i might have mentioned things about new zealand supermarkets before (see earlier entry) but this is my in-depth coverage. i'm not too fond of these supermarkets. small portions and big prices but that can't be helped in a nation that has not been introduced to the concept of bulk buying. there is a maze setup so that you are forced to walk through the produce section first. to get back there later on truly is a maze to wind through, especially at pak 'n save. it's such a bitch of a maze at pak 'n save to get back to to the produce section that i often don't even bother. the only time i have entered a supermarket that didn't utilize the maze system was in greymouth (i think it was a countdown). i hate being forced this way through the store because i want to figure out what they sell before i buy produce. i won't know what produce i need until i know what i'm making. i can't figure out what i'm making until i know what's available in the other non-produce aisles. when you're traveling around, you have no idea if noodles, tofu or fake meats are available in the smaller towns. if not, another pasta dinner.

eggs are not refrigerated

but dog food is refrigerated

kiwis love their pudding

minced cilantro is a really good idea

on to the products. some of the items are the same as in america but they are sold under different names. for example, rice crispies are rice bubbles. the things i like to be on the lookout for are things that are unique. things you would find in a commonwealth country. totally gross things like vegemite. i'm sorry but it's crap. i've heard that americans don't like it because we don't know how to properly eat it. that we put too much on toast. when i first got here i bought some and barely tried a dab. i could've returned what i bought and no one would have known i had consumed any of it. so small was my sampling. it was probably the most vile thing i have ever eaten. i have never understood baked beans on toast either. i have done some strange food combinations so i will not pass judgment on this one.

sample of cereals

it was a bit weird walking around the supermarket trying to take photos of products. i was afraid of an employee saying something but no one seemed to care. i didn't even get strange looks from other customers. perhaps they just figured i'm another crazy american. i wasn't able to find all the strange products that i have seen so i will have to collect more photographs at other supermarkets. these photos were taken at new world in downtown wellington. there were some other products such as coffee with milk in a squeeze tube that i could have taken pictures of, but i figure we will bring back some of these with us. some things in the store i simply do not want pictures of: rows and rows of meat. other products one cannot experience by sight but through taste, such as their version of ketchup, pretty gross. maybe i'll bring back a can of l&p soda simply for the silly yet true slogan of "world famous in new zealand."

pudding in a tube(!), orange/chocolate chip cookies, and cookies with candy bits