Salmon prices hit $157 per kilo at supermarket as costs to put product on shelves rise

A fish raised in New Zealand waters is soaring in price at supermarkets, with shoppers who want to taste the nutrient-rich delicacy needing to fork out top dollar.

Aquaculture farmers and supermarkets are being asked to explain their prices, after a South Island shopper shared footage of salmon products being sold for $157 per kg.

A shopper in Queenstown shared pictures of 100g Aoraki Cold Smoked Salmon at FreshChoice with an on-shelf sticker of $15.70 ($157 per kg).

Answering questions from the Herald, the supermarket’s executive general manager Tim Cartwright said salmon prices are driven by a number of factors, including supplier cost, freight, labour and supply.

“Unfortunately, the price of this product has increased over the past 18 months due to significant input cost increases.

“We know New Zealanders are facing cost-of-living pressures and our absolute focus is on giving our customers good prices, a range of products, convenience and a fantastic shopping experience. Our FreshChoice stores work with our supplier partners to keep the cost of goods as low as we can.”

The 100g packets of smoked salmon hold two servings.

In 2016, the Aoraki Smokehouse brand was purchased by Mt Cook Alpine Salmon, merging the two producers into one vertically integrated company. The Aoraki brand focuses on smoked products, while the parent company produces fresh salmon aimed at high-end international and domestic markets.

In 2025, Mt Cook Alpine Salmon reported its strongest financial results, with provisional earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation listed at $14.1 million, up from $5.3m the previous year. The company operates five salmon farms in hydro-canals in the Mackenzie and Waitaki districts and exports more than half its production.

Mt Cook Alpine Salmon’s national sales manager Te Tane Trinick told the Herald that New Zealand-farmed salmon is a premium product and its pricing reflects the “real cost” of growing salmon responsibly and processing it here.

“We farm king salmon, which takes up to twice as long to grow as Atlantic salmon and typically requires more intensive husbandry. That makes it more expensive to produce than imported Atlantic salmon, but it is also a different product in terms of provenance, quality and eating experience.

“Over the past 18 months, our product prices have been affected by the same pressures seen across many food categories, as costs across the supply chain have increased.

“We want New Zealanders to be able to enjoy local salmon, and retail pricing and promotional activity can make a real difference to the shelf price.”

This week, FreshChoice Queenstown is listing the cold, smoked Aoraki product, which contains two 50g servings, for $12.99. Regal’s 100g packets of cold, smoked Marlborough King Salmon is on sale for $14.40, a discount of 60c.

At Pak’N Save Queenstown, 100g packets of Pams Sliced Smoked Salmon are currently priced at $11.05. That fish is raised in Norway and processed in Germany.

The December 2025 Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries report by the Ministry for Primary Industries states salmon export revenue rose 28% to $230m in 2024/25, driven by high export prices and volumes. A weakened performance was expected for the 2025/26 market, because summer 2024/25 temperatures reduced salmon available for harvest.