Foodstuffs is standing by its right to make a healthy profit

A new report from the Commerce Commission suggests its Pak'n Save chain has been gaining market share from Woolworths.

And it claims Foodstuffs' pre-tax earnings and profit percentage is now higher than many overseas chains.

Foodstuffs North Island Chief Executive Chris Quin says it's focused on a different number -- its net profit after tax -- which has averaged 3.6 percent in the past five years.

He says it puts them in the middle to upper end of retailers, but businesses being successful by competing for customers is what they should be doing.