Countdown earnings rise 10.7% on fatter margins, bigger sales

Thu, 27 Aug 2020

Lockdown pantry-stocking helped drive Woolworths' New Zealand earnings up by more than 10 percent as it managed to fatten margins despite the added cost of operating in a covid-19 environment. NZ supermarket sales, through Woolworths’ local brand Countdown, rose 9.1 percent to $7.2 billion in the 52 weeks ended June 28. That outperformed the wider group's 8.1 percent increase in group sales to A$63.68 billion. “Covid-19 also impacted the customer shopping experience, particularly in March and early April, driven by material levels of pa...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

On the Money

On the Money: Mark Mitchell, Rob Hewett, Amanda Luxon, and more

What a week! Somebody call the police, or maybe don't.

Dileepa Fonseka 5:00am

Opinion

Eden Bradfield: Yet another backdoor disappointment

The slow death of Being AI.

Eden Bradfield 5:00am

Technology

The iPhone Pocket is coming. Would you buy a $406 sock?

Promotional materials describe the offering as “singular.”

The Washington Post 5:00am

The iPhone Pocket is coming. Would you buy a $406 sock?

Sponsored

Cybersecurity skills gap leaving Kiwi businesses at risk - report

A cybersecurity skills shortage is creating additional cyber risks, according to a new global report.

Fortinet

Sponsored

Spark’s partner strategy sets the bar for innovation

Spark

More Retail

Retail

NZ’s second giant Costco Wholesale to be built at Drury

New Zealand’s second giant Costco Wholesale shop will be built in South Auckland’s Drury, it has been confirmed.Kiwi Property chief executive Clive Mackenzie and Costco country manager Chris Tingman made a joint statement about a conditional land deal.“Kiwi Property has reached a...

Staff reporters 12 Nov 2025