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Woolworths Supermarkets (New Zealand)
Encyclopedia
Woolworths is a New Zealand supermarket chain and a unit of Woolworths Limited
.
and was called Woolworths New Zealand. During this period, the chain was mainly Variety and General Merchandise products trading under the Woolworths brand.
In 1956, Woolworths first entered food retailing with their Food Fair store, but it wasn't until 1967 that Woolworths launched its first Supermarket in Henderson.
This is incorrect. The first Woolworths "Food Fair" (supermarket) was opened at New Lynn, West Auckland - not Henderson, on 30 October 1963. "Lynmall" was the first regional shopping centre in New Zealand (this was six years after the first Woolworths "Food Fair" in Australia opened at Chermside in Brisbane).http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolworths_Limited cites the first woolworths supermarket opening in 1971. Depending on if and how that actually differed from the "Food Fair" stores would deem whether that is correct, if at all.
Woolworths was expanding and in 1971 acquired the Self Help grocery chain and later rebranded these as Woolworths.
1980 saw L.D. Nathan acquire the McKenzies General Merchandise stores. These stores were then rebranded as Woolworths. With the large number of general merchandise and supermarkets L.D Nathan decided in 1985 to split the into two separate divisions: supermarkets and general merchandise. L.D Nathan rebranded their General Merchandise business in 1988 to DEKA
. 1987 and 1988 saw the launch of the Price Chopper
and Big Fresh
brands.
Ownership changed hands in 1990 when Hong Kong
's Dairy Farm International
acquired the Woolworths supermarket chain.
The chain had three supermarket brands, each with a different offering: Woolworths is a full-service supermarket; Big Fresh
offered a themepark style shopping experience with model animals, dioramas and music; and Price Chopper
was positioned in the discount sector.
The Woolworths stores are broad-range supermarkets with an average size of 30000 sq ft (2,787.1 m²). The Big Fresh stores were larger, with an average size of 51000 sq ft (4,738.1 m²) and offered the widest possible selection and excellent value. The Price Chopper stores were compact with an average size of 14000 sq ft (1,300.6 m²) and were limited-range discount stores located mainly in small towns.
In 1995, Woolworths introduced a pilot online shopping site with a small group of users. This was early days for online shopping in New Zealand. Woolworths was a key player in introducing online supermarket shopping to the New Zealand market.
In 1999, Woolworths developed a mini supermarket format at two BP fuel forecourts in a trial project, but BP pulled out of the project in 2000.
In 2000, The Food Safety First (FSF) Programme was introduced in all Woolworths and Big Fresh stores nationally. This programme employed HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point). This programme was created by the Ministry of Health to identify all potential hazards and controls them before they result in food poisoning problems.
In 2001, Woolworths partnered with Gull Petroleum
to establish mini supermarkets at Gull fuel forecourts called Woolworths @ Gull
, the operator of Foodtown
, Countdown
, SuperValue and FreshChoice. In 2005, Woolworths Limited
re-acquired the New Zealand
unit.
In 2003, the onecard
was launched. This card offers shoppers exclusive discounts on products and entry into competitions. The card was previously known as the Foodtown card, but was relaunched with a new name after the merger between Progressive and Woolworths (NZ) Ltd. The card can now be used in Woolworths, Foodtown and Countdown stores.
Unlike membership-loyalty schemes in most retail outlets, Woolworth's Onecard specials are the predominant visible price on member-discounted products; you have to look closer to see the non-member price, which is typically above the price available at competing supermarkets.
In October 2006, Progressive Enterprises announced a Discount Fuel Scheme with Gull Petroleum and Shell to offer discounts on petrol when shoppers spend $40 or more in their Woolworths, Foodtown or Countdown Stores. This scheme is similar to the one their parent company Woolworths Limited offers in Australia.
over the next five years. In spite of the change of name, the new Countdown stores will adopt the design and much of the branding of Australian Woolworths stores, including their "W" symbol launched in 2008. The supermarket will continue to operate under the Woolworths banner in Bayfair, Mount Maunganui despite being converted to the Countdown store format, because a Countdown already exists in its Bayfair Shopping Centre. The two supermarkets will continue to operate in tandem. Woolworths Mount Maunganui has taken on the Australian Woolworths logo.
