The Warehouse is doubling down on providing affordable essentials as it expands its fresh produce range to a third of its stores across the country.

This expansion of 10 stores takes the total to 32 stores, including five more in the South Island.

The Warehouse Group Chief Executive Nick Grayston said their growing focus on fresh fruits and vegetables is a key part of its mission to provide more affordable essentials for families.

“Offering affordable fresh fruit and veges in a third of our stores is another way we’re helping Kiwis in a cost-of-living crisis. Fresh fruit and vegetables are essential and everyone should be able to access them at an affordable price,” Grayston said.

The Warehouse has also announced it will sell 12 pack of free-range eggs for $7, alongside its $5 colony eggs.

“We want the essentials to be affordable to all Kiwis. A basic basket of groceries at The Warehouse is $11 cheaper than our next nearest competitor. If we can do it, others can too and we call on the whole grocery sector to do more to bring the prices down on core essentials as we head into winter,” he said.

The latest South Island stores to join The Warehouse’s fresh produce initiative include Ashburton, Barrington, Blenheim, Hornby, and Richmond.

This latest rollout will provide a seasonal selection of produce, including carrots, onions, potatoes, apples, bananas, mandarins, capsicum, avocados, kūmara, and kiwifruit. The range will be reviewed weekly to ensure seasonal freshness and variety.