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The Spinoff
a day ago
- Business
- The Spinoff
A handy guide to shopping at the Indian supermarket
With prices continuing to rise at the big supermarkets, Perzen Patel offers some tips for Indian grocery shopping. The other day, I mentioned to some friends that I haven't stepped foot in a big supermarket in almost a year. I only do one click and collect Pak'nSave order a month. For the rest, there's my weekend ritual. Every Saturday, after the kids finish their sport, we swing by our local butcher – Pakistani, Indian or Asian – for meat. And once that's done, we head to our local Indian grocery store. We don't go there for the frozen naan or the Frooti (mostly). Nor do I go for 'Indiany' vegetables – though a bottle of chutney or achaar often sneaks into the trolley. No, I head to the Indian shop for basics. Milk. Eggs. Yoghurt. Rice. Most of my friends think of the Indian shop in the context of stocking up for curry night. And many I know avoid it altogether because yes, it can be overwhelming. The shelves are jammed, the aisles narrow and most of the packaging is unfamiliar. The bright white tube lighting is my pet peeve though I do enjoy the loud Bollywood hits from the 90s as I roll around my squeaky trolley. But here's the thing: in the middle of a cost of living crisis, your local Indian grocer is one of the best places to do your everyday shop. Especially when garlic feels like a luxury item now and the doctor tells you to eat more nuts and seeds without checking what they cost at the supermarket! At almost all Indian stores, you'll find several options for cheap milk and yoghurt. This is partly because most shops are owned by Punjabis, who buy several litres of milk a week to make paneer and various other goodies. But it's also because for us Indians, yoghurt isn't some new age fermentation superhero. We add yoghurt everywhere – salads, cereals, smoothies, marinades, curries and for lassi, of course. In my trolley weekly is four bottles of blue milk – 2x two litre bottles for $6.80 – and a 2kg tub of yoghurt that's normally about $7. Next up is rice. I never buy the tiny bags from the big box stores mostly because it wouldn't last longer than three days in my rice-loving household. At the Indian shop there's as many rice varieties as wines at New World. I'm partial to the Royal India or Daawat brand that have 5kg bags ranging from $12-$20 depending on the grain length and age of the rice. And then there's garlic. In my opinion, fresh garlic can be saved for the cooking shows. Woolworths sells one tiny bulb for $2.90 which is criminal and I can't be faffed with all the peels sticking to my fingers either. Instead, my go-to is Reet's ginger and garlic paste. A kilo tub is $5.49 and allows me to make everything I cook taste deliciously garlicky and gingery. Occasionally, I'll buy frozen, pre-peeled garlic cloves ($3.40) for dishes where only sliced garlic will do. Ghee is another win. These days, you can easily find jars of Gopala ghee at mainstream supermarkets for about $20, but at the Indian shop there's an entire shelf of different brands, types and tins. You can experiment with a tiny tub of New Zealand made Milkio ghee, there's the super cheap tin of Amul ghee for everyday dal and soup and also the giant 4kg or 8kg tubs you might want to gift the keto fanatic in your life. And while you're there, you might as well stock up on eggs too. You won't find them categorised by size or chicken origin but you can't go wrong with 30 eggs for $20. Especially if your house like mine is filled with boys who go through six eggs a day! For some of you maybe my everyday basics soliloquy didn't resonate. You're welcome to continue buying eggs, milk, rice and whatnot from the big box stores. But there are some categories for which it would be an absolute crime to do so. Nuts are the prime example. At Woolworths, a 250g mixed-nuts bag, loaded with peanuts and a sad sprinkling of almonds, can easily set you back $10 (or $40/kilo). But at the Indian store, almonds, walnuts, pistachios and cashews come in generous 500gm or kilo bags starting at about $24/kilo. When it comes to lentils and beans, it's more about the lack of variety. My doctor recently told me to focus heavily on lentils and beans. And if I shopped at the big box stores I'd mostly be having chickpeas, cannellini beans, red and yellow lentils. Meanwhile at the Indian shop there's an entire aisle devoted to these beauties – chana dal, moong dal, masoor, urad dal, black chickpeas and so many more – all for about half the supermarket price. It's a similar story for spices. You could cook with the overpriced spice blends sold in tiny cardboard packets, complaining that your food doesn't taste like it does at restaurants. Or, you could purchase your spices at the Indian store where they taste and smell fresher and punchier. They are also cheaper. While a 40gm packet of turmeric is $2 at Pak'nSave, at the Indian shop you'll get 200gm for $3.50. It's the same-ish scenario for other spices like cumin, coriander, mustard seeds and chilli powder too. My favourite buy? A packet of Gaay's whole garam masala, which is essentially a mixed bag of bay leaves, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and more. If you're a baking enthusiast, the Indian shop has you covered too. At Woolworths, cinnamon quills are like rare treasures priced at $4 for a measly 20gm. Meanwhile you could grab an 80 – 100gm packet of these for $5 at the Indian store – enough for you to add cinnamon everywhere from cake to scrolls to porridge. Every visit to the Indian store feels a bit like exploring my grandma's kitchen. During my last visit I found a shelf of ayurvedic health powders such as ashwagandha, beetroot and moringa to add to my smoothies. At $7 for 200gm, it's worth a try even if my skin doesn't magically become goddess-like in two weeks. And I always do a slow walk across the snack aisle where I'm bound to find a new type of poppadum or biscuit. Back in 2002, the Indian shop used to be the place I went to get a flavour of home. Stock up on spices or buy a packet of Haldiram chakli. Now, it's just where I buy food.
