At Wizarno, we love sharing what’s happening in retail around the world — especially when we discover a unique and interesting story. Today, we’re heading to the Antipodes to experience a shopping scene that feels surprisingly familiar — New Zealand 🇳🇿
It is a huge country with a relatively small population, so retail doesn’t come with endless concepts and overlapping formats. In most categories, one or two players are more than enough
There’s a also natural balance between local brands and a few international names, without the noise or duplication you see elsewhere
Let’s Discover It !
Grocery shopping
Grocery shopping in New Zealand is almost entirely driven by supermarkets. Outside a few metro areas, you won’t find many convenience stores or neighborhood formats — people simply visit the one supermarket serving their area, pick up everything they need
Other formats like Kmart or The Warehouse do sell a selection of groceries, but the weekly shop still happens in supermarkets
And there also is 1 Costco, for the moment…
Supermarkets
New Zealand follows the classical full-size supermarket format — strong fresh produce, bakery and deli counters, and a wide range of local and international products. Every supermarket we visited across the country felt pristine and top-class
This market is dominated by a duopoly covering roughly 85% of sales. On one side is the Australian Woolworths (formerly Countdown), and on the other, The New Zealander Foodstuffs, leading with its 55% Market Share, operates 2 banners: New World for a standard supermarket and PAK’nSAVE — a more affordable, no-frills store, and one of the best examples of this format in the world
Woolworths NZ
Woolworths (formerly Countdown) runs around 185 stores nationwide, covering major cities as well as regional hubs
As part of the larger Woolworths Group Australia, it brings Aussie expertise and products to Kiwi land. Inside their stores, you’ll find strong private labels, its innovative marketing, and a wide mix of Australian items alongside local heroes
Following customer surveys, Woolworths NZ usually sits in the middle of the pack — well-rated for variety and convenience, and popular across the country
The chain also operates Metro stores in central Auckland, designed for quick convenience top-ups
➡️ Discover a Woolworths Auckland city store
➡️ Or a remote store in the South Island countryside
New World
New World is the full-service supermarket chain from Foodstuff and is widely seen as the more premium supermarket choice in New Zealand
It places strong emphasis on fresh produce, deli counters, bakery, and overall store presentation — qualities that regularly earn it strong customer satisfaction scores in national retail surveys
Pricing generally sits in the same range as Woolworths, with the main differences coming from weekly specials and loyalty promotions rather than shelf price.
Many stores are independently operated within the Foodstuffs cooperative, and that gives the banner the proud to be locally owned
➡️ Let’s explore a Auckland Store on the North Island
➡️ Let’s Visit the Queenstown Store on the South Island
PAK’nSAVE
It is the no-frills supermarket banner operated by Foodstuffs, with around 58 stores across New Zealand. Proudly NZ owned, it is launched in 1985 to bring everyday groceries at the lowest possible prices
The format is instantly recognizable with its bold yellow branding — same as No Frills in Canada. Stores are stripped back to essentials: basic shelving, wide aisles, concrete floors and simple presentation. Everything is designed to cut operating costs, so customers can benefit at the checkout
Click on images for best experience
PAK’nSAVE consistently leads on value for money in national surveys, often earning top ratings for price
It’s widely considered one of the best examples of a discount grocery format anywhere in the world. And the stores even have their own famous Stickman mascot
Costco
The only real alternative to the supermarket world in New Zealand is Costco. The chain currently operates a single warehouse in the suburbs of Auckland
Inside, you get the classical Costco experience. Shelves are loaded with bulk packs, strong deals and a surprising mix of products.
There are plenty of New Zealand products — fresh meat & fruits, Pic’s peanut butter, L&P soda and even Tatua cream a,o.
