The Warehouse has started selling fresh fruit and vegetables

The Warehouse is doing its part to help ease the rising cost of living in New Zealand ...

This week, the iconic retail chain announced it would be expanding its grocery range into fresh fruit and vegetables.

Stepping up its rivalry with supermarkets, the retailer will trial a range of fresh produce at six of its stores, with plans to expand the range and extend to more locations.

"The supermarkets (and many suppliers) are very comfortable with the current set-up but we're not, so we're doing something about it," said Nick Grayston, chief executive of The Warehouse Group.

"We remain committed to offering Kiwis great value on essential groceries and we think this should include fruit and vegetables."

Fruit and vegetables are now available at The Warehouse stores in Whangārei, Westgate, Lyall Bay, Riccarton, Timaru and Invercargill.

The Warehouse will work with local suppliers where practical for supplies of carrots, onions, potatoes, avocados, apples, sweetcorn and tomatoes.

While bananas would be sourced from overseas.

The company also provided a cost comparison of its grocery range, saying that a basket of bread, milk, butter, Marmite, Weetbix, coffee, apples, tomatoes, laundry powder and Purina cat food cost $48.55 at The Warehouse, compared to $60.66 at Countdown.