Pak'n Save
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| Subsidiary Information | ||
| Founded | 1985 | |
| Headquarters | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Foodsuffs Division | ||
Pak'n Save is a New Zealand supermarket chain, franchised by the co-operative Foodstuffs.
[edit] History
The New Zealand Pak'N Save chain was developed as a result of a trip by a number of Foodstuffs executives to the United States in 1985. On that visit they saw Cub Stores, operated by SuperValu, Pak'n Save operated by Safeway, and a number of other box warehouse supermarkets. Foodstuffs then copied this format in the New Zealand market. The original Pak'N Save format was almost an identical clone of Safeway's Pak 'N' Save chain in Northern California.
[edit] Format
Their name probably originates from the cost-saving practice of letting the customer pack their own groceries. This can be done using their old cardboard boxes, your own reusable bag you brought, or a plastic bag can be purchased at the checkout (for 5 cents or 10 cents at many Auckland Pak 'n Save). The South Island branches do not charge you for plastic bags.
Other cost-cutting measures employed are using very large buildings with minimal furnishings and having a bulk supply. Bulk items are often sold from their shipping pallets without being transferred to shelves or fancy displays. Racking above the shopping shelves are used for stock storage although the supermarkets are supplied daily from their co-operative distributer Foodstuffs.
Most Pak'n Save food warehouses have long opening hours, typically 22 hours per day.
Many North Island stores have introduced self scanning facilities, where the customer scans each item as they put it in their trolley. This reduces waiting time at the checkout, as payment is the only thing that occurs. Conventional checkout operator scanning is also available, and is used for random checks of customers.
The first Pak'n Save Food Warehouse in New Zealand was opened in 1985, at Henderson, Auckland in the North Island, and the South Island in 1988 at Invercargill.The biggest Pak'N Save Food Warehouse is Lincoln Road Pak'n Save which opened in 2004. Also, a brand new store is set to open in the Auckland suburb Mt Wellington in early August, 2006 in the new Sylvia Park Shopping Mall.
