Woolworths Butter Is More Expensive Than Costco in New Zealand — And You're Paying the Price
Why is butter at Woolworths more expensive than Costco?
Read that question again.
Why is the cheapest, basic store-brand butter at Woolworths more expensive than premium grass-fed butter at Costco?
The numbers speak for themselves.
- Costco butter: $1.30 per 100g
- Woolworths Essentials butter (Auckland): $1.68 per 100g
- Woolworths Essentials butter (Christchurch): $1.72 per 100g
- Westgold butter at Christchurch Woolworths: $2.32 per 100g
The evidence is right there. Christchurch shoppers are paying more for the most basic supermarket-brand butter than Costco customers pay for premium grass-fed butter.
And that's just one grocery item.
Think about what that means across an entire trolley of groceries. Every trip to the supermarket adds another financial paper cut as Christchurch families shoulder higher prices week after week.
New Zealand needs stronger grocery competition. Christchurch deserves real choice, and real competition puts pressure on prices for everyone—not just Costco members.
This can't go on.
If you're wondering why so many people are backing this petition, this is why. Better competition means a fairer deal for Kiwi shoppers.
Please consider sharing this petition with your friends, family, neighbours and local community groups. The more voices we have, the harder it becomes to ignore the demand for better grocery competition in Christchurch.
Together, we can make our voices heard. Together, we can demand change.
Sources (prices accessed 19 July 2026):
Costco butter pricing (EOLMA): https://app.eolma.com/items/c9957254-10b9-45c9-9703-86d88325aacc
Woolworths Salted Butter (500g): https://www.woolworths.co.nz/shop/productdetails?stockcode=827847&name=woolworths-butter-salted
Woolworths Butter category:
https://www.woolworths.co.nz/shop/browse/fridge-deli/eggs-butter-spreads/butter