COVID-19 Updates

Posted 17/08/2021

Foodstuffs stores ready for New Zealand Alert Level 4 lockdown

 

Following the announcement from government this evening that New Zealand is to return to Alert Level 4 from midnight 17 August, our supermarkets and integrated supply chain are prepared, and our stores have a good supply of groceries on the shelves. We are again asking customers to shop normal and let’s help each other get through this in a way that’s respectful to all New Zealanders.

 

Our top priority is to ensure the health and safety of our customers and teams during this time.  Our teams are preparing to move alert levels from 11:59 on 17 August and we ask customers to be patient as we roll out and all get used to the various safety precautions required to keep everyone safe.   

 

In the meantime, we encourage everyone nationwide to always scan the COVID tracer app, wear a mask when shopping, nominate one person in the household to shop and ask a friend or neighbour to shop on your behalf if you aren’t feeling well.  As per previous Alert Level 4s, customers at our supermarkets will see some staff protection measures returning to their local store, including perspex protective screens at checkout, floor decals communicating the appropriate 2m physical distancing length, staff wearing masks and to maintain the social distancing measures, we will be limiting the number of customers in store at any one time. 

 

While we wait for the result of the genome testing of the positive case, we are, like government, assuming the positive community case is the Delta variant, which is known to be a more transmissible strain of COVID-19 - and we ask all customers to please comply with store signage and staff direction to maintain physical distancing and strongly encourage customers to wear a mask when they are shopping with us.

 

At Alert Level 4 there is naturally some impact to how our stores will deliver for our customers and we ask our customers to:

• Scan the COVID-19 QR codes – download the NZ COVID-19 Tracer App and scan the QR Code at stores to enable quick contact tracing if needed and turn on Bluetooth tracking.

   

• Please nominate a single family or household member to shop – to comply with physical distancing recommendations, and to ensure there is a steady flow of traffic in and out of stores within our ‘one in, one out’ system, we are asking New Zealanders who shop in person to please shop alone. This is to ensure the number of people in-store at any one time is kept to a minimum – by leaving your loved ones at home you are helping to keep them safe. 

   

• Wear masks when you leave home and while shopping – in line with Government’s direction, please leave home with a mask and we strongly encourage all customers to wear face masks when visiting our stores. 

   

• #shopnormal – we continue to ask customers to not stockpile; this is so everyone has a fair shot at buying their grocery essentials. Please only buy what you need and be fair to others. We have plenty of stock, and to ensure there is plenty of product to go around, product limitations will be put in place on a store or product basis if the individual store determines there is a need.

   

• Utilise contactless payments – we encourage customers to use contactless payments such as payWave as another way of reducing contact between customers and staff. Help us keep you safe.

   

• Shop online (where available) – we have contactless online shopping delivery for customers who are self-isolating, vulnerable or unwell – we ask customers simply to let the team know in the comments section when the order is placed. We also ask customers who are feeling unwell to please not come to the store to collect their Click & Collect order and to instead arrange a friend or family member to pick up your groceries for you.

   

• Respect each other– we are asking New Zealand to again support us as we work hard to continue meeting our goal of ensuring everyone has access to grocery essentials. We ask that all customers please remain patient and considerate of each other and staff during this time.

   

• Lastly, we would like to extend a warm thank you to our teams for, once again, stepping up and putting New Zealand’s needs ahead of their own.

 

We’ve done this before New Zealand – we can do this again. We’re in it together so let’s support each other as we come together in the fight against COVID-19 again.

 

 

Posted 23/06/2021

Foodstuffs North Island responds to greater Wellington region move to Alert Level 2 
  
Following today's announcement, the greater Wellington region will move to Alert Level 2 from 6pm Wednesday 23 June until 11:59 pm on Sunday 27 June. Customers visiting their local New World, PAK’nSAVE or Four Square store in the Wellington region can expect to see increased sanitisation, safety measures and physical distancing when they visit their local store. 

We've all been here before, and our greater Wellington teams are well-prepared to reinstate Alert Level 2 protocols and look after their communities, and we ask that all customers, no matter where they live, to #shopnormal, use the NZ Covid Tracer App, and routinely wash their hands and sanitise. 

New World, PAK'nSAVE and Four Square stores have good stocks of PPE and hand sanitiser, and our teams are familiar with what is required to keep both themselves and our customers safe from COVID-19.  

We would like to reassure customers that, just like before, our supply chain is robust. We are working hard to make sure all the grocery items households might need are on shelf and readily available. Just buy what you need, as you need it.  

Our teams have got your back – #shopnormal, #bekind and #besafe. 

PAK’nSAVE stores in the Wellington region affected by a shift to Alert Level 2 are:

• Lower Hutt
• Kapiti
• Kilbirnie
• Petone
• Porirua
• Masterton
• Upper Hutt

 

Posted 05/03/2021

Alert level changes and civil defence warning update

Following the update from Civil Defence and the announcement by the Prime Minister at 4pm we are pleased to confirm all tsunami warnings have now been cancelled and all stores have reopened.

