Red Cross Breakfast in Schools

The Smart Shopper Countdown supports kids having a healthy start to the day, every day with the breakfast in schools programme. Click here >

You can't learn much on an empty stomach which is why Countdown supermarkets work closely with the New Zealand Red Cross to help those Kiwi kids who are turning up to class with empty tummies.

The Breakfast in Schools programme has been set up to provide a nutritious breakfast to primary school kids who are currently going to school without the most important meal of the day. The programme focuses on helping children in Decile 1 schools, as this is where the greatest need exists.

Countdown provides vital practical support by supplying cereal, milk, bread, spreads and hot drinks. Our partnership with the New Zealand Red Cross means that more children can get a healthy start to the day, instead of suffering from the hunger pangs and behavioural problems that could interfere with learning.

The programme started in May 2007.  By May 2009, volunteers had served more than 200,000 breakfasts to children at 47 Decile 1 schools. And the programme is going from strength to strength as more schools queue up to join.