News and media releases

Young Kiwi conservationists, gardeners and environmental champions at 30 schools across the country will now be able to kick-start their sustainability projects thanks to $25,000 of grants awarded today by Countdown.

The Growing for Good grants aim to help primary and intermediate schools fund a range of projects which are focused on protecting Aotearoa’s precious environment.  These include installing beehives and chicken coops, planting native trees and plants as well as fruit and vege gardens, investigating maramataka, growing Māori medicinal plants, and reducing food waste.

On Christmas Eve, kids all over New Zealand will be preparing the best snack plate for Santa and carrots for the imminent arrival of his trusty reindeer.  To ensure no family gets caught short this Christmas, Santa has given Countdown the official stamp of approval for its New Zealand-grown reindeer carrots and Santa cookies.

Scott Davidson, official Santa helper and Countdown’s Chief Christmas Elf, says the Countdown produce team reached out to Kiwi farmers last year to make sure they had enough carrots for the reindeer.

Countdown is pleased to announce that it has lodged a resource consent application with Hutt City Council to redevelop the Wainuiomata Shopping Centre, which includes a proposal to build a brand new Countdown supermarket at the heart of the town centre.

The new, larger Countdown store will have a number of features to enhance our overall drive to be more sustainable, and Countdown’s General Manager Property, Adrian Walker, says lodging the consent marks a pivotal moment for the redevelopment.

Countdown is proud to have gained the Rainbow Tick for its work to promote diversity and inclusion across the business, including being the first large employer in New Zealand to introduce policy and training to support transitioning team members, and rolling out unconscious bias training to leaders and hiring managers.

Countdown pledged to achieve Rainbow Tick accreditation as part of its 2020 Corporate Social Responsibility commitments set late last year.  Kiri Hannifin, Countdown’s General Manager Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, says having a goal to work towards has been key in pushing themselves to do more to support LGBTI+ team members and promote a truly inclusive work environment.

Countdown is recalling its own brand trevally fish fillets sold between 16 – 25 November 2018.in 83 of its North Island Countdown stores. The fillets may contain elevated levels of histamine.

Kiwi home cooks around the country have already got into the holiday spirit, mixing up their favourite Christmas cake ingredients in October as they prepare the perfect traditional Christmas cake for this year’s big event.  

Not only are traditional baking products flying off the shelves but Kiwis seem to have a complete love affair with Christmas food.  Thousands of mince pies and chocolate have already been consumed throughout October and November.

Countdown supports the Consumers Right To Know (Country of Origin of Food) Bill which passed its third reading in Parliament last night.  Countdown has voluntarily provided country of origin information on single ingredient, fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and seafood since 2008, as well as all of its own brand packaged goods

Reducing its gender wage gap to 1.11 per cent and carbon emissions by 8.8 per cent, are just two of the highlights included in Countdown’s latest Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, which was released today.

Christmas has come early for 21 children’s hospitals and wards across New Zealand, with the 2018 Countdown’s Kids Hospital Appeal raising $1.2 million for much-needed items, such as new equipment or upgraded facilities for patients.

Countdown and The Salvation Army have teamed-up for their Countdown Food Rescue Christmas Appeal, timed to help the growing number of New Zealand families in need for whom the festive season is particularly stressful.