NZ Herald
4 days ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Whanganui endurance runner James Bland set for 171km Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc
Bland said he completed it in 36 hours last year. 'That was probably the hardest thing I've done in my life. 'I'm doing it again to compete in it, rather than just complete it.' Last year's UTMB winner Vincent Bouillard finished in 19 hours and 54 minutes. The record is held by American James Walmsley, who ran a time of 19:37 in 2023. 'It's the biggest race in the world, like competing at Wimbledon if you're a tennis player,' Bland said. 'You run through France, Italy and Switzerland. 'If everything goes right, I'm aiming for sub-24 hours.' New Zealand runner Scott Hawker finished third at the UTMB in 2019, with a time of 21:48. In 2022, Bland completed the 100-mile (161km) Western States Endurance Run in California, United States, and won the South Island Ultramarathon. He has finished the 165km Tarawera Ultramarathon four times. Speaking to the Chronicle after the Western States event, he said he started running while working at Pak'nSave Whanganui, which sponsors the annual 3 Bridges Marathon. James Bland is aiming to be only the third person to complete the 165km Tarawera ultramarathon five times. 'They give [Pak'nSave employees] free entry to support the cause, and all the 30-odd entrants were just doing the 5km and 10km. 'I just wanted to one-up everyone in the entire store, so I signed up for the half [marathon].' Bland, now based in Melbourne, said he was not in a position to run fulltime and worked as a sales representative to pay the bills. His 'support crew and aid station' was partner Angela Worthy, who would fly with him to France. 'It's not just finding the time to run, it's the saunas, ice baths, stretching, cooking the right food and all the rehab that comes with running 200km a week,' Bland said. 'There's so much in the background. 'If something goes wrong, you pay $100 a session for someone to massage your leg until it comes right.' He said every race funnelled into Tarawera and du Mont-Blanc - 'the big ones'. 'All my training at the moment is running hills every day. 'Basically, the [You Yangs] event at the weekend was to see how long I could hold on for.' Results over the past few years had put him in or around the country's top 10 trail runners, Bland said. He said the sport was growing popular and that meant more competition. 'Even two years ago, if you were above average, you'd do pretty well - top five. 'Above average isn't good enough any more.' Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, which starts and finishes in Chamonix, begins on August 29. Bland said he aimed to complete the Tarawera event again next year, meaning he would be one of only three people to run it five times. Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily the Whanganui District Council.
Otago Daily Times
30-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
How much have supermarket prices risen since 2022?
By Louise Ternouth of RNZ Whether it is a block of butter or cheese, a kilogram of mince, a dozen eggs or a cooked chook, food prices have gone up rapidly. The latest Stats NZ figures show in the past 12 months food prices have gone up 4.4 percent - the highest increase since December 2023. Over the last three years Checkpoint has been tracking a weekly shop from the same suburb at a Woolworths and Pak'nSave supermarket to see just how much things have gone up at the checkout. Some of the results are more eye-watering than mouthwatering. For over three years, Checkpoint has been tracking the cost of 36 items likely to be in a household's trolley. In May 2022, our first shop at Woolworths Greenlane cost us $238 dollars and $217 at Pak'nSave Royal Oak. Today, those same items at Woolworths have shot up to $305 dollars - an extra $67 dollars at the checkout. Pak'nSave our shop, now set us back $270, an extra $53 dollars. Compared to our 2022 shop, seasonal vegetables like carrots and cabbage were cheaper. Other items that had come down slightly or stayed the same were Watties baked beans, plain flour, Mightyfresh wheatmeal toast bread and diced tomatoes. But they were mostly exceptions, most of the items on the shopping list cost more. Some shoppers told Checkpoint they have noticed an increase on some items in particular. "Olive oil is really expensive and eggs," said one shopper. "Dairy items I've noticed but even just general fresh fruit and vege." Others said meat was on the list. Unsurprisingly, dairy had one of the biggest jumps. At both supermarkets you still could not get a 1kg block of cheese for $10 or less. Though 1kg is now $1 dollar cheaper at Woolworths for $12.49. At Pak'nSave a 1kg block stayed much the same at $11.89. Two litres of standard blue top milk were sitting at just under $5 at both supermarkets. In 2022, a 500g block of Woolworths-branded butter cost $5.80, now a whopping $8.50. At Pak'nSave it was a similar story, in 2022 it was $5.70 for a Pams 500g block, now $8.30. One shopper said their family uses a lot of butter and they were feeling the pinch, "It's been absolutely ridiculous it's almost $10." Others said they bought butter in bulk from Costco to save money "to buy cheaper New Zealand butter in bulk and freeze it rather than buying at the supermarkets." A 50 box of Twining's Earl Grey tea more than doubled in price at Pak'nSave to $7.89. As for a dozen barn eggs, those more than doubled at Pak'nSave to $9.59 and $9.50 at Woolworths. The humble beef mince now not so humble at 1kg used to cost $11.99 at Pak'nSave, now $18.99. At Countdown, it was up from $14.90 in 2022 to $23.80 now. For some, it is now a luxury among other items they are going without. "Probably meat products and dairy," said one shopper. Others were also leaving those products on the shelves and opting for a butter "blend" and no brand versions. One man said snacks were off the shopping list. "Snack bars and extra things you'd put into kids lunches." One woman said she had left her broccoli and cauliflower out of the shop. Washing and toiletry products also came out far more expensive. Four kilograms of Persil sensitive washing powder was $22 at both supermarkets in 2022, now an extra $13 at Woolworths and $6.50 more at Pak'nSave. Huggies size 3 nappies were an extra $10 at Pak'nSave and a litre of Palmolive body wash was an extra $5 at Woolworths. For those advising to stock up on staples or frozen to cut costs, rice, noodles, sugar and frozen vegetables - all more expensive.
