Countdown (supermarket)
_logo.png){kind=logo} |
|
| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Auckland, New Zealand |
|
Number of locations
|
184 |
|
Key people
|
Harry Bramwell - Trolley Logistics Manager |
| Products | Groceries |
| Owner | Progressive Enterprises |
|
Number of employees
|
18,000 |
| Parent | Woolworths Limited |
| Website | Countdown.co.nz |
Countdown is a New Zealand full-service supermarket chain and subsidiary of Progressive Enterprises, itself a subsidiary of Australia's Woolworths Limited. It is the largest single supermarket chain in New Zealand in terms of number of stores, though the Four Square chain owned by co-operative rival Foodstuffs - with operations mainly as grocery stores or smaller supermarkets in rural communities - is larger, with 275 franchised shops.
In May 1981, the first Countdown market opened at Northlands Mall in Papanui, Christchurch. This business was established by Rattrays Wholesale. The Rattrays Wholesale Group included the Rattrays Cash and Carry warehouses, tobacco vans, now known as the Red Arrow Distributors fleet and also included the SuperValue group of franchised supermarkets and now operating as SuperValue/FreshChoice.
In 2006, Foodland Associated Limited (FAL) Australia, purchased the Countdown/Rattrays business. This acquisition was then followed by gaining a majority share holding in Progressive Enterprises Limited, including General Distributors Limited, trading as the Foodtown.
In October 1993, Foodland Associated Limited (FAL) bought the majority shareholding in Progressive Enterprises from Coles Myer and, shortly after, bought all remaining public shares and delisted Progressive from the New Zealand stock exchange. With this purchase, Progressive Enterprises became the parent company for a number of FAL brands. Progressive Enterprises consisted of Foodtown Supermarkets, Countdown, Georgie Pie, Rattrays and Supervalue.
On 17 June 2002, Progressive Enterprises Ltd bought Woolworths (NZ) Ltd from Hong Kong-based owners Dairy Farm Group. The sale saw Progressive's supermarket brands Foodtown, Countdown, 3 Guys, SuperValue and FreshChoice joined by Woolworths, Big Fresh and Price Chopper. As a result, PEL increased its share of the NZ grocery market to approximately 45%.
...
Wikipedia