Woolworths (New Zealand supermarket chain)

This article is about the New Zealand supermarket chain. For the parent company, see Woolworths New Zealand. For other uses, see Woolworth.

Woolworths New Zealand

Logo since 2023

Type| Subsidiary
Industry| Retail
Predecessors|

* Countdown

Founded| 1929; 94 years ago (1929) (original) 2023 (revival)

Number of locations

| 28 (November 2023)
Parent| Woolworths New Zealand
Website| countdown.co.nz

Woolworths is a New Zealand supermarket and general merchandise retail chain. Countdown is currently in the process of rebranding all stores back to Woolworths.

The original brand was phased-out in the late 2000s.[1] All but one store were rebranded as Countdown by 2011,[2] with the exception in Mount Maunganui.[3]

## History[edit]

### Woolworths (1929–1979)[edit]

Woolworths Supermarkets (NZ)

Type| Subsidiary
Industry| Retail
Predecessors|

* Dairy Farm
* L.D. Nathan

Founded| 1929 (1929); 94 years ago
Founder| Percy Christmas
Defunct| 2011; 12 years ago (2011) (original)
Fate| Rebranded as Countdown
Successors| Countdown
Woolworths NZ (spun-off)
Headquarters|

Mount Maunganui

New Zealand

Owner| Woolworths Group
Parent| Progressive Enterprises (spun-off)
(Woolworths Limited)
Woolworths advertisement, Levin, 1949 Woolworths Supermarket, Upper Hutt, 1974

Piercy Christmas opened the first Woolworths store on Cuba Street, Wellington in 1929. It expanded into a chain of stores, initially selling general merchandise.[4]

In 1963, Milne & Choyce, Farmers Trading Company and Woolworths formed a joint venture to establish New Zealand's first shopping mall in New Lynn, Auckland. All three companies established anchor stores in the new mall.[5]

Woolworths opened the first supermarket in Hastings in 1965.[6]

Woolworths acquired the Self Help grocery chain in the early 1970s and began to rebrand these as Woolworths in 1973.[7][8]

### L.D. Nathan (1979–1990)[edit]

L.D. Nathan, the owner of the Super Value supermarket chain, purchased Woolworths for $12 million in 1979.[9][10][6][11]

L.D. Nathan acquired 70 McKenzies general merchandise stores in 1980,[12] rebranding the stores as Woolworths.[13]

The general merchandise stores were rebranded as DEKA in 1988.[13]

L. D. Nathan established the discount supermarket chain Price Chopper in 1987, and the Big Fresh supermarket chain in 1988.[9][11]

### Dairy Farm International (1990–2002)[edit]

Woolworths Wanganui, 2006

In 1990, Hong Kong's Dairy Farm International acquired the Woolworths New Zealand business, consisting of Woolworths, Price Chopper and Big Fresh chains.

Woolworths launched New Zealand's first online supermarket in 1996.[4]

Between 1990 and 2000, Woolworths trialled a network of min-supermarkets in BP petrol stations.[14]

In 2001, Woolworths began operating mini-supermarkets at 17 Gull New Zealand stores.[14]

By 2002, Woolworths New Zealand consisted of 83 supermarkets branded as Woolworths, Big Fresh and Price Chopper. It was the country's third-largest supermarket group, with a market share of about 20%.[15]

### Progressive Enterprises (2002–2005)[edit]

Progressive Enterprises, the owner of Foodtown, Countdown, SuperValue and FreshChoice, made a bid to purchase Woolworths New Zealand in May 2001.[16] The merger application was cleared by the Commerce Commission but then withdrawn following court action by rival Foodstuffs.[17]

Progressive made another application for the merger in October 2001.[17] The Commerce Commission declined the application in December 2001.[18] Australia's Woolworths Group also expressed interest in acquiring the company.[15]

In April 2002, Progressive convinced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council to uphold the Commerce Commission's clearance of the original merger application.[15] Dairy Farm International agreed to the sale, and the merger proceeded later in 2002.[4]

In 2003, there were 59 full-format Woolworths stores, including 17 in Auckland. There were also 26 Woolworths mini-supermarkets, including 14 in Auckland.[19][20]

Progressive Enterprises launched its onecard loyalty card in 2003, based on the Foodtown loyalty card launched in 1994.[4]

### Woolworths Group (2005–2009)[edit]

Australia's Woolworths Group acquired Progressive Enterprises in 2005, including the Woolworths chain.[21]

In October 2006, Woolworths began operating fuel discount vouchers for Z Energy and Gull New Zealand.[4][failed verification]

In 2008, Woolworths had 61 full-format stores, including 10 in Auckland. It also had 18 mini-supermarkets at Gull New Zealand petrol stations, including 11 in Auckland.[22]

In 2008 Progressive Enterprises approached its 943 New Zealand suppliers (which Woolworths calls "Trade Partners") to use electronic commerce or EDI to integrate supply chain orders (such as Purchase Orders and Invoices) in the same way that Woolworths does in Australia.[23]

### Rebranding (2009–2018)[edit]

In September 2009, it was announced that the Woolworths brand would almost cease to exist as most of the stores would be rebranded as Countdown over a five-year period.[1]

