Anyone who has driven through Rolleston lately might have noticed something new on the skyline. The town is growing fast, and now it has a supermarket to match: PAK’nSAVE Rolleston opened its doors in October 2025, bringing what the operator calls the South Island’s largest grocery store to this commuter hub 22 km southwest of Christchurch.

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Store name: PAK’nSAVE Rolleston ·
Opening date: 14 October 2025 ·
Opening hours: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily ·
Phone: 03 974 3243 ·
Owner: Foodstuffs South Island (operated by Phill and Sarah Blackburn)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact gross floor area (8,100 sqm reported by some sources not yet confirmed on official site) (PAK’nSAVE Rolleston)
  • Whether online shopping is available at launch – official site says “coming soon” (PAK’nSAVE Rolleston)
  • Exact number of jobs created (reportedly 270 per news video) (PAK’nSAVE Rolleston)
3Timeline signal
  • 14 Oct 2025 – store opens at 9 am (PAK’nSAVE)
  • Pre-opening – construction in final stages (same)
  • Opening day – heavy traffic and full car parks reported (The Press video)
4What’s next
  • Online shopping “coming soon” per official PAK’nSAVE page (store page)
  • Weekly specials will be published on the store’s website (PAK’nSAVE)
  • Potential impact on nearby Countdown and New World stores in Selwyn district (store page)
Seven confirmed details about PAK’nSAVE Rolleston, all drawn from the official store listing.
Detail Value
Store name PAK’nSAVE Rolleston
Address 157 Levi Road, Rolleston 7614 (official page)
Phone number 03 974 3243 (PAK’nSAVE listing)
Opening date Tuesday 14 October 2025 at 9 am (official announcement)
Opening hours 7:00 am – 10:00 pm, every day (same source)
Owner/operator Foodstuffs South Island; operated by Phill and Sarah Blackburn (store page)
Region Rolleston, Canterbury, South Island

Where is the new Pak’nSave in Rolleston?

Address and location details

  • The store is at 157 Levi Road, Rolleston 7614, Canterbury, New Zealand (PAK’nSAVE official store page).
  • Rolleston sits roughly 22 km southwest of Christchurch city centre and is one of the fastest-growing towns in the Selwyn District.

How to get there by car and public transport

  • Levi Road is accessible from State Highway 1 and the Rolleston town centre.
  • The store has a large carpark – reportedly nearly 500 spaces (The Press video).
  • Public bus routes from Christchurch to Rolleston (Metro route 5) stop within walking distance.
The upshot

Rolleston residents no longer need to drive to Hornby or Riccarton for their weekly shop. The new store sits in Levi Road, right in the heart of the town’s retail strip — a five-minute walk from the Rolleston town centre and easily reached by car or bus.

Who owns Pak’nSave Rolleston?

Foodstuffs South Island ownership structure

  • PAK’nSAVE Rolleston is owned and operated by Phill and Sarah Blackburn, who are part of the Foodstuffs South Island cooperative (PAK’nSAVE store page).
  • According to a news video from The Press, the Blackburns previously owned the Ilam New World and the Riccarton PAK’nSAVE (The Press).

How Pak’nSave is part of the Foodstuffs cooperative

  • PAK’nSAVE is a brand of the Foodstuffs cooperative, a New Zealand‑wide grocery buying and retail group (Wikipedia entry for Pak’nSave).
  • Foodstuffs South Island is the regional arm that supports independently owned stores across the South Island.
Why this matters

The cooperative model means every PAK’nSAVE is locally owned and operated. For Rolleston shoppers, that translates into local decision‑making on pricing, specials, and community support — a structure that differs from the corporate chains Woolworths and Countdown.

How big is Pak’nSave Rolleston?

Comparison to other South Island supermarkets

  • PAK’nSAVE says Rolleston and the Selwyn District were about to welcome the South Island’s largest new supermarket (PAK’nSAVE official page).
  • The Press reported it as the “South Island’s biggest supermarket on the outskirts of Christchurch” (The Press video).
  • Exact gross floor area has not been published on the official store page; earlier reports suggested 8,100 sqm total and 4,500 sqm of shopping floor, but these figures remain unconfirmed.
The catch

Without an official number from PAK’nSAVE, any square‑meter claim is speculative. Shoppers will know the size when they walk through the aisles — early reports suggest it is substantially bigger than the Riccarton and Hornby stores.

What is the opening date and what are the hours for Pak’nSave Rolleston?

Official opening date

  • The store opened at 9:00 am on Tuesday 14 October 2025 (PAK’nSAVE official page).
  • A news video from The Press showed heavy shopper traffic on opening day, with almost all parking spaces filled within an hour (The Press).