The Government has confirmed that as of 6.00am Sunday morning Auckland will return to Alert Level 2 and the rest of the country will move to Alert Level 1 – this will be reviewed by cabinet at the end of next week. Customers can expect to see the usual Alert Level 2 protocols in place across our Auckland supermarkets and a return to normal shopping throughout the rest of the country.

For more information on the Alert Levels and what this means for you please visit https://covid19.govt.nz/.

Posted 27/02/2021
Auckland returns to Level 3 Lockdown

Following yesterday’s announcement that Auckland is to return to Alert Level 3, our supermarkets have swung into action and are working hard to provide New Zealand with the essential groceries they require. As in previous lockdowns, our supermarkets will remain open in order to meet the needs of New Zealanders and our supply chain is robust and we are working closely with our suppliers to meet customers’ needs.

But, at Alert Level 3 there is naturally some impact to how our stores will operate, so we would ask our customers to:

• Scan the COVID-19 QR codes – download the NZ COVID-19 Tracer App and scan the QR Code at stores to enable quick contact tracing if needed and turn on Bluetooth tracing.
• In the wider Auckland area please nominate a family member to shop – to comply with physical distancing recommendations, and to ensure there is a steady flow of traffic in and out of stores within our ‘one in, one out’ system, we are asking New Zealanders who shop in person to please shop alone. This is to ensure the number of people in-store at any one time is kept to a minimum – by leaving your loved ones at home you are helping keep them safe.
• Wear masks while shopping – in line with Government’s direction, we encourage all customers to wear face masks when visiting our stores, especially in the wider Auckland area.
• Utilise contactless payments – we encourage customers to use contactless payments such as payWave as another way of reducing contact between customers and staff. Help us keep you safe.
• Shop online (where available) – we have contactless online shopping delivery for customers who are self-isolating, vulnerable or unwell – we ask customers simply to let the team know in the comments section when the order is placed. We also ask customers who are feeling unwell to please not come to the store to collect their Click & Collect order and to instead arrange a friend or family member to pick up your groceries for you.
• #shopnormal – we continue to ask customers to not stockpile; this is so everyone has a fair shot at buying their grocery essentials. Please only buy what you need and be fair to others. We have plenty of stock, and to ensure there is plenty of product to go around, product limitations may be put in place on a store or product basis if the individual store determines there is a need.
• Be kind – we are asking New Zealand to again support us as we work hard to continue meeting our goal of ensuring everyone has access to grocery essentials. We ask that all customers please remain patient and considerate to each other and staff during this time.

Customers will begin to see various staff protection measures in place at their local store including staff wearing masks, perspex protective screens at checkout, and floor decals communicating the appropriate 2m physical distancing length. We ask all customers to please comply with store signage and staff direction to maintain physical distancing.

Lastly, we would like to extend a warm thank you to our teams on the shop floor for once again stepping up and putting New Zealand’s needs ahead of their own.

We’ve got this New Zealand, we’re in it together so let’s support each other as we come together in the fight against COVID-19 again.

 

 

 

Posted 14/08/2020

Foodstuffs responds to Government announcement to keep Auckland at Level 3 and rest of country to remain at Level 2

Following the Government’s announcement for Auckland to remain at Alert Level 3 and the rest of the country to remain at Alert Level 2 until at the very earliest, 11:59pm Wednesday 26 August, Foodstuffs stores around the country are well-prepared to continue to look after Aucklanders, and all New Zealanders, and ensure they have access to the grocery essentials they need.
We have been prepared for this and want to assure customers that our supply chain is strong, with a constant flow of grocery essentials leaving our DCs and heading to stores around the country 24/7.

Please know how this announcement will continue to impact how our stores operate and what customers can expect when they shop with us. There may be some differences in shopping experiences depending on the region.

But before heading to the store, we’re asking all New Zealanders to please look in their pantry first. If it’s well stocked, please only buy what you need when you visit the store. By shopping normally, you’re playing your part in helping New Zealand fight Covid-19 and ensuring there is plenty of stock to go around for others.

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Safety and cleaning measures in store – the safety of our teams and customers remains our top priority. We have already reinstated safety and cleaning measures in all stores nationwide which includes increased sanitisation of high touch areas including checkout belts, EFTPOS terminals, self-checkouts and trolleys.

Keep your distance – nationwide, customers will already be familiar with the need to adhere to physical distancing of 2 metres between other customers and staff, so please keep your distance. In the North Island, we have also closed every second checkout and self-checkout, and have reinstated signage reminding customers to keep their distance.

Managed customer numbers in store – stores nationwide will be limiting the number of customers in store at any one time. This is incredibly important to ensure customers can move freely around the store to get their grocery essentials and maintain a safe distance away from other customers and staff. We thank customers in advance for their patience if there is an external queue at their local store.