By August 2010, the Woolworths brand had ceased to exist in the South Island. On 14 November 2011, the Meadowlands store in Howick, Auckland was rebranded as Countdown, marking the official end of the Woolworths brand.[2][24]

The 21 Woolworths mini-supermarkets at Gull petrol stations were taken over by Night 'n Day from June 2011.[25]

Woolworths Bayfair in Mount Maunganui continued to operate under the Woolworths brand.[3] A new Countdown supermarket opened in Bayfair in December 2018.[26]

### Reversion to Woolworths brand (2023–present)[edit]

In July 2023, it was announced that all Countdown stores would be reverting to the Woolworths brand as part of a $400 million transformation.[27]

The Countdown store in Bethlehem a suburb of Tauranga which originally opened in 2003 reopened on 17 August 2023 after renovations.[28] This store became the first to be rebranded as Woolworths.[29][30]

## Private label brands[edit]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

|

### 2002–2011[edit]

* Woolworths Select
* Woolworths Home Brand / Basics
* Woolworths Naytura
* Woolworths Freefrom
* Woolworths Essentials
* Signature Range

### 1990–2002[edit]

* No Frills
* First Choice

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "Foodtown, Woolworths brands on way out". The New Zealand Herald. 21 September 2009.
2. ^ a b Edmunds, Susan (30 October 2021). "Four of New Zealand's biggest rebrands". stuff.co.nz.
3. ^ a b Wells, Hunter (8 May 2015). "Memories of Bayfair's 30 years". Sun Media. SunLive.
4. ^ a b c d e "Countdown Supermarkets - Our History". countdown.co.nz. Woolworths New Zealand.
5. ^ Laurenson, Helen (11 March 2010). "LynnMall". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
6. ^ a b Dunn, Sarah (24 March 2016). "Half a century in retail: Des Flynn". The Register. ICG Media.
7. ^ "Ted van Arkel" (PDF). mags.school.nz. Mount Albert Grammar School.
8. ^ "Goodbye to groceries". Central Courier. 18 December 1979.
9. ^ a b Eriksen, Alanah (9 July 2012). "Leading Auckland retailer and benefactor dies at 99". New Zealand Herald. APN News & Media.
10. ^ "$12 m takeover bid for Woolworths". Otago Daily Times. Allied Press. 4 November 1978. p. 1.
11. ^ a b "Obituary: Dennis Nathan". East Bays Courier. stuff.co.nz. 11 July 2012.
12. ^ "McKenzies (N.Z.) Ltd". natlib.govt.nz. National Library of New Zealand.
13. ^ a b Grigg, Simon (3 January 2015). "Lost record stores of inner Auckland". Audio Culture.
14. ^ a b de Boni, Dita (6 April 2001). "Woolworths, Gull join hands". Wilson & Horton. New Zealand Herald.
15. ^ a b c Hendery, Simon (9 June 2002). "Speculation mounts on Woolworths $700m sale". New Zealand Herald. Wilson & Horton.
16. ^ Thorn, Geoff (25 May 2001). "Progressive applies for clearance to acquire Woolworths". Commerce Commission.
17. ^ a b Boeyen, Phil. "Progressive makes new thrust". Sharechat. MoneyOnline.
18. ^ Hendery, Simon (14 December 2001). "Supermarket merger rejected". New Zealand Herald. Wilson & Horton.
19. ^ "Store locations". woolworths.co.nz. Woolworths New Zealand. Archived from the original on 2 February 2003.
20. ^ Hendery, Simon (16 February 2004). "Big refresh pays off for Progressive supermarket chain". Wilson & Horton. New Zealand Herald.
21. ^ "Battle of the supermarket giants". Fairfax New Zealand. 31 January 2009.
22. ^ "Store locations". progressive.co.nz. Progressive Enterprises. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008.
23. ^ "Woolworths EDI VAN Case Study | Trade Partners e-business". www.b2be.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014.
24. ^ "Last Woolworths and Foodtown stores farewelled". Countdown. 14 November 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
25. ^ O'Neill, Rob (19 June 2011). "Gull swoops on Night 'n Day alliance". stuff.co.nz.
26. ^ "First stage of Bayfair $115m development now open". Sun Media. SunLive. 6 December 2018.
27. ^ "Final Countdown: Supermarket giant rebranding back to Woolworths at cost of $400 million". The New Zealand Herald. 18 June 2023.
28. ^ "A new chapter for Bethlehem: Countdown Bethlehem the first to relaunch as Woolworths New Zealand".
29. ^ "Out for the count: First rebranded Woolworths supermarket opens in NZ". NZ Herald. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
30. ^ "Bye-bye Countdown: NZ's first rebranded Woolworths opens". Otago Daily Times Online News. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.

