Martha’s Backyard

As we were in the area, we thought we would finally check this place out not knowing what to expect.
We were very surprised about the number of different stocked items available in cans !!! Some of the carbonated drinks also in cans were huge too, lots of products were convenience types of food and drink. Even the sauce bottle were huge and would last us a few years, there was a big range of them available too.
The store was pretty packed too, if this is just a sample of products available, I now understand more about the health issues that the USA has.
Guess coming from the UK, we are used to smaller portions and different types of food and drink. We had to take a variety of samples home with us just to try of course. I was tempted to try a twinkie, I think they are called, but I had enough goodies in the basket already. Maybe, next time ;-)
Well worth a visit even if it is just to try some of the iconic products often mentioned in TV shows and movies.

Martha’s Backyard is now an institution. A part of Mt Wellington & a place I love to frequent. They for the uninitiated see American/​Mexican grocery items.
You can find just about anything American here. Amazon Ice tea? Oh boy yes they’ve got you covered. Cheetos? Fritos? Pop tarts? Funions? Captain Crunch? Twinkies? Yes they’ve got all of those too. They have regionals seasonings, like old bay seasoning. They have hot sauce, BBQ sauce and rubs! I’m salivating just thinking of the multitude of delectable dishes I devoured thanks to these fine folks. I promise that no matter the year, you will leave with more than you expect.
Word to the wise… If they have a case, an unopened one, they charge less than if you bought them individually.
Last thing… They aren’t cheap. This place isn’t for the budget conscious, if you’re on a budget bring a friend, someone that will slap those double stuf Oreo cookies out of your hand. Because they’ll get you every time.
Oh and the staff, they won’t initiate conversation with you. They are busy always busy. But get there attention and they are warm, inviting & will just about bend over backwards to help you. You just have to ask.

Sometimes I like to drink Diet coke with lime and there are only two places that sell this my video rental store and Martha’s Backyard .
For $ 2 a can you can have many options and they even have those giant cans of Arizona iced tea .
If you’ve ever dreamed of American foods that you’ve either seen on movies or TV then this place will be for you .
From twinkies to moon pies, laffy taffy and lays chips piled high here for you .
I feel they have cleaned up the shop a bit as last time I came it seemed unorganised chaos, though they could’ve just had a shipment placed .
Ever wanted to drink out of those large red cups that you’ve seen on films? Make your way here .
Staff are pleasant and seem to know a few regulars .
Come here for all your American holiday celebrations, you will love it.

Full Disclosure — I’m American, I live nearby, and I’m here on a weekly basis. My thanks to ‘Martha’ for bringing a slice of America to NZ. I’m so pleased this store continues to grow, is constantly busy and fills a small, homesick, place in my heart.
Even if you aren’t American, give it a go. There will be something there that will catch your fancy and will be glad you tried. With the recent trend in American style restaurants, you can get rare ingredients to make your own Mexican or Southern American dishes. Fresh corn tortillas. Amazing range of sugar free drinks.
Regarding the people who complain about price… I challenge you to look more closely. I’m often amazed that items that are shipped from half way around the world cost less at Martha’s than at Countdown. Don’t believe me? Refried beans, cake mixes, coffee, peanut butter… ALL cheaper than NZ grocery stores.
One thing to consider when reading the price tag is SIZE. That bottle of american salad dressing is twice as big as the tiny bottle of crappy ETA dressing you are comparing it to. Plus, go to any other gourmet grocery in Auckland and compare prices… Martha’s is suddenly quite cheap by comparison.
Finally, service is amazing. Want something specific? Just ask, Martha will get it for you or will put it aside to make sure it doesn’t sell out before you get there. Thanks!

