Countdown sales rise 2.1% in March quarter on rising prices, loyalty programme

Countdown sales rise 2.1% in March quarter on rising prices, loyalty programme
Paul McBeth
By Paul McBeth May 2 (BusinessDesk) - ASX-listed Woolworths' New Zealand supermarket chain Countdown increased sales 2.1 percent in the March quarter as it benefited from rising prices and its tie-up with the AA Smartfuel loyalty scheme. Sales rose to $1.59 billion in the 13 weeks ended April 2 from $1.56 billion a year earlier, the Sydney-based company said in a statement. Adjusting for Easter, sales were up 2.2 percent, and in Australian dollar terms rose 4.3 percent. Countdown's supermarkets food price index rose 0.8 percent in the per...