Auckland has just welcomed its largest Asian supermarket, “Foodie,” located in the Westgate area, marking a significant addition to the city’s expanding retail sector. The store opened on 29th August 2024, and boasts an impressive floor space of 3,800 square metres. This makes it the largest Asian supermarket in the country, strategically placed near the massive American retailer Costco.
Despite opening on a weekday, the turnout exceeded expectations. Thousands of shoppers flooded the aisles, leading to queues and parking challenges, with some visitors waiting over an hour at checkout. The opening rush reflected the growing demand for a supermarket catering to Auckland’s diverse communities. With over 12,000 products sourced from across Asia—including China, Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia—the supermarket aims to be a one-stop destination for grocery needs. Customers can find everything from fresh produce and seafood to specialist items like Korean barbecue ingredients.
Managing Director Tao Shi believes that the store’s diverse offerings will set it apart from other Asian supermarkets in New Zealand. Many existing stores cater to specific Asian cuisines, but Foodie hopes to provide a comprehensive experience, offering a mix of both Asian staples and everyday household products.
Aside from groceries, the supermarket features a seafood department, butcher, and an in-house roast vendor, all contributing to the promise of convenience and variety under one roof. Foodie is also looking to open additional stores in Auckland’s North Shore and East Auckland, signalling its ambition to expand further.
Foodie’s opening represents not just a new retail opportunity but also a cultural hub for the region’s Asian communities. Supermarkets like Foodie serve as vital spaces where immigrants and locals can maintain ties to their cultural roots while also introducing these products to a broader audience. With Auckland’s growing demand for ethnic foods, Foodie’s arrival seems perfectly timed.
Foodie’s main rivals will be specialized shops and other Asian supermarkets, not well-known New Zealand companies. But if the store opens up new avenues for local suppliers and producers to reach Foodie’s target consumer, then their presence might also help them inadvertently. Also, more foot traffic and revenues for surrounding businesses could result from the surge of shoppers to the Westgate neighborhood. Although Foodie’s debut is a significant step forward for Auckland’s retail scene overall.