This Pak N Save is nice and new and modern, well on the outside its modern, but in the inside its…read morejust this big massive warehouse, with big wide aisles. Its stuffed from floor to ceiling mainly full of packaged stuff, every time I come here it just reminds me of how much packaged food we eat these days, from cereal to snacks to noodles to canned food - a whole big aisle full of canned food, chips, biscuits, bread. I wonder what our Great Grandparents would think about all the packaged food we eat these days, I'm sure they would think we were crazy, just look at your trolley next time you go to the supermarket at your trolley full of packaged food. Anyway the location of this supermarket is pretty convenient as its accessible to a number of suburbs and has easy motorway access, I mainly come during the week when its nice and quiet thank god, as I'm sure in the weekend it gets pretty busy. I also often grab a coffee from the expresso coffee stand, I do wish that they had coffee cup holders in the trolleys. I do think also from shopping at New World and Countdown that Pak n Save is the cheapest and its good if you don't mind the packing at the end. They also have a convenient fuel station next to the supermarket and you can use the discount voucher provided on your receipt. I still think the petrol should be cheaper though considering its self service.

Nice big store, good layout and easy to find what you need, loads of parking, easy to get in and…read moreout off car park,

Recently refurbished Countdown in Browns Bay. There is now a pharmacy inside which is very handy to…read moreget your prescription filled while you shop (which I am guilty of not using). The shelves are always tidy, the produce fresh and the staff here are always friendly - especially with my 13 month old son! I joke that it's his favorite place to go to see the checkout ladies :)

This is the supermarket I come to when I need something specific. Too many times I've tried my…read morelocal first then ended up having to come here anyway, nothing more frustrating than going to two supermarkets in one day! Far bigger range of products. Today I even swiped my own groceries, felt like a checkout operator (not so good) but at least my groceries were packed properly!

Yes, Farro is expensive but their array of artisanal products is second to none (ok, so perhaps…read moretheir on par with Sabato). I particularly love their charcuterie and cheese sections complete with tastings and fabulous staff to help you nudge you in the right direction. They also have a wonderful range of cookbooks - our latest purchase was Ottolenghi's vegetable cookbook, 'Plenty' - as well as cooking and baking utensils. Don't miss their fabulous chocolate selection (new Wellington producer, The Wellington Company's salted caramel chocolate is out of this world) and of course the, Harney & Sons teas.

Before you shop here, take 5 minutes to go online and register for their "Friends of Farro" loyalty…read moreprogram. You'll need to register an email address and also the bank card you use regularly (or will use to shop here - unfortunately you can't collect points on cash transactions). If you spend $400 in one calendar month (which is easy enough to do if this is youre regular grocery stop) you will receive a $10 voucher to use. They also give you 50pts for signing up, and 100 bonus pts if you fill in your profile details (name, contact phone number etc.). Any way - enough about the freebies - more about the store. This is one of 3 Farro's I regularly visit. Farro is fantastic for fresh, organic and usually local produce - they have a wide range of fish and meat - with many free range options, and also a huge selection of specialty products that can be hard to find in regular supermarkets. The seasonal produce is usually well priced and can be on par with market place rates. People with food intolerance's will love the ease you can find products - the staff are all very knowledgeable and helpful, and will quickly find anything you can't see on the shelves. They had alot of imported products, but will usually have a local alternative offered as well for the food mile conscious. Farro is a beautiful place that any foodie or kitchen lover will enjoy - I regularly visit just to peruse the shelves of interesting new items to add to my pantry. My latest picks have been some local vanilla bean paste (a stronger flavour than the usual vanilla essence or pods), some kelp noodles (seaweed/raw vege noodles) and spelt flour (I had to buy a rather oversized bag for $14, so will be looking for more recipes to use it up as the dish I bought it for only used 1 tablespoon #facepalm).

I generally head to Tai Ping Trading Company after an evening at neighbouring yoga studio The Loft…read more Tai Ping is open late, and its shining lights tend to entice me as I'm walking back to my car. The main reason I go to Tai Ping is to choose from the array of tofu they have for sale. There is a huge range of fresh tofu in water, pre-packaged chunks (either marinated or plain) and other different presentations of this delicious soy staple. I also head to the noodle fridge to pick up fresh noodles, which you can grab in various different styles for just a couple of bucks. It's astounding how cheap the fresh stuff is here and I'm really happy when I see the total ring up on the register. Tai Ping is also great for stocking your pantry and fridge with Asian staples - I like to grab sauces (soy, oyster, mushroom), oils (chili, sesame) and other items such as mirin and sushi seasoning. It often takes me quite a while to get through these, particularly given that Tai Ping sells everything in such big bottles for so cheap!