Delivering value and fair prices – we are in uncertain times, but one thing New Zealanders can be certain of is our mission to keep shelves stocked and to continue delivering promotions and specials. Just like the previous lockdown, we are endeavoring to keep promotions going and are working hard with our suppliers to continue delivering fair value and great prices for our customers.

One customer, one trolley – in the Auckland region only, we are asking customers to please nominate one person from your household to do the family shop. This means a one customer, one trolley policy. By sticking to this policy, we’re able to allow more customers in store and keep any queues moving.

Stores are trying hard to keep queues short as they know queuing outside in winter can be cold and wet for customers which is less than ideal, so please, shop alone.

Scan the NZ Covid Tracer QR code – we ask all customers, regardless of where they live, to please scan the NZ Covid Tracer app QR code at store entrances and to follow the prompts to register. This is to keep you, other customers and staff safe in the event the Ministry of Health needs to implement contact tracing.

Reusable bags will vary by store – to reduce contact between customers and staff, and to move customers through the checkout process more quickly, we’re asking all Auckland customers to please leave their reusable bags in the car or at home. Please check with your local store if they are still allowing reusable bags in-store, as this may vary across the North Island. But, we ask all North Island customers to please be prepared to pack their groceries directly into their trolley and then into their car. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Wear a mask if you can – in line with the Government’s guidance, Aucklanders are highly encouraged to cover their nose and mouth with a face covering when outside of their home. If you live in Auckland and visit one of our stores, please wear a face mask or cover your mouth and nose with a face covering.

We have millions of masks – we have been preparing for this since the last lockdown and nationwide, we have more than 8 million masks in our supply chain. Our teams are working tirelessly to get these through the system and onto store shelves for customers. If a customer’s store is low or out of mask supply, please rest assured that more stock is on the way – it’s simply making its way through.

Product limitations will vary by store – we have an incredibly robust supply chain and our teams are working tirelessly to ensure a steady flow of product into stores around the country. Product limitations will vary by store regardless of region. Before heading to the supermarket, we ask all customers to take a look in their pantry first – if it is still well stocked, please only buy what you need.

Use contactless payment if you can – we encourage customers nationwide to use contactless payments as another way of reducing contact.

Shop online where available – please shop normally if you shop online with one of our North Island stores. There is currently high demand for online, and we apologise if your first choice of timeslot is not available – please bear with us, the team is working hard to fulfil orders and make more timeslots available. Note: our store teams have reinstated contactless delivery protocols for your safety and theirs.

Stay home and stay safe – please only visit the store if you absolutely need to purchase your grocery essentials. If you are feeling unwell, please stay home.

#shopnormal – please only buy what you need, as you need it. It’s important we all shop normally as this helps keep shelves stocked and ensures all New Zealanders can get the essentials they need.

We have been here before and we will get through this again. Please be patient, considerate and kind and we’ll get through this together.

 

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Posted 11/08/2020

Foodstuffs responds to Government announcement to move Auckland back to Alert Level 3 

 

Following the announcement by the Prime Minister this evening that there is a case of community transmission in South Auckland, and the requirement for the greater Auckland area to re-enter Alert Level 3 from midday tomorrow, Foodstuffs will be reactivating overnight the social distancing and health and safety protocols across our stores and supply chain.  

Customers visiting all stores across the wider Auckland area can expect to see the following Customer and Team safety measures in place:  

·       2 metre social distancing  

·       Restricted customer numbers in-store  

·       One customer, one trolley  

·       No bag packers at check out  

·       No reusable bags to be bought into store  

·       Increased sanitisation, hygiene and cleaning protocols throughout the supermarket including, on entry, at checkout and other high touch areas  

·       Social distancing signage and posters advising of customer requirements  

In recognition of the fact the rest of New Zealand is now in Alert Level 2, customers outside of Auckland can expect to also see increased sanitisation and safety measures when they visit their local supermarket. These measures will be in place, initially from midday Wednesday12 August until midnight Friday 14 August - but this may be extended depending on the advice received from Government over the coming days.  

While we truly hoped it wouldn’t happen, as a business we just had to plan that another outbreak could occur, and the teams have been prepared for some time should we need to reinstate previous Alert Level protocols. Foodstuffs has good stocks of PPE and hand sanitiser, and our teams are familiar with what is required to keep both themselves and our customers safe from COVID-19.  

We would like to reassure customers that, just like before, our supply chain is robust. We are working hard to make sure all the grocery items New Zealand households might need are on the shelf and readily available.  

We ask that shoppers #shopnormal – this is the best way to ensure no pressure is put on the supply chain. Just buy what you need, as you need it. Our teams have got your back New Zealand – help us by being kind to one another, we know how to do this. Keep your distance, sanitise and use good hand washing techniques and most of all remember your safety comes first for us.  

 

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Posted 10/06/2020 

Foodstuffs celebrates stamping out COVID-19 with a return to normal in stores

Foodstuffs is proud to stand with New Zealanders and celebrate the elimination of COVID-19, and a return to shopping normally for our stores, teams and most importantly, our customers.
After 75 days of restrictions to head off the COVID-19 threat and to protect one another, especially our most vulnerable New Zealanders, by staying home and keeping tight bubbles, we are pleased that our stores are back to normal.

