NZ Grocery Stores

The major chain grocery stores in New Zealand:

Countdown
Woolworths 

New World
Pak n Save

I have them grouped as I do because they are all owned by 2 companies. Countdown and Woolworth's are owned by Progressive and Pak n Save and New World is owned by Foodstuffs. A duopoly.  You can read some about the grocery wars in this article. 

Food prices in NZ are outrageous. Part of the reason is that a Goods and Service Tax (GST) of 15% is added to everything---yes, even fresh produce. But a lack of competition is also a contributing factor.

In my own personal opinion, Pak n Save is the cheapest grocery store. It is set up like a warehouse and you bag your own groceries (they charge for bags as well so use your eco-bags).  They also have "Mad Days" which is basically a big sale.  I love Mad Days! But they give you very little warning, just a few ads the night before and radio spots the day of the sale.  I hit them by luck mostly.  Pak n Save also has the best bakery of the grocery stores.

New World, on the other hand, is the most expensive supermarket in NZ. I can't comment too much as I choose not to shop here as the prices are noticeably more.  I guess you shop here if you are a snob and want your grocery bags to say "New World"???  I have no idea.


Countdown and Woolworth's are so similar that I, frankly, can't tell them apart. I think they are rebranding so they will all be the same name eventually.  This is the middle of the road grocery. I shop here and watch their sales and it is reasonable.  I shop at the one closest to my house but mainly because it is NOT in an indoor shopping mall like the Pak n Save.  Finding a front parking spot so I can just run in is worth a bit more sometimes.

One of the incentives for shopping at the grocery store chains are gas coupons.  Spend $40 in one go and you will always get a 4 cent off per litre of fuel coupon.  Sometimes, it is spend $80 and get 10 cents off per litre. And about once a month, spend $200 and get 20 cents off a litre.  I ALWAYS take advantage of these promotions!!!  With 20 cents off per litre, I save about $10 off of a fill up with fuel. Woo!


But unlike Americans, Kiwis generally do their shopping at the butcher, the baker and the candle stick maker.  Grocery stores are for convenience. And you pay for convenience.

I find the most economical way to shop in NZ is to find the local veggie stand or farmer's market. They are set up all over town and are better priced than the chain grocery stores. Of course, you can 't be lazy--you have to stop at multiple places to get the best deals. Broccoli for $1 at one place and spinach at another. They keep big signs out front telling you their specials so I just pop in when I see a good price.  I don't spend one day shopping for food but am always on the lookout for a deal as I drive around on any given day.

There are also butchers in every area and their meat is usually better and more attractively priced. There is even a discount butchery chain called Mad Butcher.  The one near my house has added a vegetable area called Harvest Market. Quite convenient.

Also, the best place to buy milk is a Dairy, which is a small convenience store, like a gas station without gas.  This one had me baffled because in the US, you pay a much higher price for convenience store shopping. But here, you should buy your milk from a dairy.  And you can get candy, sodas, ice cream, cigarettes etc. from the dairy as well.

We also have a variety of bakers. Some are exquisite, some are factory food.