Progress in the rebranding has been swift. In August 2010, the Woolworths brand ceased to exist in the South Island
, leaving stores only in the North Island and on Waiheke Island.
Woolworths also provides New Zealand wide services through its online shopping website.
These brands were dropped by Progressive Enterprises
when Dairy Farm International Holdings
sold the company in 2002, and replaced with the Signature Range (SR) and Basics brands. With the purchase of Progressive Enterprises
by Woolworths Limited
, these were then phased out and replaced with Woolworths Home Brand and Woolworths Select brands.
Woolworths Limited
Woolworths Limited is a major Australian company with extensive retail interest throughout Australia and New Zealand. It is the:* largest retail company in Australia and New Zealand by market capitalisation and sales...
.
1929 - 1979 Woolworths
Founded in 1929 by Percy Christmas, the chain was separated from the parent company Woolworths Limited in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and was called Woolworths New Zealand. During this period, the chain was mainly Variety and General Merchandise products trading under the Woolworths brand.
In 1956, Woolworths first entered food retailing with their Food Fair store, but it wasn't until 1967 that Woolworths launched its first Supermarket in Henderson.
This is incorrect. The first Woolworths "Food Fair" (supermarket) was opened at New Lynn, West Auckland - not Henderson, on 30 October 1963. "Lynmall" was the first regional shopping centre in New Zealand (this was six years after the first Woolworths "Food Fair" in Australia opened at Chermside in Brisbane).http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolworths_Limited cites the first woolworths supermarket opening in 1971. Depending on if and how that actually differed from the "Food Fair" stores would deem whether that is correct, if at all.
Woolworths was expanding and in 1971 acquired the Self Help grocery chain and later rebranded these as Woolworths.
1979 - 1990 L.D. Nathan
In 1979, Woolworths was sold to L.D. Nathan. At that time, L.D Nathan owned the Super Value North Island supermarkets. They rebranded these stores to Woolworths.1980 saw L.D. Nathan acquire the McKenzies General Merchandise stores. These stores were then rebranded as Woolworths. With the large number of general merchandise and supermarkets L.D Nathan decided in 1985 to split the into two separate divisions: supermarkets and general merchandise. L.D Nathan rebranded their General Merchandise business in 1988 to DEKA
DEKA (New Zealand)
DEKA was a nationwide chain of general merchandise stores in New Zealand. It was launched in 1988 by L.D. Nathan, which split its supermarket and general merchandise divisions. In 1992 ownership of DEKA shifted to the Farmers Trading Company, which had until then been a competitor...
. 1987 and 1988 saw the launch of the Price Chopper
Price Chopper (New Zealand)
Price Chopper was part of the Woolworths New Zealand Supermarket Group, their brands included: Woolworths, Big Fresh and Price Chopper.- History :The Price Chopper format evolved as a discounter with a limited fresh foods offer in 1987...
and Big Fresh
Big Fresh
Big Fresh was opened in 1988 with its first store in Mount Wellington Auckland. Big Fresh offered a wide range of fresh foods, discount groceries in large market-style store. The concept for Big Fresh was based on a Farmers Market with their focus being on their extensive range of fresh foods...
brands.
1990 - 2001 Dairy Farm International
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
's Dairy Farm International
Dairy Farm International Holdings
Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited is a retail company in Asia, with a legal base in Bermuda. A member of the Jardine Matheson Group, it is a leading pan-Asian retailer which processes food, wholesales food and personal hygiene products in the Pacific region and in China. Jardine Strategic,...
acquired the Woolworths supermarket chain.
The chain had three supermarket brands, each with a different offering: Woolworths is a full-service supermarket; Big Fresh
Big Fresh
Big Fresh was opened in 1988 with its first store in Mount Wellington Auckland. Big Fresh offered a wide range of fresh foods, discount groceries in large market-style store. The concept for Big Fresh was based on a Farmers Market with their focus being on their extensive range of fresh foods...
offered a themepark style shopping experience with model animals, dioramas and music; and Price Chopper
Price Chopper (New Zealand)
Price Chopper was part of the Woolworths New Zealand Supermarket Group, their brands included: Woolworths, Big Fresh and Price Chopper.- History :The Price Chopper format evolved as a discounter with a limited fresh foods offer in 1987...
was positioned in the discount sector.
