Mr Cunnold said the size and/or location of the store in Napier (at the Austin St entrance to the Onekawa industrial district off Taradale Rd) is not suitable for the large-format type of operation that is "the next step in our evolution".
The company plans to invest in its Wellington and Palmerston North wholesale sites and is looking to close the Napier and New Plymouth stores "with a final decision to be made by the end of June".
Chris Morris, proprietor of Pipi Cafe in Havelock North, reacted by starting the Facebook campaign, and the rally in the wholesaler's carpark was brought forward to 8am because of the presence in town of new Labour Party leader and former union leader Andrew Little.
While Mr Little has other appointments, Mr Morris hoped Napier's Labour MP, Stuart Nash, would attend the rally, which he hoped would attract other business operators who use the Toops service.
Toops has been a prime source of provisions for small businesses and clubs for several decades.
It's a place with its own culture, Mr Morris said.
"I'm there one to two times per week stocking-up on things. There are always heaps of business owners there. It's a great meeting place.
"It's often hard with a hospitality business," he said.
"You have a rush on a certain thing one day and have to quickly stock-up the next day. It's hard to keep huge amounts of everything on hand."
Foodstuffs North Island general manager retail Doug Cochrane confirmed the company is reviewing its cash n' carry wholesale business, and has entered into consultation with 128 Toops and Gilmours staff in Napier and New Plymouth, and Panmure, Henderson and Rotorua.
