Countdown stores across the country will be changing their opening hours from Wednesday, April 15 to open from 8am to 8pm.
The change aims to allow customers more time to shop and help ease queues.
Countdown's priority shopping hour for emergency services and medical personnel will now move to 7am, so that they can continue to get their food and groceries before the store opens to the public.
This priority shopping hour is available to NZ Police, Fire Service, ambulance paramedics, DHBs, hospital and medical personnel with proper ID.
Countdown's General Manager Health and Safety Kiri Hannifin says the trading hour changes will give customers a little more time to shop and hopefully lessen the need for queuing outside stores.