Everything customers know and love about their local New World, PAK’nSAVE or Four Square, has returned, with a few exceptions including our enhanced hygiene and cleaning protocols so we can continue to keep our staff and customers safe, and Ministry of Health QR code signage for contact tracing.

“We are thankful to our customers and to all New Zealanders for their hard work and sacrifices that have helped us all to eliminate COVID-19 and get to Level 1,” says Chris Quin, CEO of Foodstuffs North Island. “There is no denying that the last couple of months have been challenging. Our team and our supplier partners battled with pressures on key products like hand sanitiser and toilet paper in February, and then yeast and flour flew off the shelves in March as New Zealanders discovered their inner baker, and throughout lockdown we had to manage stringent physical distancing measures and limit numbers in store, all of which posed unique challenge for store teams.

But thanks to our customers, we navigated this hardship together and have come out on the other side stronger and wiser. Thank you to every New Zealander for the positive role you played throughout this crisis, and thank you to our suppliers for partnering and rolling their sleeves up to assure New Zealanders had what they needed for their families.”

“On behalf of our 39,000-strong team, to New Zealand’s 5 million-strong team, thank you for your patience, understanding and collaboration,” says Steve Anderson, CEO of Foodstuffs South Island. “We’ve looked out for one another, played it safe and remained vigilant, and these efforts enabled us to beat COVID-19 together. Our teams look forward to continue feeding New Zealand and welcoming customers back in store without the restrictions of COVID-19.”

What does Level 1 look like in our stores?
• Our fresh experts in our Bakery, Deli, Butchery and Seafood serve over departments are back to full service and look forward to serving up mouth-watering doughnuts, the freshest catch of the day, finest meats and more to customers.
• Physical distancing is no longer required in-store, which means there are no more customer limits or queues to enter stores. We’ve also opened back up all checkout lanes and self-checkouts.
• We invite you to shop with your friends, family, spouse, whānau or children again, rather than alone. Thanks for bearing with us on this one.
• Our bag packers are back at checkout ready to serve you, and you are most welcome to shop with your reusable bags again.
• Our BYO container and reusable coffee cup offerings have returned.

Customers will continue to see our enhanced cleaning and hygiene protocol in stores, as well as hand sanitising stations, so we can continue to keep our customers and staff safe. The perspex screens are also sticking around for a bit longer. In line with the Government’s request to continue making contact tracing available, some stores will make available QR codes for customers to scan and register upon store entry.

“It’s been a long road from #shopnormal to shopping normally again, but we did it New Zealand,” says Quin. “When you return to stores and settle back into your new normal, our team look forward to serving you and maybe helping you enjoy a celebratory coffee or doughnut.”

“You did a damn good job New Zealand. Thank you.”

 

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Posted 10/06/2020 

Foodstuffs celebrates stamping out COVID-19 with a return to normal in stores

Foodstuffs is proud to stand with New Zealanders and celebrate the elimination of COVID-19, and a return to shopping normally for our stores, teams and most importantly, our customers.
After 75 days of restrictions to head off the COVID-19 threat and to protect one another, especially our most vulnerable New Zealanders, by staying home and keeping tight bubbles, we are pleased that our stores are back to normal.

Everything customers know and love about their local New World, PAK’nSAVE or Four Square, has returned, with a few exceptions including our enhanced hygiene and cleaning protocols so we can continue to keep our staff and customers safe, and Ministry of Health QR code signage for contact tracing.

“We are thankful to our customers and to all New Zealanders for their hard work and sacrifices that have helped us all to eliminate COVID-19 and get to Level 1,” says Chris Quin, CEO of Foodstuffs North Island. “There is no denying that the last couple of months have been challenging. Our team and our supplier partners battled with pressures on key products like hand sanitiser and toilet paper in February, and then yeast and flour flew off the shelves in March as New Zealanders discovered their inner baker, and throughout lockdown we had to manage stringent physical distancing measures and limit numbers in store, all of which posed unique challenge for store teams.

But thanks to our customers, we navigated this hardship together and have come out on the other side stronger and wiser. Thank you to every New Zealander for the positive role you played throughout this crisis, and thank you to our suppliers for partnering and rolling their sleeves up to assure New Zealanders had what they needed for their families.”

“On behalf of our 39,000-strong team, to New Zealand’s 5 million-strong team, thank you for your patience, understanding and collaboration,” says Steve Anderson, CEO of Foodstuffs South Island. “We’ve looked out for one another, played it safe and remained vigilant, and these efforts enabled us to beat COVID-19 together. Our teams look forward to continue feeding New Zealand and welcoming customers back in store without the restrictions of COVID-19.”