I was first introduced to Martha’s by a Canadian friend of mine who relied on them heavily for her daily Crystal Light fix. I finally made my way over, not expecting to buy any more than a few items and some sugar free drinks (say what you will about Americans, but they sure know how to make diet options appealing). I left over an hour later, with a few heavy bags of goodies, a very light wallet and a huge smile. It was such a wonderful experience. Every sweet and savoury treat I’d ever seen referenced or eaten on my favourite shows were all of a sudden at my fingertips. I used to always say that if I were to travel, I’d go to the USA just to eat all of their terrible, delicious, abominable food — but why bother now that there’s Martha’s?!
Yes, many items are a little pricey, but they’re better value than what your local supermarket has in the International section. Plus, there are bargains hidden everywhere. My top recommendation is the Lawrys seasoning salt, which elevates many dishes, and the El Pato salsa which is only $ 4.50 for a giant can that lasts me weeks and makes all my mince and chicken dishes taste incredible. Do yourself a huge favour and check this place out.

Ever have the feeling of giddiness as an adult, that makes you say ‘get ahold of yourself now?’ But you can’t and your smile is ear to ear. Well that’s what Martha’s Backyard did to me. I was instantly hit with Americana as the doors spread open for me. No need to trouble yourself with pushing a door American, here let me automatically open for you. Star!
Since the owner was clearly using her consumer… ahem marketing skills, the first sight upon entering was a stock pile of Stars & Stripes regalia. All that was needed was the Star Spangled Banner playing in the background. Independence Day is only a few days away, so stock up.
Martha’s Backyard which of course is a play on words, (think Martha’s Vineyard) has many American culinary favorites from candies, seasonings, sauces, cereals, beverages and snacks. I walked out with Cholula, Louisiana Hot Sauce, Lawry’s Seasoned Salt, a pack of Lawry’s Taco seasoning, mini Butterfingers and 2 boxes of Cap’N Crunch cereal for under $ 40.00. Not a bad price for imported happiness.

Each time I come to Martha’s, I comprehend reverse culture shock.
Since living in NZ, I’ve become accustomed to a more limited range of… well, most things (except maybe coffee and adventure activities!), but entering the American Store reminds me just how many products they don’t have here in NZ!
To name a few: poptarts, swedish fish, goldfish crackers, mac n cheese, sweet baby ray BBQ sauces, canned pumpkin (I ALWAYS grab a tin, so useful!), massive amounts of soda, candy/​gum choices and even sections for lotions and American-​themed items. Phew.
So yes, the selection can be kind of overwhelming — but Martha’s is such a fun place to poke around and discover new things (as a Kiwi) or take a stroll down memory lane (any other Americans out there!).
Prices are pretty reasonable considering they’ve travelled the distance but I wouldn’t recommend doing all of your shopping here (especially if you are trying to stay from processed foods, the USA has perfected those ;))

When my partner first told me about Martha’s Backyard I immediately thought, «oh, it will just be another run-​of-​the-​mill dollar shop with a few candies from the USA and perhaps, A&W Root Beer made in Malaysia».
Wow! Was I wrong!!!
As a Canadian living in NZ for the past 13 years, I had almost came to terms with living without daily necessities such as Bullseye BBQ sauce, REAL ranch dressing (sorry kiwis, but even your best attempts at ranch dressing are miserable failures) & Frank’s Hot Sauce. So you can imagine my absolute delight when I walked into Martha’s & saw what they had to offer me!
REAL dill pickles in a range of jar sizes
Velveeta cheese blocks
A&W diet root beer (plus loads of other brands, even Snapple!)
Cool Ranch Doritos
Clamato Juice
Stovetop stuffing
Spitz dill pickle flavoured sunflower seeds
Sweetened iced tea mixes
Popcorn seasonings
I could go on and on & they also sell a load of toys, clothes, beauty products… you name it & they probably stock it!
Stock changes a lot but the staff are well informed with what’s coming in upcoming containers. They even have a clearance table with half price deals (soon to expire or expired stock).
Thank you Martha’s Backyard — you saved this Canadian’s tortured taste buds!

