How popular isWoolworths?
In September 2026, people searched for Woolworths by name about 653,000 times in New Zealand, a 5% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 40.1% of all New Zealand supermarket searches, placing Woolworths first out of eight supermarkets. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about supermarkets, Woolworths appeared in all answers and was the second most recommended of the eight.
Woolworths is the most searched of 8 competitors and the second most recommended in AI answers.
WoolworthsShare of searches 40.1%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
PAK’nSAVEShare of searches 30.9%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
New WorldShare of searches 18.6%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
CostcoShare of searches 4.2%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
FreshChoiceShare of searches 3.7%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
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Top supermarkets in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Woolworths appeared in all five answers. Woolworths is the second most recommended of the eight.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Woolworths5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- PAK’nSAVE5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- New World5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Four Square5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- FreshChoice2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Costco0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Night 'n Day0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
SuperValue0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about supermarkets
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which supermarket should I shop at in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best supermarkets in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best supermarket in New Zealand for weekly groceries?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“supermarkets nz”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“grocery stores nz”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.
Which supermarkets compete with Woolworths?
Share of searches by month for Woolworths, PAK’nSAVE, New World, Costco, FreshChoice. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Woolworths | PAK’nSAVE | New World | Costco | FreshChoice | Four Square | Night 'n Day | SuperValue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 33.9% | 36% | 20.2% | 3.9% | 3.3% | 1.8% | 0.82% | 0.11% |
| Nov 2025 | 36.1% | 34% | 19.1% | 4.3% | 3.1% | 2.4% | 0.89% | 0.09% |
| Dec 2025 | 34.8% | 32.8% | 22.5% | 3.6% | 3% | 2.3% | 0.87% | 0.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 35.9% | 33.9% | 19.1% | 3.6% | 3.8% | 2.4% | 1.1% | 0.1% |
| Feb 2026 | 37.4% | 30.9% | 21.2% | 3.3% | 3.5% | 2.6% | 1.1% | 0.08% |
| Mar 2026 | 34.9% | 33% | 22.7% | 3.4% | 3% | 2% | 0.89% | 0.08% |
| Apr 2026 | 35.7% | 33.7% | 19% | 4.3% | 3.8% | 2.5% | 0.95% | 0.1% |
| May 2026 | 35.8% | 32.5% | 21.5% | 4% | 3.5% | 1.6% | 0.93% | 0.1% |
| Jun 2026 | 35.8% | 35.1% | 19% | 3.6% | 3.8% | 1.7% | 0.9% | 0.09% |
| Jul 2026 | 34.1% | 33.5% | 22.2% | 4.1% | 3.6% | 1.6% | 0.78% | 0.06% |
| Aug 2026 | 36.8% | 33% | 20.9% | 3.8% | 3.4% | 1.3% | 0.71% | 0.08% |
| Sep 2026 | 40.1% | 30.9% | 18.6% | 4.2% | 3.7% | 1.6% | 0.77% | 0.08% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 40.1% | 653K | -<0.01% | +3.3 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 30.9% | 503K | -14% | -2.1 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 18.6% | 303K | -18.1% | -2.3 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 4.2% | 68.6K | +1.4% | +0.4 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 3.7% | 60.8K | -0.11% | +0.3 points | |
| 6, held 6th | 1.6% | 26.8K | +16% | +0.3 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 0.77% | 12.6K | +0.4% | +0.1 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 0.08% | 1.4K | 0% | 0 points |
40.1%
Held 1st. 653K estimated branded searches, -<0.01% vs prior month. Share +3.3 points.
30.9%
Held 2nd. 503K estimated branded searches, -14% vs prior month. Share -2.1 points.
18.6%
Held 3rd. 303K estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share -2.3 points.
4.
Costco4.2%
Held 4th. 68.6K estimated branded searches, +1.4% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.
3.7%
Held 5th. 60.8K estimated branded searches, -0.11% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.
1.6%
Held 6th. 26.8K estimated branded searches, +16% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.
0.77%
Held 7th. 12.6K estimated branded searches, +0.4% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
0.08%
Held 8th. 1.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Compare popularity between Woolworths and its closest rivals
Every comparison with Woolworths
7 comparisons
How has branded search demand for Woolworths changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Woolworths in New Zealand rose from 622K to 653K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Woolworths’ share of searches among supermarkets in New Zealand increased from 33.9% to 40.1%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Woolworths rose from 2nd to 1st among supermarkets in New Zealand.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand supermarkets in September 2026?
6 changes
In September 2026, Woolworths gained share of searches among supermarkets in New Zealand, from 36.8% to 40.1%.
In September 2026, New World lost share of searches among supermarkets in New Zealand, from 20.9% to 18.6%.
In September 2026, PAK’nSAVE lost share of searches among supermarkets in New Zealand, from 33% to 30.9%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for SuperValue in New Zealand fell 30.3% over 12 measured months, from 1.9K to 1.4K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Four Square in New Zealand fell 17.5% over 12 measured months, from 32.5K to 26.8K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Night 'n Day in New Zealand fell 16.9% over 12 measured months, from 15.1K to 12.6K in September 2026.
How are Woolworths’ branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Woolworths’ name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- countdown
- woolworths
- woolworths groceries
- woolworths supermarket
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Is Woolworths your brand?
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