What are the NZ supermarkets like compared say to Tesco and Asda. Are the layouts the same? Do they sell the same types of things? Do they sell clothing and medicines? Are they cheap and force competition in other retail areas such as clothng and CD's? Are they better or worse than Australia and rest of world?

Just interested really.

You make me laugh RanbySue.. I don't know whether you are a real or not... but anyway, the supermarkets in NZ are totally different to the ones you get here. The NZ Supermarkets do not sell clothes/music/electrical blah di blah.. just food and that's it.

Why?

PMSL.

Why what?

Don't ask me why NZ supermarkets don't sell the stuff UK supermarkets do!! what am I to know? NZ is just years behind in some ways ! ha!! (but don't tell the kiwi's cos they will wholeheartedly disagree)

I think it was more a reference to why she makes you laugh.

There are some strange Q's cropping up - as if the lack of supermarkets selling DVDs and Kettles is going to change someones mind about whether to emigrate or not!




By the way, do garages sell sandwiches as well as petrol?
Do they have shoes in NZ cos someone told me no one wears them.
What about electricity - does it flow the same way or backwards?
Does everyone HAVE to play rugby?
Can you get sky?
Do they have politics?
What about beer?
Bananas straight or curved?

apologies, late, must sleep, packers coming.......



can you see the other side of the moon in NZ?

Thank you Biddy for pointing this out to me.. I was wondering why I was asked "why?" like that, but now I know.

I think I may be able to answer some of your questions!! wahoo!! (don't get excited now will you.. will just give you the general gist).

1. Petrol stations DO sell sandwiches and they also sell PIES!! steak and Cheese is the main one, but others are available. Sometimes you cal get an American Hotdog (please god don;t ever buy a kiwi one).

2. Yes, The Shoe is available but only if really badly needed!! otherwise you will be thrown out of the kiwi shop in disgust!!

3. Yes,.. everyone has to play rugby.. even grannies and grandands have to do it.. compulsary.

4. Yes you can get sky.. very expensive though! and not really worth it.. you will be too busy looking at your view to bother with the TV.

5. Politics? eeeerm not much and not worth listening to (when is politics worth listening to?)

6. Beer is available but again, it's quite expensive if you buy from the liquor stores or supermarkets... I think it's best to brew your own!

7. Bananas are curved.. but not as curved as the UK variety.

Hope this helps.
Debsx

No idea personally Sue but this is a link I've found about supermarket shopping in NZ - might be worth a gander - I love the description of Pak 'n' Save otherwise being known as Push 'n' Shove coz it's so much busier than the more expensive shops... http://www.emigratenz.org/Supermarket.html

Or you could also try here :- http://www.immigration.govt.nz/nzopportunities/lifestyle/costofliving/

The simple answer is NZ supermarkets are simmilar to the UK, but definately not the same. Supermarkets here sell food, with only the occasional non food items being sold. Pak n Save is like Netto/Aldi, that kind of cheaper food store, however there is none of the cheaper brands, such as baked beans for 7p etc. Woolworths is the most expensive and is like Waitrose, where as Countdown and New world are simmilar to Adsa/Tescos.

All the Supermarkets put out weekly fliers with their best buys on them, so if you make a list and shop around you can save a few dollars.

Food tastes different too, such as ketchup, beans, mayonnaise and bacon.

There is very little in the way of frozen food sold here. I have yet to find a "freezer" shop such as Iceland in NZ.

Hope this helps
Gill

Agree with Gill and Rob. I really miss Asda and Tesco. Only 'cause I used to love a browse through the clothes section Food shope here are the same but different. I don;t think there is the same choice that you get at larger supermarkets at home, but there is everything you need. Your shopping gets packed for you as well - unless your at Pak n' Save. The BEST supermarket I have been to here has been a Pak N' Save in Wellington - it was HUGE and everything you could think of, much like a supermarket at home.

NZ supermarkets are pants imo. However, the USA now they know how to do a supermarket........ I shop in Sainsburys here and Woolworths were the closest but still no way near them for choice etc. NZ supermarkets have less choice but less people so they dont see a market for loads of choice/competition. Pak and Save are ok.... but its one of the shops that I would run round as our local one felt quite mingy haha

It appears from some of the replies that I have upset people on this thread regarding the types of products on sale in NZ supermarkets. I am very sorry about this, but was only trying to research the subject in comparison to UK supermarkets in case we do move to New Zealand. It's a big decision to just up and leave all that you know without finding as much out about the Country first.

Probably not ask anything on this subject again. Sorry if I have offended anyone, in particular Debs70, with this question, it was not intended to offend.

Suzanne

Don't worry about it Suzanne, I don't think anyone has been deeply offended - just differing opinions that's all...and Debs is very hard to offend in IMHO! You do right to do as much research as you can and to ask as many questions as you like in order to help you reach a life changing decision...

Was it Pak N Save, Petone?? That was my local, although I usually bought meat at Countdown in Lower Hutt as it was better quality. I honestly have to say that there is nothing foodwise in the UK supermarkets that I could not find in NZ, well unless it is bob the builder yogurts (although I do remember telly tubbie yougurts so maybe we have Bob the builder one's now too).
I find the Uk supermarkets full of Bob the builder yougurts, pasta and other assorted rubbish but to find useful things like green curry paste is a complete challenge. Usually because they would rather sell you a nice pre packaged green curry that you can shove in the microwave and eat in front of the telly.

At the end of the day shops are shops and you will always find what you need to survive. Usually people are very adaptable and if you are not best stay in your nice safe little village and never move.
KAZ

Just to give you an idea, these are some photos of the inside of a Pak 'n' Save which were taken within the last few weeks by a friend who was over visiting....







and another member of this forum (who shall remain nameless at the moment as she is going undercover in case she gets arrested!! ) has kindly agreed to try and take some photos of the insides of some of the other supermarkets so that we can all get a peek...

I think there are also some photos of the inside of the Bunnings DIY store that Sky posted on here a while ago..looks just like B & Q!!!