What does Level 1 look like in our stores?
• Our fresh experts in our Bakery, Deli, Butchery and Seafood serve over departments are back to full service and look forward to serving up mouth-watering doughnuts, the freshest catch of the day, finest meats and more to customers.
• Physical distancing is no longer required in-store, which means there are no more customer limits or queues to enter stores. We’ve also opened back up all checkout lanes and self-checkouts.
• We invite you to shop with your friends, family, spouse, whānau or children again, rather than alone. Thanks for bearing with us on this one.
• Our bag packers are back at checkout ready to serve you, and you are most welcome to shop with your reusable bags again.
• Our BYO container and reusable coffee cup offerings have returned.

Customers will continue to see our enhanced cleaning and hygiene protocol in stores, as well as hand sanitising stations, so we can continue to keep our customers and staff safe. The perspex screens are also sticking around for a bit longer. In line with the Government’s request to continue making contact tracing available, some stores will make available QR codes for customers to scan and register upon store entry.

“It’s been a long road from #shopnormal to shopping normally again, but we did it New Zealand,” says Quin. “When you return to stores and settle back into your new normal, our team look forward to serving you and maybe helping you enjoy a celebratory coffee or doughnut.”

“You did a damn good job New Zealand. Thank you.”

 

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Posted 12/05/2020

PAK'nSAVE confirms supermarket safety protocols remain at Alert Level 2

The requirement to continue appropriate physical distancing, in particular from strangers, means that at Alert Level 2 customers will experience largely the same safety protocols at the supermarket as they saw during Alert Levels 3 and 4. We will continue to maintain the heightened cleaning protocols, perspex protection screens and physical distancing – and numbers in-store will continue to be managed to ensure both staff and customer safety. 

As New Zealand moves back to Alert Level 2, we remain extremely appreciative of the hard work our emergency services, police and medical teams have put in as the country has fought hard against COVID-19. Priority queuing was originally put in place to facilitate access while store hours were limited during Alert Levels 3 and 4 and as opening hours have now returned to normal it feels like the right time to cease this service.

Our  stores remain 100% committed to ensuring New Zealanders grocery needs are met, and the teams are firmly focused on managing supply, meeting customers’ needs and ensuring a safe and comfortable shopping experience for all.

We will continue to monitor the number of people allowed in stores as we have during previous alert levels to maintain the appropriate physical distancing. Stores are now allowing customers to shop with their families on a store by store basis, but if you can, please continue to shop alone. If you need to shop with your partner or children, please comply with physical distancing measures and stick together when shopping in store. 

We acknowledge some of the physical distancing protocols will be challenging as we head into winter, and we ask customers to bear with us as the teams do their very best to keep queues outside to a minimum while adhering to health and safety requirements.

We ask shoppers to please remain patient and considerate of each other and our staff during this time – #shopnormal #shopsafe #bekind.

 

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Posted 05/05/2020

Foodstuffs’ $1 million donation to support more than 30 charities across New Zealand

Foodstuffs’ brands – New World, PAK’nSAVE, Four Square, Gilmours and Trents – made a commitment in mid-April to donate more than $1 million to help New Zealanders who are facing tough times due to COVID-19.

 Read More

 

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Posted 17/04/2020

PAK’nSAVE sticks to what it knows best during COVID-19

 

At a time when we’re faced with uncertainty, unemployment and a looming recession, brand marketing is more important than ever, but the stakes are much higher. PAK’nSAVE is leaning into its role as an essential service and innovating how it communicates to customers in a way that’s informative, but with the brand’s usual humour.

“New Zealanders want to hear from brands during the current climate, especially grocery brands, as we’re an essential service that is privileged to continue to operate,” says Kamran Kazalbash, Head of Marketing and CX for PAK’nSAVE. “We have a responsibility to look after our staff, customers and the communities in which we operate. Yet we also have a marketing responsibility that we didn’t necessarily have before. Consumers want to know brands are still operating and recognise the unprecedented situation we’re all in right now. They want to hear how we’re leading in this crisis, what their next shop will look like with us and that everything is going to be okay.”

“Our customers want to be reassured we’re sticking to our position of New Zealand’s lowest food prices no matter what – this has not and will not change. The familiarity of Stickman and PAK’nSAVE yellow, but in a language that communicates what’s going on right now because of COVID-19, reminds consumers that one day, things will go back to normality, whatever that might look like and when, but most importantly it gives people hope that this too shall pass.”

Stickman might be late to the party, but he always makes an entrance, as PAK’nSAVE is also making its Instagram debut this week on @instickman

“We researched and leveraged our insights to ensure we were making the right decision launching Stickman on Instagram in the current environment,” says Kazalbash. “Most 25-49-year-olds are reporting the highest levels of ‘feeling scared’ at present, with 18-34s having to adapt their lifestyles the most in the current climate. These groups are looking for an escape and new ways to stay positive. Staying digitally connected with PAK’nSAVE on Instagram will hopefully help alleviate some of the uncertainty they’re feeling now.”

PAK’nSAVE stores have also rolled out nationwide ‘quaran-tunes’ on in-store radio so customers can enjoy physical distancing-related music. DJ Stickman will introduce the songs, so customers know it’s time to listen up. Song samples include:

Here’s something I don’t want to be. Yes, you guessed it, it’s ‘Stuck in the Middle with You’ by Stealers Wheel. Keep two metres apart everyone and enjoy the song.

