continuity of supply throughout the season.

Good availability and seasonal opportunities for summer menus.

• Fresh fish: Strong supply is creating opportunities to feature fresh fish specials and seasonal seafood dishes.

• Frozen hoki: Good availability makes hoki a versatile option for fish and chips, burgers, tacos and other customer favourites.

• Scallops: Frozen Seafrost roe-on scallop pricing is expected to improve from mid-November, with healthy supply anticipated through summer. Consider scallops for seafood platters, entrées and summer specials.

• Salmon: Looking for value and consistent portioning? Ask your account manager about our new 125g skin-on salmon portions, which can help with portion control and food cost management.

• Frozen Seafrost seafood: Convenient storage, portion control and consistent results make frozen seafood a practical choice during busy service periods.

  
  

Our recommendation: Start planning summer seafood specials and Christmas menus now to make the most of available supply and potential scallop price improvements.

Fresh arrivals, seasonal favourites and plenty to look forward to as summer approaches!

As we head into November, warmer weather is bringing an exciting range of fresh produce to the market. From vibrant heirloom tomatoes and peak-season asparagus to sweet New Zealand berries and the first arrivals of stone fruit, there's plenty to get excited about!

While some staple vegetables continue to experience seasonal supply challenges, improving availability across spring and summer produce is creating great opportunities for fresh, seasonal menus.

Berry Season Is Here!

New Zealand strawberries and blueberries are off to a strong start, with supply continuing to improve as the season progresses. Strawberry prices are also easing, making them a great addition to summer desserts, breakfast dishes and upcoming Christmas functions.

Raspberries are beginning to arrive, with blackberries and boysenberries expected to become more readily available as the season develops. Availability will vary by region, with southern markets expecting more consistent supply later in December.

Spring & Summer Favourites Looking Great

Asparagus at Its Peak

Asparagus is in full swing, with strong availability and attractive pricing. Green asparagus is looking fantastic, with purple and white varieties also available. Perfect for grilling, roasting or adding fresh seasonal flavour to menus.

Heirloom Tomatoes Are Back!

Large and cherry heirloom tomatoes are bringing vibrant colour and flavour to the market. Ideal for fresh summer salads, starters and seasonal sides. For a more cost-effective option, cherry tomato medleys are a great alternative.

Fresh From the Glasshouse

Eggplant, capsicums, courgettes, tomatoes and cucumbers are all looking great as we head towards summer. Eggplant and New Zealand courgettes are particularly good buying, offering excellent quality and versatility.

Fresh Herbs & Leafy Greens

Fresh herbs are in good supply and quality, alongside a great range of leafy greens. Perfect for adding fresh flavour, colour and finishing touches to seasonal dishes.

What's New & Coming Soon?

There's plenty to look forward to as new-season produce begins arriving.

• New Season Pukekohe Carrots – Excellent quality, with prices expected to ease as volumes increase.

• New Season White Potatoes – Fresh arrivals as the market transitions between crops.

• Purple Asparagus, Green Tomatoes & Pomelos – Fresh seasonal additions worth exploring.

• Nectarines – Expected from early November, with initial fruit likely to be smaller and priced at a premium.

• Cherries & Apricots – Expected from mid-November.

• Watermelons – Expected to begin arriving in early November.

• Imported Lemons – Expected from early November as local supply tightens.

  
  

Great Buying Opportunities

There's plenty of excellent quality and value across the fresh produce market this month!

• Asparagus – Strong supply and attractive pricing.

• Eggplant & NZ Courgettes – Excellent quality and great value.

• Cauliflower & Kohlrabi – Looking fantastic.

• NZ Grapefruit – Great buying and refreshing citrus flavour.

• Strawberries – Prices easing as the season progresses.

• Fresh Herbs – Great availability and quality across the range.

• Nashi Pears, Uglifruit & Asian Long Eggplant – Seasonal favourites worth exploring.

  
  

Market Watch: Planning Ahead

As we transition between growing seasons, a few produce lines are experiencing tighter supply.

• Agria Potatoes – Supply remains limited and pricing elevated. Initial new-season arrivals are anticipated from mid-November, with further improvements expected towards the end of the year.

• Brown & Red Onions – Supply and quality remain variable, with new-season onions expected from early December.

• Broccoli – Broccoli supply is expected to remain tight in the short term, with prices increasing within the South Island.

• NZ Lemons – Local supply is tightening, with imported lemons expected to help bridge the gap.

• Apples – Availability may tighten towards the end of November.

• Seasonal Farewells – Ohakune ground crops, NZ pears, swede and gold kiwifruit are finishing or transitioning out of season.

  
  

Make the Most of November!

With asparagus at its peak, berries becoming more plentiful and vibrant summer produce returning, November is bringing plenty of opportunities to refresh menus.

As the festive season approaches, now is the perfect time to explore seasonal favourites and plan ahead for upcoming arrivals.

Get in touch with your Bidfood sales representative to discuss what's fresh, in season and available in your region!

Butter

You can expect to see some lower prices on butter from November.

Tapioca Starch

The tapioca market has been particularly challenging this year, with conditions expected to remain difficult into next year. This will result in higher prices.

Several factors are contributing to the increased pricing, including the Thailand–Cambodia conflict, currency movements, strong demand from China — including significant volumes of tapioca chips being purchased — and reduced crop yields.

Sugar

Raw sugar futures settled higher on Tuesday, with March ’27 futures up 1.25%. Buying interest remained driven by persistent rain in Brazil, which constrained cane harvesting and tightened near-term supply availability.

Market participants also cited speculative fund buying and ongoing concerns over a global deficit as key factors supporting price strength. The session appeared to consolidate recent gains after touching a 19-month high last week.

While wet weather limited Brazilian output, some traders noted these rains may improve next season’s crop potential, tempering longer-term bullish sentiment.

Global Shipping & Supply Chain

Planning ahead helps protect availability and manage costs.

International shipping costs remain elevated, with further freight increases announced on some routes into New Zealand. Vessel schedule changes and delays can also affect when imported products arrive, adding pressure to supply chains.

What this means for your business:

• Potential cost pressure: Higher freight and fuel costs may flow through to the landed cost of imported ingredients and food products over time.

• Stock availability: Shipping delays can affect replenishment timing, particularly for imported products with longer lead times.

• Summer planning: With the Christmas rush approaching, leaving orders until the last minute can limit flexibility if products are delayed or demand exceeds expectations.

Our recommendation: Review stock levels and upcoming requirements for key menu ingredients, high-volume products and seasonal lines early. Forward planning gives us the best opportunity to manage supply risks and minimise disruption to your kitchen.

Looking Ahead

With summer and the Christmas rush approaching, now is the time to review your menu, stock requirements and purchasing plans.

• Plan early for seasonal demand and key product lines.

• Explore value opportunities across seafood and imported meat.

• Stay informed about freight, currency and supply developments that may affect costs and availability.

  
  

Your Bidfood account managers can help you identify suitable products, check current availability and plan ahead for the busy summer period.

Talk to your Bidfood representative about current pricing, seasonal opportunities and product availability, or explore the latest range on MyBidfood.