Operating hours every day

  • PAK’nSAVE Rolleston is open 7 days a week, 7:00 am to 10:00 pm (store page).
What to watch

The earlier‑than‑usual 7 am start gives early‑morning shoppers and commuters a head start before the 9 am rush. Expect crowds between 5 pm and 7 pm on weekdays.

Is Countdown or Pak’nSave cheaper?

Price comparison methodology

  • PAK’nSave positions itself as New Zealand’s lowest‑priced food supermarket, according to its Wikipedia entry (Wikipedia).
  • Independent comparisons by Consumer NZ have historically shown Pak’nSave to be 10–20 % cheaper than Countdown on a typical basket, though no published survey for the Rolleston store exists yet.

Typical savings at Pak’nSave

  • The chain relies on a warehouse‑style format with minimal in‑store marketing, which keeps overheads low.
  • Weekly specials are published on the PAK’nSAVE website and can offer additional savings on staples and seasonal produce.
Bottom line: PAK’nSAVE Rolleston delivers what the chain promises — a no‑frills discount grocer with consistently low shelf prices. Shoppers who prioritise price over atmosphere will find the biggest savings here. For those who value deli counters and a full service experience, the nearby New World or Countdown may be a better fit.
Store specifications — confirmed and reported figures for PAK’nSAVE Rolleston.
Specification Value Source
Store name PAK’nSAVE Rolleston official page
Address 157 Levi Road, Rolleston 7614 official
Phone number 03 974 3243 official
Opening date 14 October 2025 official
Opening hours 7 am – 10 pm daily official
Owner/operator Phill and Sarah Blackburn official
Region Rolleston, Canterbury official
Cost (reported) $40 million The Press video
Employees (reported) 270 The Press video
Parking spaces (reported) Nearly 500 The Press video
Bottom line: The store cost $40 million to build, employs 270 people, and provides nearly 500 carparks — figures consistent with a supermarket of this scale, though none have been confirmed by PAK’nSAVE itself. What is confirmed: the opening hours, location, and ownership structure.

Timeline

  • – PAK’nSAVE Rolleston opens at 9 am. (official page)
  • – Foodstuffs South Island publishes an official opening press release. (PAK’nSAVE)
  • – The Press reports on a mixed community reception and heavy traffic. (The Press video)

What we know vs. what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Store opened 14 October 2025 (official)
  • Owned by Foodstuffs South Island (official)
  • Open 7 am – 10 pm, seven days a week (official)
  • Address: 157 Levi Road, Rolleston (official)

What’s unclear

  • Exact gross floor area (8,100 sqm reported but unconfirmed)
  • Whether online shopping is available at launch – “coming soon” (official)
  • Exact number of jobs created (reportedly 270 per The Press)

Rolleston and the Selwyn District were set to welcome the South Island’s largest new supermarket.

PAK’nSAVE official store page (store operator)

Almost all 500 car parks were taken within an hour of opening.

The Press video (Christchurch news outlet)

The opening‑day scramble shows just how much demand there is for a large supermarket in this fast‑growing commuter town. For local shoppers in Rolleston, the choice is now clear: PAK’nSAVE offers size and low prices, but early traffic congestion suggests the new store might need time to settle into the community. Either way, the days of driving to Hornby for groceries are over.

Additional sources

facebook.com, paknsave.co.nz, en.wikipedia.org

For those wishing to explore other branches before visiting, the PaknSave store locator and online ordering guide provides a comprehensive map of locations, hours and weekly specials across New Zealand.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the phone number for Pak’nSave Rolleston?

The store’s phone number is 03 974 3243, as listed on the official PAK’nSAVE Rolleston page (source).

Does Pak’nSave Rolleston offer online shopping?

The official PAK’nSAVE Rolleston page states that online shopping is “coming soon” (source). As of opening day, no online ordering was available.

Are there jobs at Pak’nSave Rolleston?

According to a news report from The Press, the store employs approximately 270 people (source). Job openings may be listed on the PAK’nSAVE careers website.

Is Mitre 10 coming to Rolleston?

There is no confirmed information about a Mitre 10 opening in Rolleston. The question often arises because of retail development in the area, but no official announcement has been made.

How old is Chris Quin?

Chris Quin is the CEO of Foodstuffs South Island. His exact age is not publicly listed, and no reliable source was found in the research for this article.

What are the Pak’nSave Rolleston specials this week?

Weekly specials are posted on the PAK’nSAVE website under the Rolleston store page. You can view them directly at paknsave.co.nz.

How does Pak’nSave Rolleston compare to Pak’nSave Riccarton?

PAK’nSAVE Rolleston is reported to be the South Island’s largest supermarket, making it significantly larger than the Riccarton store. Early opening‑day coverage also noted heavy traffic and a full carpark, which suggests higher shopper demand than at Riccarton.