Once you have this local Asian supermarket on your radar you will never run out of sweet chili or…read morefish sauce again! First world problems man. They have everything here, from basics like bread and fruit to exotic produce like the duck carcasses hanging in the window. As I'm in the midst of my Asian cooking phase at the moment, I'm often rushing down here mid recipe and often with the stove left on. It can be difficult to find things here because most things are packaged with the Asian consumer in mind and as I cannot read or speak the language I am a little lost most of the time but the employees are more than happy to help you out and send you in the right direction.

Shop itself 5 stars. Great Countdown/Woolworths. Spacious, well-stocked and good selection, plenty…read moreof parking underground. Customer Service 2 stars. Don't know about the rest of the staff, but blonde girl at self-checkout during my trip certainly decided to treat us differently from all the customers. Not many minorities around here, don't know if that might be a reason.

Large aisles and few customers are the positives I experienced here…read more Staff were very helpful. Underground parking, with ramp for your trolley so one doesn't get wet. Open till 10pm, for those last minute, late night needs.

I'm a card-holding New World-aholic. Stepping inside other supermarkets makes me shudder. Kumeu New…read moreWorld has only made my addiction worse. This place is beautifully set out, with aisles comfortably big enough to accommodate 2 trolleys, and plenty of checkouts always open ready to help you. The butcher stocks the biggest scotch fillet steaks I've ever seen, along with rib roasts & T-bone steaks. They also make their own sausages. With a kick-ass deli, fresh fish counter & a great range of locally grown produce, you almost feel like you're shopping at a gourmet supermarket.

How could I give a supermarket five stars?!…read more To start with, when I first walked in, I thought I'd got the wrong place. There are these stunning bright red chandeliers set over a large dining table just to the side of the main entrance. Then I realised this was just a rather different supermarket shopping experience. I initially popped in just because I was in the area and in a hurry - I have closer regular supermarket. But whenever I'm around Half Moon Bay or feel like a change in the drudgery of grocery shopping, I always head in here. It's not a big barn of a place, and is actually quite small as far as supermarkets go, but it's packed with everything you'd expect from even the giant-sized competitors. I can't say how nice the shopping experience is - it's quiet enough to actually think, and the sometimes the staff greet you as you walk the aisles..! And a bonus; the sign on the door says it's locally owned and operated.

On a whim, I decided to check out as many Korean supermarkets that I could find in Glenfield. I…read morestopped after I found Wang Foodmarket, a little bit b/c I was tired but mostly b/c this place ticks all the boxes. I cannot be sure but the quality of the premises looks very new and shiny. It has the layout of regular supermarket like a Countdown or New World, except all the shelves are lined with products from the homeland and K-POP is playing in the background. The aisles are wide and uncluttered so it is easy to navigate your trolley through the store. Their general selection, butcher and frozen sections deserve special mention. Also, of all the stores I went to today, Wang Foodmarket has the lowest prices. The quality of their veggies and side dish selection was a bit average but they are doing so many other things right I can overlook it and still give 5 stars. Most ethnic supermarkets are notorious for being stuffed to the brim a bit haphazardly to a point of making them intimidating. Wang Foodmarket really overcomes that to make it your adventure shopping enjoyable again.

You know how there are key economic, financial, social, and environmental developmental indicators…read morethat demonstrate the stage of a country? Well surely the presence of kale chips and kombucha is the indicator that a nation has surpassed first world wealth status and is now so wealthy that they can focus on making cheap ingredients delicious and trendy. I love kale chips, kombucha and those crazy activated nuts and pleasingly Waiheke Fruit and Veg stocks them all, along with a great selection of fresh fruit and veggies, deli items, gourmet cheese and jars of locally made chutneys and preserves. This is a lovely store to stock on on produce for a picnic or packaged goodies to take home for gifts. It's a little on the pricey side but hey, you can afford it right?

If you can get over the prices, Waiheke Fruit and Vege is a charming, old-fashioned shopping…read moreexperience, except with very modern fruit, vege, and specialty ingredients. It's a sort of corner shop with two entrances, with distinctive chain-link, fly-screen curtains at the doors (but it's not as scary as it sounds!). The fruit and vege here are as good as you'd find at any market, and they specialise in organic produce too. There's a huge selection alongside other bits and pieces like nuts, herbs and spices, and dairy products. They also sell some delicious artisan bread, including gluten free, although like the fruit and vege, it's rather on the pricey side, so I wouldn't recommend doing your whole shop here unless someone else is paying.

Milford has it's very own organic grocer!! SO fancy!…read more Although, it's much to expensive to be my regular grocer, I am stoked that it's here. You know, just in case I have sudden urge to whip up some quinoa or make a chia seed & cacao smoothie. The shelves still look a bit bare but what they do have is Little Island's new chocolate coconut milk. Delicious, but dangerous. I'm warning you, 1L doesn't last long! They also have friendly, fresh-faced staff who welcome you on arrival and a loyalty system that goes someway towards mitigating the price. Well done, Huckleberry, well done!

It's nice place to grab all organic groceries with a delightful stroll along the east coast road…read more Once in a while, you can spot heavy deals on fresh salads, the day before they are restocking!