## External links[edit]

* Woolworths Supermarkets (New Zealand)
* Progressive Enterprises Ltd

* v
* t
* e

Woolworths Group (Australia)

Supermarkets|

* Woolworths Supermarkets
* Woolworths Metro
* Woolworths New Zealand
* Countdown
* FreshChoice
* SuperValue

General merchandise|

* Big W

Former divisions|

* Big Fresh
* Endeavour Group
* BWS
* Dan Murphy's
* Langton's
* Caltex Woolworths
* Dick Smith
* Flemings
* Food For Less
* Foodtown
* Georgie Pie
* Home Hardware
* Masters Home Improvement
* Plants Plus
* Price Chopper
* Safeway
* Tandy Electronics
* Woolworths New Zealand
* Thomas Dux

Related|

* List of Woolworths Group companies
* Everyday Rewards
* 2006 Progressive Enterprises dispute
* Langton's Classification of Australian Wine

* v
* t
* e

Retailers in New Zealand

List of retailers \- List of shopping centres

Supermarkets and grocery|

* 3 Guys / Gubays
* Big Fresh
* Countdown
* Countdown Metro
* Foodtown
* Four Square
* FreshChoice
* New World
* Night 'n Day
* Pak'nSave
* Price Chopper
* SuperValue
* The Warehouse
* Woolworths

Hardware, building and garden|

* Bunnings Warehouse
* Carters
* ColourPlus
* Guthrie Bowron
* ITM
* Kings Plant Barn
* Lightingplus
* Mitre 10
* NZ Safety Blackwoods
* Palmers Garden Centre
* PlaceMakers
* Resene ColorShop

Fuel|

* Allied Petroleum
* BP
* Caltex
* Challenge
* GAS
* Gull
* Mobil
* NPD
* Waitomo
* Z Energy

Pharmaceutical|

* Body Shop
* Chemist Warehouse
* Life Pharmacy
* Unichem

Department stores|

* Arthur Barnett
* Ballantynes
* D.I.C.
* David Jones
* DEKA
* EziBuy
* Farmers
* Haywrights
* H & J Smith
* Kirkcaldie & Stains
* Kmart Australia
* Smith & Caughey's
* The Warehouse

Electrical|

* 2degrees
* Bond and Bond
* EB Games
* Harvey Norman
* Hill and Stewart
* JB Hi-Fi
* Noel Leeming
* One NZ
* Smiths City
* Spark

Clothing, footwear and accessories|

* Athlete's Foot
* Barkers
* Bendon Lingerie
* Connor
* Cotton On
* Cotton On Body
* Cotton On Kids
* Country Road
* Dotti
* Dr. Martens
* Factorie
* Foot Locker
* Glassons
* Goldmark
* Hallenstein Brothers
* Hannahs
* H&M
* Huffer
* Hype DC
* Jacqui E
* Jay Jays
* Johnny Bigg
* Just Jeans
* Maher Shoes
* Max Fashions
* Merchant 1948
* Mi Piaci
* Michael Hill Jeweller
* Nike, Inc.
* NOVO Shoes
* Number One Shoes
* Partridge Jewellers
* Pascoes
* Peter Alexander
* Platypus Shoes
* Portmans
* Postie
* Rivers
* R. M. Williams
* Rodd & Gunn
* Rubi
* Shoe Clinic
* Smith's Sports Shoes
* Stewart Dawsons
* Strandbags
* SUBTYPE
* Sunglass Hut
* Supré
* Tarocash
* Timberland
* Under Armour
* Walker & Hall
* Witchery
* yd.
* Zara

Motor vehicles and parts|

* Repco
* Supercheap Auto

Recreational goods|

* Borders
* Icebreaker
* JB Hi-Fi
* JD Sports
* Kathmandu
* Macpac
* Mountain Designs
* Nike
* Paper Plus
* R&R Sport
* Rebel Sport
* Smiggle
* Stirling Sports
* Take Note
* Torpedo7
* Toy World
* Typo
* Under Armour
* Unity Books
* Warehouse Stationery
* Whitcoulls

Furniture, floor, houseware and textile|

* Briscoes
* Freedom Furniture
* Harvey Norman
* Lincraft
* Living & Giving
* Nick Scali Furniture
* Nood Furniture
* Smiths City
* Spotlight
* Stevens
* Sunny's Variety Stores

Liquor|

* Big Barrel
* Birds Liquorsave
* Black Bull Liquor
* The Bottle O
* Duffy & Finn's
* Glengarry
* Henry's Beer, Wine & Spirits
* Liquor Centre
* Liquor King
* Liquor Spot
* LiquorLand
* Merchants Liquor
* The Mill
* Super Liquor
* Thirsty Liquor
* The Trusts
* Village Wine & Spirits
* West Liquor

Specialised food|

* Bakers Delight

Hospitality|

* Boost Juice
* BurgerFuel
* Burger King
* Carl's Jr.
* Coffee Club
* Domino's Pizza
* Donut King
* Dunkin' Donuts
* Georgie Pie
* Hell Pizza
* Jesters Pies
* KFC
* Krispy Kreme
* Lord of the Fries
* Mad Mex Fresh Mexican Grill
* McDonald's
* Noodle Box
* Oporto
* Pie Face
* Pita Pit
* Pizza Hut
* Subway
* Taco Bell
* Texas Chicken
* Winner Winner
* Zambrero

Defunct retailers in italics
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