Food was left "on the ground" to perish at a warehouse after Supie went into liquidation earlier this year, according to an email leaked to 1News.
The email was sent to a supplier, describing "debris and waste" left at a Supie warehouse after the company was forced to cease operations on October 30.
"We are sorry to inform any suppliers who have not already collected chilled or frozen goods, that these items are no longer recoverable and have not been for some time.
"We have discovered, and had to dispose of, various vegetables, perishables, meat products, eggs, milk and other dairy products that had obviously expired and could not have been consumed due to their deteriorated states.
"Once the refrigeration devices were removed, through the liquidation process, many of these items were left on the ground to expire and perish," the email reads.
"We do not have a reconciliation of what items are in the warehouse and at what quantities," the email adds.
The online supermarket was put into voluntary administration in October, citing "cash flow difficulties" after a key investor pulled funding.
The Auckland-based start-up was founded in 2021 by Sarah Balle in a bid to introduce competition to the country's supermarket industry.
The first liquidator's report showed the company and its related companies Workerly and Bevie owed $2.1 million to over 4000 creditors.
Employees shed "plenty of tears" when it closed – and were also reportedly told they wouldn't be getting paid for their last two weeks of work, or have any annual leave paid out.
An anonymous and "substantial" donation later meant the administrators "expect to be able to pay a substantial portion of all outstanding gross wages and salaries for all staff", though other entitlements like holiday pay weren't included.
Former Supie chilled/frozen assistant manager Anthony Bunce has called the handling of the situation both "heartless and gutless".
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