 

If someone said this next song title to you outside of lockdown, it would really Sting. Haha. You’ll get the joke in a minute. This is ‘Don’t Stand So Close to Me’ by The Police.

 

MC Hammer was ahead of his time. He’s been telling people to keep their distance since the 80s.

The brand has also adjusted its above the line marketing to reflect protective measures in place at stores and communicate how customers can stay safe. In its brand TVC, Stickman is on a mission to remind customers to shop normal and stay safe, in his usual snarky tone and humour. PAK’nSAVE even has a new logo, swapping out its usual tagline of “Our Policy: New Zealand’s Lowest Grocery Prices” to “Our Policy: Keep it Distance-y New Zealand.”

“It’s obviously not business as usual for PAK’nSAVE, or any brand,” says David (DT) Thomason, Chief Strategy Officer of FCB New Zealand, the award-winning creative agency behind PAK’nSAVE. “It’s an uncertain and scary time for everyone, and it’s critical for brands who are leading us through the uncertainty to do it responsibly and authentically. That doesn’t mean it can’t be done with a smile, and in PAK’nSAVE’s case, it’d be wrong not to.”

 

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Posted 14/04/2020

One of the reasons Kiwis love PAK'nSAVE is because we believe in fair – because what's fair for you is good for New Zealand. 

All New Zealanders need access to healthy and affordable food – especially those who are struggling the most. 

This need is even more critical right now as the economic impact of COVID-19 starts to affect so many Kiwis. We don’t underestimate that this is a serious and challenging time for you, which is why the PAK'nSAVE team is proud to be part of Foodstuffs' donation to New Zealanders in need. 
 
Supporting New Zealand
 
On behalf of both Foodstuffs Co-operatives, all New World, PAK'nSAVE and Four Square teams and owner operators across New Zealand, we want to say thank you. 
• We're grateful for the kindness and understanding you are showing as we continue to navigate these challenging times
• We remain committed to playing our part to feed New Zealand
Our locally owned stores and Foodstuffs co-operatives already support many organisations doing great work in our local communities – from food banks to schools, community initiatives and charities 
• Last year our stores donated the equivalent of 8 million meals to New Zealanders through food rescue partnerships alone
• We're proud to continue supporting their incredible work
 
A boost in support for those who need it most
 
To further support our communities, we will be donating more than $1 million to help New Zealanders who are facing tough times due to COVID-19, through a number of our charitable and social partners. 
This additional $1m donation will enable key community partners to support Kiwis in-need even further, and enables them to kickstart innovative initiatives aimed at getting groceries to our most physically and financially vulnerable during this time. 
The organisations will include existing partnerships we have such as local community food banks, food rescue partners, Eat My Lunch, and the Student Volunteer Army. 
 
Thanking you and our amazing staff  
 
Thank you our amazing staff and customers, you have been patient, kind and supportive over the past few weeks. During this time: 
• We have hired more than 1500 employees to meet your needs
• We look forward to continuing to build on our 39,000 strong workforce
• We are giving our waged front-line, distribution and transport employees a 10% allowance on top of their pay for the hours worked throughout the lockdown
 
Working hard to meet your needs  
 
We are incredibly proud of our team who have been working hard to keep stores clean, well-stocked and open over the last six weeks. During that time there have been significant shifts in demand for a variety of food, grocery and household essentials. 
• Our supply chain has been working 24/7 to keep store shelves stocked to meet customers’ changing needs and our stock level in stores is normalising
• Our amazing teams continue to stock shelves throughout the day and night so you have access to the products you want regardless of what time you shop with us

Thanks again for your understanding and kindness as we navigate these challenging times together. 

 

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Posted 09/04/2020

How to shop safe this Easter

The staff at your local PAK'nSAVE want to ensure you can shop for your Easter essentials safely. Here are some things you can do to help our stores:

Check your local store opening hours for Easter weekend
Each store will have different opening hours to meet the needs of their local communities. Please check online to find your local store’s opening hours so you can plan the time of your shop.

Plan what you need before you shop
Getting in and out of the supermarket quickly is important to ensure we all limit contact and stay safe. Make sure you know exactly what you need to buy to make your shop as efficient as possible.

Designate one person to do your shop
To help limit shoppers please send just one person from your ‘bubble’. This means everyone can move freely around the store and maintain a safe distance from fellow shoppers and staff.

Follow physical distancing guidelines
Remember to maintain a two metre physical distance from staff and customers when in store and wait at the designated floor markers when in line to help keep everyone safe.

Be patient and kind
Let’s continue to be patient, kind and considerate towards other shoppers, staff and one another. We know things are taking a little longer, but with your help and kindness we can all get through this together.


From all of us at PAK'nSAVE,
Happy Easter and kia kaha Aotearoa.