No other country in the world exports junk food as part and parcel of their pop culture… F’Yeah… America
But other than the cereals, candy and drinks molded from cornstarch and sugar there is a selection of clothes and toys and toiletries… not just for expats.
But seriously… there are lots of food stuffs that America has perfected… I’ve tried just about every kind of peanut butter commercially and small batch even home made. NOTHING beats jif… yeah I know its nothing like the cleaning cream… But you have to trust a country who add peanut butter to EVERYTHING and know the stuff out of the jar is perfected to a science…
I feel like my pantry is bare if I don’t have a pre-​molded pie crust… Martha also has the best selection of bbq sauce, salad dressings and chilli as well as canned food stuffs, some of these are an acquired taste like Vienna Sausages or tamales out of a can… but for the daring and adventurous this is about as Andrew Zimmern as you can get in American food.
Go even if its just for the novelty factor… but you may find yourself sucked into the bisquick and koolaid.
The bigger store means the service is a little more sparse and a little less personal but Sandy is always quick to reply to emails and she still very much takes requests and recommendations for things you want/​miss/​need. The online store is also much improved beyond the singular splash screen. So if you can’t make it to the store, you can always get your pop tart fix online.

Martha’s Backyard is absolutely fantastic! Pop Tarts, Captain Crunch, Twinkies, clothes, baking essentials, costumes, the works; anything and (mostly) everything American can be found here. After having spent a gap year in Canada and traveling around America, I can truly appreciate all the goodies that can be found in this sweet little store. Located in the Mt Wellington Harvey Norman hub, there is plenty of parking available, free of charge. It is definitely a store to pop into to experience the life of an American. There is so much in there to look at and choose from, you’re bound to find something that’ll tickle your fancy.

If you’re a fan of high sugar, high additive lollies (sorry, candy), and let’s be honest, who isn’t, this is the place to go. They have bins piled full of bags of chips, pretzels, and nuts, and all the American candy you could ever hope for. However, what I really like about this place are all the things that you can only get here — it’s the only place I’ve found in Auckland that sells liquid smoke, and baking soda toothpaste from Trader Joe’s, and one of the few places that has more than one type of bottled chipotle.
It’s always busy here, but the service is always polite and friendly; it’s one of the few places where you get thanked for shopping there in a sincere manner!
They do import special items for celebrations like the 4^th of July, Thanksgiving and for Christmas, so it should be a first stop if you’re looking for especially American-​themed items for these events.

When I first stumbled upon this shop I was intrigued by the sign that said «The American Shop» so I walked over to see exactly what they were selling.
And it was just like being back in America!
To my excitement I was surrounded by Chips Ahoy cookies, Lucky Charms cereal and Swedish Fish (candy).
I need to go back and see if I can get my hands on some Cinnamon Crunch cereal and maybe some Coca Cola with a dash of lemon or lime…
Martha’s Backyard is definitely a fun shop to have a browse for your new, or old American favourites.

Martha’s Backyard sells genuine American brand items, from candy and baking products to USA paraphernalia. I was really happy to see the store make the move from Lunn Ave– there’s now tonnes of free parking and much more accessible being so close to Sylvia Park. If you’ve never visited Martha’s before, make sure to set some time aside for a good look around– you’ll be surprised at what you find.
My visits to Martha’s Backyard consist of stocking up on coconut and pretzel M&M’s, cookies and cream pop tarts and picking up a few baking goods (I suggest Duncan Hines mixes for a nice treat!). However, curiosity always gets the best of me and I end up wandering around for half an hour in awe of these American goods. At one point I was almost tempted to buy an oreo pie crust; I can’t make a pie but I liked the idea of having one if the mood should strike.
There’s ginger beer aplenty among other various sodas you can buy individually or in boxes. You’ll see a lot of brands you’ve heard of or seen in movies and always wanted to try, but just know New Zealand candy fares very well and actually trumps a lot of American confectionery on offer. Despite this, Martha’s Backyard has a great range of goods to browse and is sure to be a haven for homesick Yankees.