The Woolworths stores are broad-range supermarkets with an average size of 30000 sq ft (2,787.1 m²). The Big Fresh stores were larger, with an average size of 51000 sq ft (4,738.1 m²) and offered the widest possible selection and excellent value. The Price Chopper stores were compact with an average size of 14000 sq ft (1,300.6 m²) and were limited-range discount stores located mainly in small towns.
In 1995, Woolworths introduced a pilot online shopping site with a small group of users. This was early days for online shopping in New Zealand. Woolworths was a key player in introducing online supermarket shopping to the New Zealand market.
In 1999, Woolworths developed a mini supermarket format at two BP fuel forecourts in a trial project, but BP pulled out of the project in 2000.
In 2000, The Food Safety First (FSF) Programme was introduced in all Woolworths and Big Fresh stores nationally. This programme employed HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point). This programme was created by the Ministry of Health to identify all potential hazards and controls them before they result in food poisoning problems.
In 2001, Woolworths partnered with Gull Petroleum
Gull Petroleum
Gull Petroleum is a Perth, Western Australian based petroleum company, which retails fuel in Western Australia and New Zealand....
to establish mini supermarkets at Gull fuel forecourts called Woolworths @ Gull
2001 - 2009 Progressive Enterprises
In 2001, Dairy Farm International sold its Woolworths New Zealand Limited business and it merged with Progressive EnterprisesProgressive Enterprises
Progressive Enterprises Limited is an Australian owned company operating in New Zealand, and a subsidiary of the Australian retail group Woolworths Limited....
, the operator of Foodtown
Foodtown
| area_served =| key_people =| industry = Retail| products =| services =| market cap =| revenue =| operating_income =| net_income =| assets =| equity =| owner =...
, Countdown
Countdown (supermarket)
Countdown is a New Zealand full-service supermarket chain, owned by Woolworths Limited. Founded in 1981, Countdown is now the flagship brand of Progressive Enterprises, Woolworths' New Zealand supermarket subsidiary, with 133 supermarkets across New Zealand...
, SuperValue and FreshChoice. In 2005, Woolworths Limited
Woolworths Limited
Woolworths Limited is a major Australian company with extensive retail interest throughout Australia and New Zealand. It is the:* largest retail company in Australia and New Zealand by market capitalisation and sales...
re-acquired the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
unit.
In 2003, the onecard
OneCard
OneCard is the an e-shopping company based in Saudi Arabia, which offers online payment and shopping services primarily in the Arab world and North Africa....
was launched. This card offers shoppers exclusive discounts on products and entry into competitions. The card was previously known as the Foodtown card, but was relaunched with a new name after the merger between Progressive and Woolworths (NZ) Ltd. The card can now be used in Woolworths, Foodtown and Countdown stores.
Unlike membership-loyalty schemes in most retail outlets, Woolworth's Onecard specials are the predominant visible price on member-discounted products; you have to look closer to see the non-member price, which is typically above the price available at competing supermarkets.
In October 2006, Progressive Enterprises announced a Discount Fuel Scheme with Gull Petroleum and Shell to offer discounts on petrol when shoppers spend $40 or more in their Woolworths, Foodtown or Countdown Stores. This scheme is similar to the one their parent company Woolworths Limited offers in Australia.
2009-present: Rebranding
In September 2009, it was announced that the Woolworths brand would almost cease to exist as most of the stores would be rebranded as CountdownCountdown (supermarket)
Countdown is a New Zealand full-service supermarket chain, owned by Woolworths Limited. Founded in 1981, Countdown is now the flagship brand of Progressive Enterprises, Woolworths' New Zealand supermarket subsidiary, with 133 supermarkets across New Zealand...
over the next five years. In spite of the change of name, the new Countdown stores will adopt the design and much of the branding of Australian Woolworths stores, including their "W" symbol launched in 2008. The supermarket will continue to operate under the Woolworths banner in Bayfair, Mount Maunganui despite being converted to the Countdown store format, because a Countdown already exists in its Bayfair Shopping Centre. The two supermarkets will continue to operate in tandem. Woolworths Mount Maunganui has taken on the Australian Woolworths logo.
Progress in the rebranding has been swift. In August 2010, the Woolworths brand ceased to exist in the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
, leaving stores only in the North Island and on Waiheke Island.
Operations
There are 10 Woolworths supermarkets across the North Island.Woolworths also provides New Zealand wide services through its online shopping website.