 

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Posted 03/04/2020

Foodstuffs trialling virtual check-in solution to improve store customer experience  

Foodstuffs is trialling a virtual ‘check-in’ solution to improve customer comfort and safety when they arrive for their essential supermarket shopping during the Level 4 lockdown. The physical distancing measures we need to maintain inspired the teams to innovate a solution which would simplify store arrival and give customers the flexibility to wait where they please. Customers who virtually check in on their phones will receive a text when it’s their turn to enter. Customers who physically check in with a team member at a desk will have their names put on a list, and their name will be called when it’s their turn to enter.  

The solution is currently being trialled at PAK'nSAVE Royal Oak to overwhelmingly positive customer feedback. Find out more here.

 

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Posted 27/03/2020

PAK'nSAVE are inviting uniformed emergency services and medical personnel to take priority at the checkout and external queues in any store, at any time nationwide starting today.

Effective immediately at all PAK'nSAVE stores around New Zealand, any emergency service or medical professional wearing their uniform or carrying DHB, medical centre or proper identification will be given priority to enter the store, should the store have a line, and to go through the checkout line first.

“We know it might be hard for emergency services and medical personnel to do their shop at a fixed time every day,” says Chris Quin, CEO of Foodstuffs North Island. “Our goal is to provide New Zealand’s much needed essential personnel with the opportunity to do their shop whenever they need to and not have to wait in any line. They are making an incredible commitment to keep us safe as we unite to fight against COVID-19 and we are incredibly grateful for their service.”

The offering applies to all Military, Civil Defence, Police, Fire and Emergency, Ambulance, and medical professionals, including DHB personnel, doctors and nurses.

“As New Zealand works together to eliminate COVID-19, our emergency services and medical teams are going to be critical to help New Zealanders stay safe and well,” says Steve Anderson, CEO of Foodstuffs South Island. “We’re proud to be able to do our bit to make their lives easier when we know they’ll be working long and stressful hours. They deserve priority access all day every day, and our essential working staff look forward to serving them.”

 

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Posted 25/03/2020

As we’re sure you’re aware, New Zealand will enter the Alert Level 4 ‘Eliminate’ phase of the National Pandemic Plan at 11.59pm on 25th March 2020. The team at PAK’nSAVE would like to provide you with an update on some of the changes that we’re introducing to help keep our customers and staff safe and healthy.

The good news is that our PAK’nSAVE stores will remain open as the Government has identified supermarkets as one of the essential services during Alert Level 4.

Here are some changes that you’ll see in your PAK’nSAVE store:

Managed customer numbers in-store

Stores will be limiting the number of shoppers in-store at any one time. This is incredibly important to ensure you can move freely around to get your grocery essentials and maintain a safe physical distance away from others. 

Reduced number of staff on shop floor

Stores may reduce the number of employees working on the shop floor at any one time. This is to maintain the recommended 2 metre physical distance between individuals. Please respect the appropriate physical distance recommendation as per the Ministry of Health’s guidelines. 

And please remember to:

Nominate one person to do your grocery shop  

We’re asking you to please shop alone. This is to ensure we can keep the number of people in-store at any one time to a minimum.

#shopnormal

Please shop like you normally would and remember there is no need to stockpile. Please only buy what you need and be fair to others who may not have the budget or transportation to stock up. There is enough supply in New Zealand – when products are out of stock on the shelves, it only means there are more on the way to keep up with the sudden increase in purchases. 

Be kind

With everything that’s going on in the world it’s important that we continue to be kind and considerate towards other shoppers, staff and one another. Together, we can nail this. 
Remember, we’ll remain open – PAK’nSAVE is a core essential service and we are fully dedicated to supporting New Zealand through this.

 

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Posted 23/03/2020

As you will likely be aware Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today that New Zealand has moved to Alert Level 3 of the National Pandemic Plan in order to flatten the curve of COVID-19. These are extraordinary times and if we are to protect our people, extreme measures do need to be taken.

Please be assured that our PAK’nSAVE stores remain 100% committed to ensuring your grocery needs are met and we are doing everything we can to make this happen.

Supermarkets are one of the essential services, as identified by the government and will remain open and able to meet your needs. Please be aware, the alert Level 3 status will now impact how our stores will operate: 

Reduced store hours

Individual stores will determine their own operating hours and may choose to reduce them to cope with the heightened measures now in place. Individual stores will make this call based on the needs of their community and to ensure customers and staff maintain the recommended physical distance of at least 2.0m apart. Any updates to store hours will be made on this page, please check here to stay across your supermarket's trading hours.

Staff protection measures

You will begin to see various (but not necessarily all) staff protection measures in place at your local store including staff wearing masks, protective screens at checkout and floor decals communicating the appropriate 2.0m physical distancing length. We ask you to please comply with store signage and staff direction to maintain physical distancing. 

Community shopping hours

We’re in communication with elderly support groups and they have told us specific shopping hours aren’t what they are looking for, it is also not aligned with Ministry of Health guidance for the over 70s to stay at home. The most important message here is for you to #shopnormal, so there is product on the shelves for the elderly when friends and relatives are shopping for them. 

