Supermarkets in New Zealand: A Guide For Tourists

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You’re bound to end up at a supermarket at some point during your travels around New Zealand, whether you’re cooking your own meals or just popping in to buy snacks or a bottle of wine. It’s pretty much a duopoly so there isn’t much choice, but I’ll run you through the options and let you know the best supermarkets in New Zealand to shop at.

The Big Three

The big three supermarkets in New Zealand are Pak N Save and New World (Foodstuffs) and Woolworths. Unless they live in a small town (or a suburb with a Freshchoice) locals tend to shop at those three supermarkets.

The Others

Freshchoice (also Foodstuffs), Foursquare and Costco are the other main supermarkets in New Zealand. Freshchoice is a bit more rare but they’re almost full-sized supermarkets. Foursquare stores are usually small and are located in towns not deemed large enough for a proper sized supermarket (with some scattered around the major centres too). Costco is only in a couple of cities at this point but if you’re buying in bulk it’s your best bet (if you can find one).

Asian supermarkets are also a good option. The ones in Dunedin are mostly a mix of Japanese, Korean and Filipino food but there are probably more specialised ones in the bigger centres.

So, Which Supermarkets in New Zealand Are Best For Tourists?

Pak N Save is the easiest answer to this as it’s the cheapest supermarket in New Zealand. The no frills store design and the fact they make you pack your own bags helps keep costs down. Pak N Save is found in major centres but are absent in some midsized towns.

If there’s no Pak N Save then there will likely be a New World or Woolworths. New World tends to have better bakery goods and hot food but prices are generally higher. Woolworths has the most stores of the three and also has online shopping and a service called Milk Run which lets you get food delivered at short notice.

Don’t worry too much if there’s only a Foursquare where you’re staying. They often have a good selection of hot food and some things are similar price to the big supermarkets (while some are way more expensive).

What if There’s No Supermarket?

If you’re in a tiny town the only option might be convenience stores, dairies or other small food selling shops. Consider stocking up on supplies before going too far off the grid if you want to keep costs down.

Loyalty Cards

The big three supermarkets all have loyalty cards. You’ll pay more at Woolworths and New World if you don’t have one while Pak N Save doesn’t seem to have member only specials (another good reason to recommend it to tourists. It’s easy to get loyalty cards so you may as well do it — you can often get fuel discounts too.

Are you travelling to New Zealand in 2025? Was this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

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Jon Algie

I'm a South Island local -- born in Timaru and raised in Dunedin. I left the island in 2006 and returned 10 years later. Having seen a good chunk of the world I realised how special this place is -- the most beautiful island in the world! Seven years (and almost 400 posts) later I'm still helping locals and tourists alike plan their trips around the South Island.