Private Label brands
- Woolworths Select
- Woolworths Home Brand
- Woolworths Naytura
- Woolworths Freefrom
- Woolworths Essentials
- Signature Range
Previous Private Label brands
- Basics - Replaced by Homebrand in 2005
- No Frills - No Frills was originally used with FranklinsFranklinsFranklins is a discount supermarket chain selling packaged groceries and perishables throughout New South Wales, Australia. It owns the No Frills brand of generic products, promoted by their mascot, "Red Sock". It is known as "Australia's Original Discount Grocer"...
Australia as their generic range of products, with their ties to Dairy Farm International HoldingsDairy Farm International HoldingsDairy Farm International Holdings Limited is a retail company in Asia, with a legal base in Bermuda. A member of the Jardine Matheson Group, it is a leading pan-Asian retailer which processes food, wholesales food and personal hygiene products in the Pacific region and in China. Jardine Strategic,...
the No Frills product was launched into the Woolworths New Zealand Supermarket Group and had a huge success with the Price ChopperPrice Chopper (New Zealand)Price Chopper was part of the Woolworths New Zealand Supermarket Group, their brands included: Woolworths, Big Fresh and Price Chopper.- History :The Price Chopper format evolved as a discounter with a limited fresh foods offer in 1987...
and Big Fresh brands. Originally, the No Frills brand was only used for its peanut butter, honey and potato chips but expanded its range to more than 800 products in packaged groceries and perishables.
- First Choice - First Choice was another generic range of products Woolworths New Zealand Supermarket Group had sold. Launched in 1998, it was developed to provide an alternative to the leading brands but cheaper. First Choice products were typically priced between 10-15% less than the national brands. First Choice had over 600 different products.
These brands were dropped by Progressive Enterprises
Progressive Enterprises
Progressive Enterprises Limited is an Australian owned company operating in New Zealand, and a subsidiary of the Australian retail group Woolworths Limited....
when Dairy Farm International Holdings
Dairy Farm International Holdings
Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited is a retail company in Asia, with a legal base in Bermuda. A member of the Jardine Matheson Group, it is a leading pan-Asian retailer which processes food, wholesales food and personal hygiene products in the Pacific region and in China. Jardine Strategic,...
sold the company in 2002, and replaced with the Signature Range (SR) and Basics brands. With the purchase of Progressive Enterprises
Progressive Enterprises
Progressive Enterprises Limited is an Australian owned company operating in New Zealand, and a subsidiary of the Australian retail group Woolworths Limited....
by Woolworths Limited
Woolworths Limited
Woolworths Limited is a major Australian company with extensive retail interest throughout Australia and New Zealand. It is the:* largest retail company in Australia and New Zealand by market capitalisation and sales...
, these were then phased out and replaced with Woolworths Home Brand and Woolworths Select brands.
See also
- Progressive EnterprisesProgressive EnterprisesProgressive Enterprises Limited is an Australian owned company operating in New Zealand, and a subsidiary of the Australian retail group Woolworths Limited....
- FoodtownFoodtown| area_served =| key_people =| industry = Retail| products =| services =| market cap =| revenue =| operating_income =| net_income =| assets =| equity =| owner =...
- CountdownCountdown (supermarket)Countdown is a New Zealand full-service supermarket chain, owned by Woolworths Limited. Founded in 1981, Countdown is now the flagship brand of Progressive Enterprises, Woolworths' New Zealand supermarket subsidiary, with 133 supermarkets across New Zealand...
- Woolworths LimitedWoolworths LimitedWoolworths Limited is a major Australian company with extensive retail interest throughout Australia and New Zealand. It is the:* largest retail company in Australia and New Zealand by market capitalisation and sales...
- Woolworths Supermarkets Australia
- Big FreshBig FreshBig Fresh was opened in 1988 with its first store in Mount Wellington Auckland. Big Fresh offered a wide range of fresh foods, discount groceries in large market-style store. The concept for Big Fresh was based on a Farmers Market with their focus being on their extensive range of fresh foods...
- Price ChopperPrice Chopper (New Zealand)Price Chopper was part of the Woolworths New Zealand Supermarket Group, their brands included: Woolworths, Big Fresh and Price Chopper.- History :The Price Chopper format evolved as a discounter with a limited fresh foods offer in 1987...