New Countdown in Kerikeri opens as one of New Zealand's most modern Supermarkets

Countdown will unveil its latest store at Kerikeri on Tuesday, featuring a focus on fresh food and green technology. 

The 3,800sqm Countdown store on the corner of Butler and Kerikeri Road will be officially opened on Tuesday 13 December at 7:30am by Far North Mayor Wayne Brown, before being opened to the public at 9:00am.

“This is an incredibly positive development for Kerikeri,” said Mayor Brown.

“It will give our residents more choice and attract more people from surrounding areas into town for their shopping. The development has given our construction sector a boost, and the permanent roles created for the larger store are hugely beneficial for the local community.”

The store will replace the existing Countdown store on the corner of Fairway Drive and Kerikeri Road, which will close its doors for the final time at 9:00pm on Monday 12 December. The existing Kerikeri Countdown team will be based at the new store and will be joined by an additional 64 staff.

Patrick Dudley, Store Manager of the new Countdown Kerikeri, says the new features of the store are impressive and functional, as well as being environmentally friendly.

“The first thing customers will notice is how spacious the new store is – it’s four times larger in area than the existing store, it has wider aisles and our products are laid out so it’s easier to select what you need.

“We have large instore bakery, deli and seafood departments, as well as a much greater space devoted to produce and other fresh foods,” Mr Dudley added.

“This is complemented by a huge number and range of grocery lines at highly competitive prices, including the popular Select, Signature Range and Home Brand ranges, as well as Countdown’s new Macro Wholefoods Market brand.

“This store also has a big walk-in beer and wine chiller, giving customers a much greater choice of refrigerated beverages,” he said.

The new Countdown store has been carefully designed and constructed to reduce its impact on the environment. It features energy efficient lighting reducing power consumption.

The fresh produce fridges have state-of-the-art blinds that slide over at night and trap in the cold air. Similarly, sliding covers on freezers and heat reclaim off the refrigeration coils and help minimise the store’s carbon footprint.

The store has 17 checkouts available, including four express checkouts and five self-serve checkouts so customers can scan and pay for their shopping themselves.

Mr Dudley said the team at Countdown Kerikeri will continue its active involvement in the local community.

“Each year, we raise money for the Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal, the Salvation Army and Alzheimers New Zealand. It’s important to us to support our community,” he said.

“We have also just launched the Countdown Food Rescue appeal, where we partner with The Salvation Army’s Far North Corps to help stock the food bank for Christmas.

“This will be part on an ongoing initiative to redirect surplus food that we may not be able to sell to people that need it the most.

Countdown Kerikeri will be open seven days from 7:00am to 10:00pm, and offers convenient parking with 175 car parks.