Grocery Shopping In Wānaka
If you’re heading off on your weekly food shop, you’ll know how hard it is to avoid single-use packaging.
Luckily, when it comes to grocery shopping in Wānaka , there are some great low waste alternatives. From BYO containers to bulk bin buys, it’s becoming far easier to find packaging-free options. From grocery stores to community pantries, we have rounded up some of the best waste-free solutions in Wānaka.
Grocery Stores in Wānaka
Freshlink Grocer
With a focus on local produce and BYO containers, Freshlink Grocer is the perfect place to stock up on pantry essentials. Having grown up rurally, Freshlink owner Jesse takes you back to the simpler ways of shopping – when all fresh produce came from the local green grocer. Most fruit and vegetables are free from packaging and milk is available in glass bottles. BYO is what it’s all about with a wide selection of nuts, legumes, dried foods, toiletries, cleaning products and more. There’s also oil on tap – Just purchase an empty bottle or bring your own!
Location: 82 Anderson Road
Website: https://freshlink.nz/
Mediterranean Market
For regional ingredients and sought after imports, the Mediterranean Market (Med Market) ticks all the boxes. Serving customers for over 14 years, this local favourite supplies loose produce and actively encourages BYO bags and containers for meat and deli items. You can also bring your own container for the store’s selection of mesculun, rocket, baby spinach, and lettuce leaves.
Location: 20 Ardmore Street
Wānaka Supermarkets
Short on time? Want to combine everything into one shop? The majority of Wānaka’s supermarkets offer pick and mix sections with nuts, seeds, oats, grains, dried fruits, chocolates, sweets and loose leaf teas. At New World Three Parks, you’ll also find a ‘nude food’ misted produce section and unpackaged live mussels. Just remember to BYO containers! Many supermarkets in town also supply refillable glass milk bottles.
Hāwea Store & Kitchen
BYO bag and fill up on unpackaged produce at this small local grocery store. While it may be small, it stocks a wide range of local products including the People’s Bread, Pirate Pickles, Nook Road Organics, Sausage Alley and Pembroke Patisserie. A great choice if you want to reduce the number of car trips into Wānaka.
Location: 33 Capell Avenue, Lake Hāwea
Website: https://www.haweastoreandkitchen.nz/
Fruit & Veg
Redbridge Berries
Nothing quite beats picking your own fruit. A fun day out for all the family, Redbridge Berries allows you to pick-your-own strawberries (and eat them) as you go. Take a few kilos home to reduce the number of supermarket punnets in your basket. Not only will you have heaps of fresh, locally grown strawberries in your freezer, but you can also try your hand at homemade smoothies, jams and more. BYO containers are actively encouraged.
If you just want to buy the strawberries ready to go, the pre-packs come in plastic free punnets made from sustainably harvested wood fibre that is biodegradable and recyclable.
Location: 1 Shortcut Road Luggate State Highway 8A Wānaka
Website: https://www.redbridgeberries.co.nz/
Frog Song Farm
Frog Song Farm is an organic local garden close to Luggate. For 2024, the garden is trying something a little different. Instead of their usual box subscription model, they will be supplying greens, herbs, micro-greens, carrots and onions to Freshlink Grocer and Soul Food Organic Queenstown. The best part? They are giving no packaging a go! You can also taste their veggies at a number of local restaurants including Arc, Kika, Paloma and Muttonbird.
Website: https://www.frogsongfarm.co.nz/
Markets in Wānaka
Wānaka Artisan Market
Shopping locally is a great way to reduce waste because food and goods don’t have to travel long distances. For unique gifts and local produce, the Wānaka Artisan Market offers an exclusive selection of seasonal veg, beverages, crafts and personal care items. Many of the vendors have limited packaging and welcome BYO bags and containers.
Location: Bullock Creek, by Speights Ale House
Time: Thursdays 3-6pm
Meat & Bread
The Butcher’s Block is Wānaka’s only independent butchery with unpackaged meat from the deli counter. BYO container and the staff will do the rest. If you forget your container, they’ll use brown and greaseproof paper instead. They also process home kill.
Location: 33 Reece Crescent
Adam & Eve's
Get your hands on some freshly made unpackaged bread at this popular bakery, where – BYO bags are welcome.
Location: 1/6c Sir Tim Wallis Drive
Website: https://www.adamandeves.co.nz/
The People’s Bread Co
If you’re shopping for bread in Wānaka, you’ll probably stumble across the People’s Bread Co. Available in a number of outlets including the Med Market, the Hawea Store and Freshlink, you can expect freshly baked sourdough bread. Opt for home delivery and receive your bread in plastic free packaging.
Community pantries
Reduce the amount of food heading to landfill and look out for the community pantries dotted around the Upper Clutha. Likewise, if you have a prolific fruit tree or a glut of veggies, drop them off to your closest stand. You’ll mostly find loose produce so bring a bag to fill up. The pantries can be found across the Upper Clutha including the Wānaka Community Hub, Wastebusters, the Wānaka Recreation Centre, and the Lake Hāwea Community Centre.
Website: https://www.wastebusters.co.nz/2021/10/12/community-food-pantries/
Wānaka Seed Library
Cut down on food packaging and make a pledge to grow your own. Not sure where to start? Get on down to Wānaka Library and make the most of their extensive seed library. There’s also resources about what to grow and when to grow it.
A tip from us...
As you can see, there are a lot of amazing products out there and sometimes making the swap can feel overwhelming. When you’re looking for solutions and alternatives, it’s best to take it one step at a time. Choose one item that you’re going to swap out and focus on implementing that into your daily routine. Once you’ve done that, you’ll find that it becomes easier to adopt more low waste solutions.
Remember, behaviour change isn’t something that happens overnight. So, relax, do what you can, and, most importantly, have FUN!