Shipping policy

Shipping & Delivery

At The Pet Food Company, we take the delivery of your pet's food seriously. Every order is carefully packed and dispatched from frozen to ensure it arrives in the best possible condition. We work with trusted courier partners to provide reliable delivery throughout Christchurch and across the South Island.

Christchurch Delivery

Delivery Pricing

Order Value Delivery Fee
Up to $40 $15
$40–$100 $10
Over $100 FREE

Residential and business addresses within our Christchurch delivery zone are eligible.

Canterbury Delivery

We currently deliver throughout North Canterbury, Selwyn, Mid Canterbury and South Canterbury.

You can check if your address is eligible using our Postcode Checker or FAQs before checkout.

Delivery Pricing

Order Value Delivery Fee
Up to $170 $17.50
$170–$360 $30

Orders over $360 require a custom freight quote.

Please contact admin@thepetfoodcompany.co.nz before placing your order.

South Island Overnight Express

We offer Overnight Express Delivery to urban addresses throughout most of the South Island.

Unfortunately, Rural Delivery (RD) addresses are not currently eligible.

Short Haul Regions

Examples include:

  • Nelson

  • Tasman

  • Marlborough

  • Blenheim

  • Kaikōura

  • Hanmer Springs

  • Selected West Coast postcodes

  • Oamaru

Order Value Delivery Fee
Up to $100 $25
$100–$200 $19.99
$200–$360 $45

Orders over $360 require a custom freight quote.

Long Haul Regions

Examples include:

  • Queenstown

  • Otago

  • Southland

  • Mt Cook / Mackenzie

  • Selected lower South Island destinations

Order Value Delivery Fee
Up to $100 $35
$100–$200 $25
$200–$360 $45

Orders over $360 require a custom freight quote.

No More 24kg Shipping Limit

Our new value-based freight system means you're no longer restricted by our previous 24kg shipping limit for Short Haul and Long Haul deliveries.

Whether you're ordering for one pet or stocking up for multiple pets, larger orders now receive better freight pricing based on order value rather than weight.

Areas We Don't Deliver

At this stage, we do not deliver to the North Island or to rural South Island addresses.

Delivery Days & Dispatch Schedule

Christchurch

Residential Christchurch deliveries are completed every Tuesday and Friday.

Orders placed before 7:00am on a delivery day qualify for same-day delivery.

Orders received after the cut-off will be delivered on the next scheduled delivery day.

Canterbury

Regional Canterbury deliveries operate every Monday and Thursday.

Eligible addresses between Amberley and Timaru receive delivery on the same day their order is dispatched. All other others in Canterbury operate on express overnight.

Orders placed before 7:00am on a scheduled delivery day qualify for same-day dispatch.

Orders received after the cut-off will be delivered on the next scheduled delivery day.

Rest of the South Island

Short Haul and Long Haul deliveries are dispatched every Monday and Thursday via Overnight Express.

Orders placed before 7:00am on a dispatch day are shipped that same day.

Delivery timeframes are subject to courier schedules and are typically overnight to eligible urban addresses.

Choosing Your Delivery Date

You can choose your preferred delivery date using the delivery calendar before adding products to your cart.

If no delivery date is selected, your order will automatically be allocated to the next available delivery date.

If an unavailable delivery option is selected for your postcode, your order will automatically be moved to the next eligible delivery day.

Packaging & Frozen Deliveries

All products leave our premises frozen to maintain maximum freshness.

Orders travelling outside Christchurch are packed with additional insulated packaging to help maintain temperature during transport.

While we take every reasonable precaution to ensure your order arrives in excellent condition, customers ordering outside Christchurch acknowledge that frozen freight is transported by third-party courier services.

Once collected by the courier, responsibility for transport transfers to the courier and customer.

Delays can occasionally occur due to:

  • Severe weather

  • Road closures

  • Courier operational delays

  • Other unforeseen logistical events

If your order has not arrived as expected, please contact us on:

admin@thepetfoodcompany.co.nz

or

0800 555 281

We will work directly with our courier partners to investigate any delivery issues.

Thawing During Transit

It is normal for some products to arrive slightly soft or partially thawed.

Provided the food:

  • is still fridge cold to the touch; and

  • has maintained its original block shape,

it is perfectly safe to return directly to the freezer.

Please freeze your order as soon as possible after delivery.

Authority to Leave (ATL)

By placing an order, you authorise our courier partners to leave your parcel in a safe location at your nominated delivery address.

As our products are perishable, deliveries will not be returned to the depot if nobody is home.

Please enter delivery instructions in the Delivery Instructions field during checkout (not Order Notes).

Example:

"Leave in the shade beside the front door."

Instructions entered in Order Notes may not appear on the courier label.

Once your order has been successfully delivered or collected by our courier partner, The Pet Food Company cannot accept responsibility for spoilage, theft, loss or delays caused by circumstances outside our reasonable control, including courier delays or adverse weather.

We will always work with our courier partners to investigate and assist wherever possible.

Need Help?

If you have any questions regarding shipping, delivery eligibility or freight pricing, please contact our team.

Email: admin@thepetfoodcompany.co.nz

Phone: 0800 555 281