Otago Daily Times
30-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Revealed: How much supermarket prices have risen since 2022
By Louise Ternouth of RNZ Whether it is a block of butter or cheese, a kilogram of mince, a dozen eggs or a cooked chook, food prices have gone up rapidly. The latest Stats NZ figures show in the past 12 months food prices have gone up 4.4 percent - the highest increase since December 2023. Over the last three years Checkpoint has been tracking a weekly shop from the same suburb at a Woolworths and Pak'nSave supermarket to see just how much things have gone up at the checkout. Some of the results are more eye-watering than mouthwatering. For over three years, Checkpoint has been tracking the cost of 36 items likely to be in a household's trolley. In May 2022, our first shop at Woolworths Greenlane cost us $238 dollars and $217 at Pak'nSave Royal Oak. Today, those same items at Woolworths have shot up to $305 dollars - an extra $67 dollars at the checkout. Pak'nSave our shop, now set us back $270, an extra $53 dollars. Compared to our 2022 shop, seasonal vegetables like carrots and cabbage were cheaper. Other items that had come down slightly or stayed the same were Watties baked beans, plain flour, Mightyfresh wheatmeal toast bread and diced tomatoes. But they were mostly exceptions, most of the items on the shopping list cost more. Some shoppers told Checkpoint they have noticed an increase on some items in particular. "Olive oil is really expensive and eggs," said one shopper. "Dairy items I've noticed but even just general fresh fruit and vege." Others said meat was on the list. Unsurprisingly, dairy had one of the biggest jumps. At both supermarkets you still could not get a 1kg block of cheese for $10 or less. Though 1kg is now $1 dollar cheaper at Woolworths for $12.49. At Pak'nSave a 1kg block stayed much the same at $11.89. Two litres of standard blue top milk were sitting at just under $5 at both supermarkets. In 2022, a 500g block of Woolworths-branded butter cost $5.80, now a whopping $8.50. At Pak'nSave it was a similar story, in 2022 it was $5.70 for a Pams 500g block, now $8.30. One shopper said their family uses a lot of butter and they were feeling the pinch, "It's been absolutely ridiculous it's almost $10." Others said they bought butter in bulk from Costco to save money "to buy cheaper New Zealand butter in bulk and freeze it rather than buying at the supermarkets." A 50 box of Twining's Earl Grey tea more than doubled in price at Pak'nSave to $7.89. As for a dozen barn eggs, those more than doubled at Pak'nSave to $9.59 and $9.50 at Woolworths. The humble beef mince now not so humble at 1kg used to cost $11.99 at Pak'nSave, now $18.99. At Countdown, it was up from $14.90 in 2022 to $23.80 now. For some, it is now a luxury among other items they are going without. "Probably meat products and dairy," said one shopper. Others were also leaving those products on the shelves and opting for a butter "blend" and no brand versions. One man said snacks were off the shopping list. "Snack bars and extra things you'd put into kids lunches." One woman said she had left her broccoli and cauliflower out of the shop. Washing and toiletry products also came out far more expensive. Four kilograms of Persil sensitive washing powder was $22 at both supermarkets in 2022, now an extra $13 at Woolworths and $6.50 more at Pak'nSave. Huggies size 3 nappies were an extra $10 at Pak'nSave and a litre of Palmolive body wash was an extra $5 at Woolworths. For those advising to stock up on staples or frozen to cut costs, rice, noodles, sugar and frozen vegetables - all more expensive.
NZ Herald
25-06-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
$100m Pak'nSave Takapuna: Foodstuffs North Island wins consent for New Zealand's biggest new supermarket
Foodstuffs North Island has won approval to build New Zealand's largest new supermarket. A $100 million Pak'nSave of more than half a hectare is allowed at Takapuna with 197 carparking spaces near the motorway on- and off-ramps near Esmonde Rd. An Auckland Council spokeswoman said today that consent sought on
