Foodstuffs South Island – A Trusted Partnership in Patrol Security Since 2007

August 7, 2025

For over 15 years, Red Badge Group (through the legacy of Sub 5 Security) has proudly supported Foodstuffs South Island with dedicated patrol services across its key operations. With extensive coverage across two major Christchurch sites – the South Island Distribution Centre and the Head Office in Papanui – our patrols play a critical role in safeguarding one of New Zealand’s largest grocery cooperatives. In addition to these major sites, Red Badge also supports a wider network of individually owned stores across the South Island, including Pak’nSave, New World, Four Square, and On the Spot locations — ensuring a consistent standard of security wherever it’s needed.

Glen Forrester, the Loss Prevention Manager for Foodstuffs South Island, oversees security and loss prevention across a vast and complex network of supermarkets, supply chain operations, wholesale sites, and corporate offices.

While Glen has been in the role since 2016, the partnership with Red Badge began nearly a decade earlier, in 2007.

“It was a pretty well-oiled machine when I came on board. The relationship had already been built on a solid foundation and has continued to grow since then.”

Deep Knowledge and Flexibility

One of the biggest strengths of the Red Badge patrols is their familiarity with the business and flexibility in adapting to its needs.

“Red Badge has intimate knowledge of our business and how we operate. Our sites are unique and challenging. We run 24/7 to keep stock flowing and feed our customers, and they understand that,” Glen shares.

He adds that Red Badge is routinely engaged even before new sites officially open:

“When we build new stores in Christchurch, we bring Red Badge in during the construction phase to patrol the site. They just get the flexibility our business requires. They can meet demands at the drop of a hat.”

Responsive, Reliable Support

Glen praises the communication and support from the Red Badge leadership team.

“Both Adam and Rob are extremely responsive to emails and last-minute changes. They’re great to bounce ideas off. When we built the new supermarket next door, they came to site and offered valuable security recommendations. It’s a collaborative partnership.”

He also commends the frontline patrol officers for their initiative:

“Guards are empowered to take immediate action when they encounter anything out of the ordinary, demonstrating their familiarity with the site. Their handling of unauthorised individuals or security incidents has also been really professional.”

Expanded Coverage with Red Badge Group

The integration of Sub 5 Security into Red Badge Group has brought greater capability, streamlined service delivery, and true South Island-wide coverage — a game-changer for Glen’s team.

“One of the drawbacks in the past was that Sub 5 was Christchurch-based. Now, with Red Badge, I can offer our owners and other sites South Island-wide coverage. That’s a massive benefit,” he says.

Even more significantly, Red Badge now provides a full suite of integrated security solutions, including alarm monitoring, which previously sat outside their patrol service.

“We’ve had a couple of meetings since Red Badge acquired Code 9, who handle our monitoring,” Glen explains. “Now, it’s all under one roof — monitoring, response, guarding. It’s a one-stop shop. That’s huge for us in terms of streamlining services and futureproofing.” He adds, “You’re looking ahead, seeing what the needs are, and building a solution around that. Red Badge is now offering the full suite — and that’s exactly what we need.”

A Recommendation Built on Trust

When asked whether he would recommend Red Badge patrols to other large or multi-site businesses, Glen is clear:

“Yes — especially now. With Red Badge, we can provide complete coverage throughout the South Island. That intimate knowledge you’ve built here in Christchurch can now be shared right across the region. It’s a massive benefit to us.”