Bring your own container
From June 2019 we introduced BYO containers. So you can bring your own clean, leak-proof containers to use at our butchery, seafood, bakery and delicatessen counters.
Bringing your own container is just one way we can all reduce packaging. Here’s how it works for you in store:
1. Bring your clean, dry, leak-proof containers to the store.
2. Choose your products (deli, meat, seafood or bakery) and hand your containers to our friendly staff at the counter.
3. Our team will weigh your container then add the product.
4. They’ll label the containers with a barcode for scanning at the checkout.
BYO container FAQs
Yes, you can! Our deli team would be happy to help you.
No, not right now. This is available instore only at the moment as we do not have the capability to exchange or hold on to customer containers.
We have an obligation to our customers in regard to food safety. Our responsibility under the Food Safety Act requires that we must manage the risk at all times and for deli goods that are unlikely to be cooked before consumption, the cleaning process of the container is very important. We understand that doing this may mean you have to wait a few minutes, but you’ll be doing your bit to reduce plastic waste!
No – as long as it’s clean and leak-proof you are good to go.
We will use a combination of commercial dishwashers, thorough handwashing and drying and a sanitiser, depending on the store. In the food industry, sanitisers are routinely used to disinfect containers to prevent foodborne illness.
No!
Not at this point.
Paper is not always the best solution – and it’s just another form of packaging we can do without. BYO is all about reducing waste and focusing on reusable containers.
Will these be easy to get off? We’ll be using the same price stickers we always have. One way to remove the labels to ensure your container is ready to go again, is to leave it soaking in hot soapy water and then gently scrape it off. This also ensures you clean your container! Our team will only accept a container with no sticker.
This is about giving customers a choice. If you want to use BYO you can, if not, we’ll use instore packaging. We are working on a range of projects to ensure that we are environmentally sustainable and have committed to 100% of our packaging instore is reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
The easier we make it for people to change their habits, the more people will get on board. It’s all about giving our customers choice.
It’s a rare event! If any customer has an issue like this, it will be investigated in the same robust way we always have. This is a partnership with our customers who want to use BYO and they need to take responsibility for their containers.
Our North Island stores have chosen to roll this out, while our South Island stores are doing other amazing things like “food in the nude” which is a project to remove packaging for produce. The teams in the South Island are watching with interest.
This should take a couple of minutes – but it's important to do the right thing.
No, that’s not possible. We need to ensure the sticker is firmly attached to your container, as much for you, as for us to ensure you're being charged for the right product.
We already have hooks on the trolleys and there are at least two sizes of trolley available.
Our team will only accept a sticker-free container. We'd hate to charge you for the wrong thing!
It's important they are firmly attached to make sure you're charged for the right product.