Countdown lifts 3Q sales 5% on increased volumes

Countdown lifts 3Q sales 5% on increased volumes
By Paul McBeth May 6 (BusinessDesk) - Countdown, the New Zealand supermarket chain owned by Australian retailer Woolworths, lifted third-quarter sales by 5 percent as it eked out bigger volumes in a low-inflation environment. Sales rose to $1.5 billion in the 13 weeks ended April 5 from $1.43 billion a year earlier, the Sydney-based parent said in a statement. In Australian dollar terms, sales rose 7.7 percent to A$1.43 billion as the company benefited from a weaker currency during the period, increasing the value of offshore exported ear...