24-hour supermarkets on the way out as online grocery shopping proves popular
The temporary reduction of hours at Countdown Lynnmall means that New Zealand has been left with just one 24-hour supermarket (file photo).
Just one 24-hour Countdown supermarket remains in New Zealand.
Countdown in LynnMall in West Auckland switched from 24-hour trading to closing at 11pm in April, catching some late-night shoppers out.
In need of supplies for their 3-year-old child in the middle of the night, Shane Henderson's partner went in search of an open store.
She had to drive from Te Atatū, West Auckland, into the city after discovering Countdown Lynnmall was closed - a 30 kilometre return journey.
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"It's just crazy. For shift workers, new parents - you never know when you are going to run out of something," Henderson said.
Henderson-Massey Local Board chair Shane Henderson said he would like to see more 24 hour supermarkets, not less.
Countdown Auckland City is now the only Countdown supermarket left in New Zealand open all hours.
Henderson, who is the chair of the Henderson-Massey Local Board, said a city of 1.6 million people needed more than one 24-hour supermarket.
"We should be looking to turn Auckland into a 24-hour city, like Sydney and other large cities, and that includes having more supermarkets open," he said.
Countdown Lynnmall had closed overnight for refurbishments, but questions remained over whether it would reopen as a 24-hour supermarket in October.
A Countdown spokeswoman said they regularly reviewed store hours to ensure they matched the needs of customers.
"Sometimes that means changing our hours. We'll take the opportunity to review our New Lynn store hours once the refurbishment is complete."
The fate of all-night shopping has fluctuated.
Both Hamilton and Dunedin lost their 24-hour supermarkets in 2009 following concerns over drunk patrons and staff safety.
While all night supermarkets have failed to take hold, people were turning more to online shopping.
"We have seen growth in our online business right across the country," the Countdown spokeswoman said.
"People see it as a convenient way to do their grocery shopping but there's no direct correlation with store hours.
"Online shopping is an extension of the service we offer to make sure people can shop at a time and place that suits them."
Countdown in Auckland's CBD remained open 24-hours due to the "busy downtown environment", the spokeswoman said.
New Zealand was not the only country to see the demise of 24-hour grocery shopping.
Tesco, one of the biggest supermarket chains in the United Kingdom, cut 24 hour trading at 76 of its stores in 2016.
At the time, the company's retail director said the growth in online shopping led to fewer customers overnight.
- Stuff
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