Countdown Offers Best Overall Deal
The latest Consumers’ Institute survey on supermarkets shows budget conscious customers can now get a better offer at
Countdown. They can get their groceries packed and benefit from great prices.
Chief Operating Officer of Progressive Enterprises, Richard Umbers, says “Countdown has always offered an excellent
service to customers and now this latest survey from Consumers’ shows that service comes with cheap prices.”
Responding to the Consumer supermarket price survey of 30 top-selling products, Mr Umbers said the fact the race on
price between Countdown and Pak Save had narrowed to a $1.21 differential in Dunedin and $1.43 in Christchurch spoke for itself. “Had Consumer chosen a
different range o f products, then Countdown could have been ahead,” he said.
“ Shoppers can now have a pleasant shopping experience and know they are getting truly competitive prices as well,” he
said. “This is a turning point for New Zealand shoppers.”
The national survey across the five main centres surveyed showed that prices are narrowing on a basket of goods
purchased at Countdown and the same basket bought at a rival store.
“Since our acquisition of Woolworths New Zealand we have been able to increase our buying power and improve
efficiencies at all stages of the supply chain. This is flowing through into better prices for New Zealand shoppers.
That is how we have been able to close the price gap and maintain the service for our shoppers,” he said.
Mr Umbers said he had confidence in the Consumer survey and wanted to thank the Consumers’ Institute f or running a
second survey after prices were changed to mislead surveyors in a Dunedin Pak’N Save.
“That’s just a sign of desperation on their part,” he said. “We’re hot on their heals t o match them on price and our
shoppers get a superior service when they come into our stores.”