Side-by-side, you also find Australian favorites, since the two countries share a similar supply network, plus the global brands that make Costco famous
Great news for Kiwi shoppers — a second Costco is already on the way…
➡️ In the meantime, discover the only store in the country
This covers the most important players in grocery shopping in New Zealand
While you are in these grocery store, try to spot the famous New Zealand Products
Let’s now take a quick look at another key segment:
Department Stores
Department stores are popular across New Zealand because they offer the perfect complement to supermarkets
With no real hypermarket chains in the country, these large-format retailers fill the gap by bringing many categories together under one roof — from clothing and homeware to toys, electronics and seasonal items
Once again, this market is quite limited in terms of players. There are only two, and we’re still looking at a mix of a local and an Australian one
The Warehouse
The Warehouse is New Zealand’s biggest discount department store chain, with around 90 stores nationwide.
It offers a one-stop shopping experience across many categories making it a practical destination for everyday needs
The store environment is industrial, functional and basic, with polished concrete floors, high ceilings, open shelves and strong red signage guiding shoppers through the different departments
You won’t necessarily find the latest trends or design-led products here, but you will find good deals across most categories, with a clear focus on value rather than style.
Many stores sit next to supermarkets, making it a one-stop errand location
➡️ Let’s walk through one of their stores
Kmart
Kmart is still very much alive in New Zealand, with around 27–28 stores nationwide
It is part of a major Australian retail group, Wesfarmers, that also operates Target Australia
Kmart offers a similar one-stop shopping experience to The Warehouse, but with a more elevated experience. Stores are nicer and the collections are more up to date
Pricing is sharper than its local rival — thanks to the economies of scale from its Australian network
➡️ Let’s visit one of their stores
Now that we discovered the places selling the groceries, let’s move on to
The Other Stores
Harvey Norman
It is a major Australian retail chain that has operated in New Zealand since 1997, now with around 45 stores nationwide.
A typical Harvey Norman store is split into two clear zones. One side focuses on electronics, computers, phones, home appliances and everyday tech. The other side is dedicated to furniture, bedding and home interiors — a space with limited direct competition in New Zealand.
It’s the place to visit when you need to buy a laptop, upgrade a TV, replace a fridge, or furnish a home — all under the same roof.
➡️ Let’s take a look inside one of their stores
JB Hi-Fi
IT is also an Australian retailer with around 15 stores across New Zealand
The vibe inside is eclectic — shelves packed, music playing, bright fun signs everywhere, and an atmosphere designed to make browsing part of the experience.
You’ll find electronics, audio, phones, computers, as well as a huge and exciting selection of gaming, vinyl, CDs, movies, and fun gadgets
It’s one of the most entertaining stores to visit in New Zealand or in Australia — a cool place to hang
➡️ Let’s get maximum entertainment and check out their store in Auckland.
Chemist Warehouse
Chemist Warehouse is an Australian discount pharmacy chain and now has 30+ stores across New Zealand
The stores are bright, loud and yellow and they proudly position themselves as New Zealand’s cheapest chemist, and the in-store communication makes it clear — real brands, real savings, warehouse prices
Alongside the prescription counter, you’ll find a huge range of over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, beauty and skincare, and one of the biggest selections of fragrance in the country.
It’s a must-see stop for both locals and travelers
Daiso
Daiso brings Japan’s famous 100-yen store concept to New Zealand — here it becomes a flat $3.50 NZD, or 3 for $10
Inside, the store feels like a compact Japanese mini-market packed with stationery, kitchen tools, homeware, snacks, beauty, and fun everyday gadgets. You’ll find clever products, kawaii brands and plenty of things you didn’t know you needed until you see them.
A must-visit stop while in New Zealand or in Japan
Now explore their Queen Street store in Auckland
Conclusion
As you’ve seen in this guide, shopping in New Zealand may be far away on the map — yet it feels very close to what you may already experience in your local shopping routine
The store names change, and some products are new, but the formats feel familiar from the moment you walk in
Navigating it is also simple. Most categories are led by just one or two major retailers, so you quickly know what you’ll find where.
We hope this guide helps you understand the landscape — and point you in the right direction.
Enjoy, whether you’re exploring virtually or visiting in real life.
Please feel free to suggest the next destination you’d like to explore.
Thank you
The WizArno Team
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