Countdown has reduced its hours and put limits on some products to stop people hoarding supplies amid Auckland's COVID-19 lockdown.
On Wednesday Auckland entered alert level 3 after four cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed without a link to overseas travel.
Countdown spokesperson Kiri Hannifin told The AM Show on Thursday the supermarket wanted to give New Zealanders a chance to shop normally.
"We thought we'd get in quick so we didn't see gaps on shelves like last time - we put limits on stock straight away yesterday," she said.
Hannifin says as well as cutting the supermarket hours to 8am to 9pm, limits have been introduced on things that people bought out last time the country went into lockdown.
For things like pasta, rice, baked beans and flour there's a limit of three per customer. For alcohol, there's a limit of six each.
Hannifin says she understands people are anxious about the lockdown but there's no need to worry about food.
"It's very unsettling and very uncertain but I hope we proved last time we can get you through in regards to food."
Despite the constant reassurance, there will be enough to go around, Hannifin says she's already seen flour running out as people flock to stock up. Stocks of hand sanitizer, face masks and meat are dipping too, just as they did during the last lockdown.
"It's the same stuff but it has been a little bit better than last time I think," she said.
Auckland will remain at alert level 3 until Friday at the earliest and the rest of the country is at alert level 2.
