News and media releases

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.

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.