# What should you buy at a New Zealand supermarket, and how do you tell real manuka honey from the rest?

> New Zealand supermarkets sell manuka honey, Marmite and feijoas. How the MGO and UMF grades work, why Countdown became Woolworths, and what to buy.

- Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/what-to-buy-at-a-grocery-store-in-new-zealand
- Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries)
- Published: 2026-01-31

New Zealand has three supermarket groups: **Woolworths** (the chain formerly branded Countdown), **Foodstuffs** with **New World** and **Pak'nSave**, and the small **Four Square** shops in country towns. Pak'nSave is the cheapest, New World is the nicest, and the product that needs a page of explanation before you buy it is honey.

## Manuka honey: read the label properly

Manuka honey is graded by a laboratory measure of its antibacterial activity, and the two scales you will see are **MGO** and **UMF**.

**MGO** is the concentration of methylglyoxal in mg/kg. **UMF** is a separate grading where 5+ is the entry level and 15+ and above is where the price climbs steeply.

Ordinary supermarket honey labelled just manuka, with no MGO or UMF number, is not the same product — it may contain very little manuka nectar.

If you want the real thing, look for an MGO or UMF number on the jar, and expect to pay accordingly. Buying from a supermarket is fine; buying from the airport is not necessary.

## The spreads and the sweet shelf

**Marmite** here is a different product from the British one: darker, thicker, and a genuine national argument. It is made from a different base and cannot be substituted.

**Hokey pokey** is vanilla ice cream with honeycomb toffee, and it is the flavour to try.

**Pavlova** is the meringue dessert, and the topping is cream and kiwifruit or berries.

**L&P** is the lemon soft drink, and **Whitaker's** is the chocolate.

## Fruit and the feijoa problem

**Kiwifruit** is the export crop, and Zespri Gold is sweeter and yellower than the green kind.

**Feijoa** is the one to know about: a green fruit with a perfumed, almost minty flavour, in season for a few weeks in autumn. It is barely exported because it does not keep, so a trip in autumn is the only way to try it properly.

**Passionfruit** and **avocado** are cheap in season and good.

The seasons run opposite to Europe and North America, so December is summer.

## Practical notes

**Countdown is now Woolworths.** The rebrand started in 2023 and has been rolling through the store network since, so older maps and signage may still say Countdown.

**Pak'nSave** is the budget option and bags your own groceries; **New World** is more expensive and more comfortable.

**Alcohol** is sold in supermarkets and in dedicated bottle stores.

Our [New Zealand guides](https://clevertourists.com/guides/new-zealand) cover the driving rules and the South Island routes.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the difference between MGO and UMF on manuka honey?

MGO is the measured concentration of methylglyoxal. UMF is a separate grading scale where 5+ is the entry level and higher numbers mean more activity. Honey with neither number may contain little manuka.

### Is Countdown still called Countdown in New Zealand?

No. The chain is rebranding to Woolworths, a process that started in 2023 and has been rolling out across stores since.

### What is a feijoa and when is it in season?

A green fruit with a perfumed, slightly minty flavour, in season for a few weeks in autumn. It is rarely exported because it does not keep.

### Is New Zealand Marmite the same as British Marmite?

No. It is a different product with a different base, darker and thicker, and the two are not interchangeable.