Nominate a family member to shop

To comply with physical distancing recommendations and to ensure there is a steady flow of traffic in and out of stores within our ‘one in, one out’ system, we are asking you to please shop alone when coming into your local store. This is to ensure the number of people in-store at any one time is kept to a minimum – by leaving your loved ones at home you are helping keep them safe. 

Contactless payments

We encourage you to use contactless payments as another way of reducing contact between you and staff. Help us keep you safe.

Click & Collect

We also ask customers who are feeling unwell to please not come to the store to collect their Click & Collect order and to instead arrange a friend or family member to pick up your groceries for you. 

#shopnormal

Please don't stockpile. This is so everyone has an opportunity to buy their grocery essentials. Please buy what you need and be fair and kind to others. 

Be kind

We are asking you to please support us as we work hard to continue meeting our goal of ensuring everyone has access to grocery essentials. We ask that everyone please remains patient and considerate to each other and staff during this time.

We’ll continue to be there for you during this hard time. Please be patient, considerate and kind and we’ll get through this together.

 

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Posted 22/03/2020

Our stores remain 100% committed to ensuring New Zealanders have their grocery needs met and we are doing everything we can to make this happen.

Supermarkets are one of the essential services Government has identified and will remain open and able to meet the needs of New Zealanders. Our store staff, suppliers, truck drivers, warehouses, customer service and support personnel are critical to helping New Zealand unite against COVID-19. We are extremely grateful to the fact our teams are continuing to work tirelessly to meet New Zealand’s needs at this time, without their ongoing dedication we simply couldn’t make it happen for you, they are the mainstay of what we do. But please be assured, we will continue serving New Zealand and meeting Kiwi’s everyday grocery needs. We are a business where every store is locally owned, and each store is making the best decisions every day for their community as this situation unfolds.

 But we do want to ask our communities to support us as we work hard to achieve this. Please remain patient and considerate to each other and our staff during this time – our people are placing feeding New Zealand ahead of their own personal needs and we are incredibly grateful for their selfless commitment.

Please #shopnormal and we will do all we can to support you.

Kia kaha New Zealand.

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Posted 19/03/2020

A message from New Zealand's supermarkets

We understand this is a very uncertain time for our country. We’re all concerned about the health and safety of our family, friends and communities.

And we know that access to safe, quality food and groceries is essential to our health and peace of mind.

We want to help alleviate some of the uncertainty many of us are feeling by letting you know that when it comes to food and groceries, we’ve got you covered.

New Zealand grows and makes some of the best food in the world (in our humble opinion), and our distribution centres and store teams are going above and beyond to make sure we’ve got plenty of it available on our shelves. But, we need your help:

Shop like you normally would

Buying more than you need means others go without. Be considerate and avoid stockpiling. By all means pick up a couple of extra things in your shop, but there is no need to stock up for weeks in advance.

Shop in our stores

They are safe. While we’ve always had very thorough cleaning, hygiene and food safety processes in our stores, we’ve increased these measures even further to help keep our team and our communities safe and well.

Look out for each other

In times of uncertainty a little kindness goes a long way. Please be kind to fellow shoppers and to our store, supply chain and call centre teams, who are working around the clock to keep shelves stocked and your needs met. They’re our heroes.

Feeding our communities is our No.1 priority and if we all work together, and take care of each other, we can make sure there’s plenty for everyone.

Thanks New Zealand - with your support, we’ve got this.

 

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Posted 17/03/2020

We’d like to assure our customers that PAK’nSAVE has a strong plan in place around COVID-19 which includes keeping our people and customers safe – our focus is very much on ensuring New Zealanders have the essential products they require and we are working with our suppliers to make this happen every day.

At store and throughout the supply chain, staff are across all health and safety protocols as advised by health authorities to keep themselves and customers safe. This includes cleaning and disinfecting measures which are in place across all stores and are aligned with food safety practices.

We’re working with our stores and cleaning service providers to provide additional sanitising facilities for customers which include wipes for cleaning trolley handles and hand sanitiser dispensing units which will be placed strategically around stores. Many stores already have these units in place and our service provider is actively working with remaining stores to get the facilities in place.

We would like to stress that none of these measures are being used to replace good hand washing techniques and personal care as advised by the Ministry of Health – the health measures outlined by the Ministry are the best way for the public to protect themselves. These measures can be found here. 

We remind customers to please shop as you normally would. Our online shopping services are under increasing demand and we are doing everything we can to meet your grocery needs. Whilst in store you may see some limits on lines of products – this is to ensure that there is enough for everyone.

We’re grateful for your cooperation and will keep you informed if the situation changes. We recognise that these are unsettling times, and we want you to know that the safety of our customers and staff are our priority.

As you can appreciate we are currently receiving unprecedented high volumes of calls and emails from our customers so we ask that you please refrain from contacting us unless it’s urgent – thanks for your patience and understanding.

 

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