News and media releases

Countdown has become the first large New Zealand supermarket retailer to offer only 100 per cent organic Braeburn apples at supermarkets nationwide, rather than the conventionally-grown variety, as demand for organics grows at more than twice the speed of the conventional market.

Countdown customers have voted to donate $100,000 to three of New Zealand’s most loved charities, with KidsCan receiving $37,635, The Salvation Army $34,845, and Forest & Bird $32,550.

Countdown has announced the recipients of its 2019 Food Rescue Partners Contestable Fund, with $165,000 provided to 12 charities in this year’s round.  

Countdown has now donated more than $435,000 to food rescue partners over the last three years, which is designed to increase the capacity and help grow food rescue charities to collect surplus food and distribute it to Kiwis in need.

From today Countdown, SuperValue and FreshChoice customers can donate to The Christchurch Foundation’s Our People, Our City Fund at checkouts nationwide.

As one of the first companies in New Zealand to embed a Family Violence Policy across its business, Countdown has today shared the positive impact its policy has made for its team ahead of the government’s Domestic Violence - Victims’ Protection Act coming into effect on 1 April.

Countdown joined the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon Iain Lees-Galloway, Under-Secretary Jan Logie and representatives from Shine and the Human Rights Commission at its Cable Car Lane store to discuss why the new law is so important.

Countdown has been researching the food trends for the coming year and says that kefir is at the top of the list of products Kiwis will be throwing into their trolleys.

Kefir is a fizzy, milky drink bursting with bacteria that's great for your gut. It can also be made from water or coconut milk.  Countdown dietician Deb Sue says that customers continue to embrace products that aid gut health as the trend that focus on digestive wellness continues to resonate.

The humble egg has always been a source of great debate, whether it came before or after the chicken, or whether it’s best fried sunny-side-up or down, poached, boiled or scrambled.  But for Countdown customers, there is now one less egg mystery to solve - where your free range eggs were laid.

From today, Countdown has introduced egg stamping on all its own brand of free range eggs, ensuring full traceability from farm to plate.  The new stamp uses food grade ink, which is safe to eat and will not affect the egg, and prints a Countdown logo and code on each egg at the farm, right after being laid and before packaging.

Woolworths NZ has today announced its half year profit result, and with more than 40 per cent in online shopping sales growth over the first half of the financial year, online now sits at 6.5 per cent of Woolworths NZ’s total sales.

Countdown customers’ uptake of online services are right up there when compared to global markets, with customers loving the convenience of delivery and Pick Up services nationwide.

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.