05 May 2026 - How do Supermarkets really work

Kurt Preshaw

Every week Australians walk into supermarkets and choose from thousands of products, yet very few people understand how those products actually make it onto the shelf. Behind every item is a complex system involving farmers, manufacturers, logistics networks and retailers, all working together to deliver food reliably and at scale.

In recent years there has been significant public debate about the role and power of supermarkets in Australia, including Senate inquiries, ACCC investigations and extensive media coverage about pricing and competition. This discussion often focuses on the impact retailers have on suppliers, farmers and consumers.

In this talk Kurt will provide a supplier’s perspective on how the supermarket system actually operates. He will explain how products earn shelf space, why items regularly go “on special” and the role promotions and pricing play in influencing what shoppers buy. He will also discuss the economics behind supermarket shelves, the relationship between retailers and manufacturers and why some products succeed while others disappear.

Kurt Preshaw is currently the CEO and Chairman of Intersnack ANZ, which is Australia and New Zealand’s second largest snack company. The company sells some of the most popular brands of chips, muesli bars and biscuits, generating over a billion dollars in revenue. Intersnack ANZ employs more than 1000 people who manufacture most of its products in Sydney, Auckland, Wellington and Nelson.

Kurt began his career as a truck driver selling potato chips and corn chips to milk bars, pubs and petrol stations on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. He later joined PepsiCo, where he spent many years in senior sales and marketing roles, including leading the company’s food business across Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. Prior to his current role he was also General Manager of the New Zealand snacks business and led the Quaker Foods business in Australia.

Guests are always welcome.