News and media releases

From today, customers will need to be 16 years or older to buy energy drinks at Countdown’s 180 stores across the country as the company’s new age-restriction kicks in. After announcing the move in late July, over the last month Countdown has been actively talking to customers about the upcoming change, and signage has now gone into stores to let younger customers ...

Countdown has announced its target to reduce carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2030 vs its 2015 levels, published in the company’s 2019 Sustainability Report released today. In the last three years, Countdown has reduced carbon emissions by 21 per cent through reductions in refrigerant gas leakage, the introduction of more energy efficient LED lighting and its food resc ...

Kiwis have embraced ugly, with sales of Countdown’s The Odd Bunch fruit and vegetables increasing by more than 145 per cent in the last year.

The Odd Bunch launched in 2017 to help reduce food waste, sourcing more produce from growers, and make fruit and veges more affordable for Kiwi shoppers.  

Auckland’s central city shoppers will soon experience a brand new type of food and grocery store with construction starting on Countdown’s first Metro in lower Albert Street.

The new Metro store, set to open in December, will create 50 new jobs and give city customers a curated range for a quick and easy shop on the go, including kombucha and cold brew coffee on tap, takeaway coffees, and an extensive range of food-to-go options for breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner which will change throughout the day.

Countdown is recalling its Woolworths Crunchy Natural Almonds 225g Snackpots with a best before date of 2/01/2020. The products have been sold in Countdown​ stores nationwide between 30 June and 6 August 2019.

Countdown has today welcomed the first of five refrigerated electric delivery trucks to its online shopping service, which will eliminate approximately 135,000kg of CO₂ emissions annually.

The new trucks are part of Countdown’s overall drive to lower carbon emissions across its business, which have been steadily decreasing over the last three years.  Each truck is expected to be able to drive around 220 kilometres before recharging.

Countdown’s Kids Hospital Appeal launches today, which hopes to raise more than $1 million for sick and recovering children and teens around the country.

After a successful trial in 18 supermarkets, Countdown has announced that from today it will accept BYO (bring your own) containers for food sold over the counter in its supermarkets nationwide.

This gives customers the choice to reduce single-use plastic and re-use their own containers at Countdown’s deli, meat and seafood counters.

From 2 September, customers will need to be 16 years or older to buy energy drinks at Countdown’s 180 supermarkets nationwide.

The decision comes in response to growing concerns raised by health leaders about the impact increased consumption of high-sugar, highly-caffeinated energy drinks is having on New Zealand children.

Countdown is aiming to sell more than 50,000 packs of lamingtons this July, to raise funds for the four out of five New Zealanders who are affected by alzheimers or dementia in some way.

The humble raspberry or chocolate coconut-covered Kiwi icon has raised more than $150,000 for Alzheimers New Zealand in the last ten years, and Countdown is preparing for another great year of fundraising which is now underway throughout July.