News and media releases

Countdown expects Kiwis to munch their way through more than 530 tonnes of Easter confectionery this holiday, that’s the equivalent of three empty Boeing 747’s. They are also anticipating Kiwis to get more than 13 million individual hot cross buns.

Countdown’s three Whangarei stores have gone plastic bag free at the checkout and online for the day and will be giving away free reusable bags in celebration of today’s release of two endangered marine turtles off the Whangarei coast, part of Countdown’s new partnership with Sea Life Kelly Tarlton’s Turtle Rehabilitation Programme, New Zealand’s only turtle rescue and recovery service. 

Dave has been with Countdown and Progressive Enterprises for 39 years in total, and has been Managing Director on two occasions, once between July 2011 and February 2015, and then again from Feb 2016. He also spent a year as Director of Woolworths Supermarkets in Australia.

Countdown is proud to have gained accreditation from White Ribbon for its ongoing work to support team and family members impacted by family violence.

To acknowledge the accreditation and to support the great work that both White Ribbon and Shine NZ does in the area of domestic and family violence, Countdown is donating $2,500 to White Ribbon and $2,500 to Shine NZ as part of Light It Orange awareness week (3 to 9 March), which aims to shine a light on domestic violence.

At Countdown, everyone counts, and that's why we’re proud to support the Auckland Pride Parade for the second year.

Lauren Voyce, General Manager Culture and People, says Countdown is currently working towards a Rainbow Tick accreditation as part of its ongoing commitment to LGBITQ+, and being part of the Pride Parade is another way of celebrating diversity within our team and communities.

January is already gearing up to be the hottest month in New Zealand since 1908, Kiwis around the country are doing everything they can to stay cool, hydrated and be sun smart.

Countdown has analysed their summer sales data to see what Kiwis are buying to help cope with the heat and its bottled water.

Countdown today released its report reviewing its inaugural set of health and nutrition targets introduced in 2017.  Countdown has also updated its targets for 2018.  Countdown’s health and nutrition commitments align with Retail New Zealand’s ‘Reducing childhood obesity’ pledges made in October 2016.

Countdown has opened its second year of contestable funding for its Food Rescue charity partners, and in 2018 has increased the amount of funding available up to $120,000.

The Countdown Food Rescue Partners Contestable Fund was established in late 2016 in response to feedback from charities working in the food rescue space that there is limited funding dedicated to helping the sector grow and thrive.  

Before you start grinching about the creep of Christmas in late September, spare a thought for all the Kiwis that can’t get enough of the Christmas fare - no matter the time of the year! Kiwis seem to have a complete love affair with Christmas mince pies and chocolate, with tens of thousands of Christmas products flying off the shelves in October alone.

Countdown has today released its third Corporate Responsibility Report and signalled an ambitious new sustainability focus with the launch of 20 new commitments out to 2020.  

The goals fall under the three categories of People, Planet and Prosperity, and align with the United Nations’ 2015 Sustainable Development Goals, one of the first companies in New Zealand to do so.