PAK’nSAVE Albany

Pak’nSave Albany is one of the bigger branches on the North Shore, and it definitely shows. The store is spacious, fairly modern, and usually well-stocked, making it a popular choice for families and bulk shoppers. It keeps to the classic Pak’nSave model — low prices, minimal decor, and a focus on practicality over presentation — but the Albany location feels a bit more polished than some of the older ones. The layout is easy to follow, with wide aisles and clear signage, so you’re not bumping trolleys every few seconds. The shelves are usually full, especially earlier in the day, and there’s a decent range of both budget brands and the more well-known labels. Prices are, as expected, very competitive. You’ll find good specials across most departments, and if you’re shopping for a big household, it’s one of the better options to keep costs down. The fresh produce section is generally reliable. Some days the quality is top notch, other times it’s more average — pretty normal for Pak’nSave. The meat section offers good value and a decent selection, and the bakery is basic but has all the essentials. There’s also a reasonable selection of international foods, which reflects the local community well. Staff are usually friendly enough, though it’s mostly a self-service experience unless you go looking for help. Checkout times are fairly efficient, with a good number of lanes open during busy periods and a decent set of self-service checkouts for smaller shops. The carpark is big, but it does fill up, especially on weekends. That said, it’s well laid out and doesn’t feel like a fight to find a spot, even when it’s busy. Being close to other stores and amenities makes it easy to combine errands in one trip. One thing to note, like at other Pak’nSaves, is that what’s advertised online might not always match what’s in store, so it’s worth shopping with a bit of flexibility. All up, Pak’nSave Albany is a good choice if you want decent prices, a clean store, and enough space to do a full shop without feeling crammed in. It’s practical, reliable, and does exactly what you’d expect — no frills, just solid savings.

I purchased “ID Whole Octopus” sold by weight (per kg). Naturally, one would expect a whole octopus with eight legs, but when I unpacked it, I found only the head. When I asked the woman at the seafood counter why it was labeled “WHOLE OCTOPUS,” she explained that they cut a whole octopus in half and sell it by weight. It's like selling a half fish with its complete head but no tail. Perhaps the species itself is called “Whole octopus,” but it’s hard to understand, as few people would willingly pay for an octopus without its legs. Please be extra cautious when buying seafood here. That said, the manager and the attendant in the service desk kindly issued a refund, so the matter was resolved. But the Whole Experience was not pleasant.

We used Pak’n’Save Albany for some catering platters and cooked chickens for our wedding, and man, were they amazing. I made sure to give them clear instructions, there were two different pickup times, three different people to deal with and all the food was perfect. Well done, never let us down!

Clean and tidy store with good selection of food. Plenty of trolleys with baby seats But the nappy changing facilities could be better. The facility provided is an accessibility bench for the shower in the accessibility toilet. This means it’s at knee height, without any safety features for baby, and unlikely to be suitable for older children in nappies who can roll/crawl.

The Pack'nSave in Albany is quite clean and well-organized. You can find a wide variety of Asian foods here. The yogurt is neatly presented in the cabinet, and there are many products available at discounted prices. Overall, it’s a great shopping experience!