Countdown is celebrating the opening of its 180th store – Countdown Northwest in Whenuapai. The store was opened by MP for Upper Harbour and Minister, Paula Bennett (pictured) on Thursday, 1 October. The event featured a performance by West Harbour School students and a presentation of a trolley of goods for the local Salvation Army food bank.
The 4327 square metre store has created 48 new jobs in the Auckland region. It’s also the second of two new stores for the area, with Countdown Hobsonville opening two weeks ago.
Countdown Northwest Manager, Paul Maxwell, says it’s great to have the new store open after months of hard work. “We couldn’t wait to open the doors of the new store and let everyone see the great produce and products we have on offer. We’ve been working really hard to get everything looking great and I’m looking forward to getting to know our new customers. The local community here is really fantastic and we are proud to be part of it. We also have some of the best local talent as part of our store team!” Maxwell says.
MP for Upper Hutt and Minister, Paula Bennett says, “The Nor’West is such an exciting area to be a part of because it is young, diverse, and eager for new opportunities. Three quarters of our residents are under 50 years old, 36% were born overseas, and about 50% are two-parent families with children. I’m thrilled Countdown is choosing to invest here.”
Countdown’s General Manager of Marketing, Bridget Lamont, who spoke at the opening, said opening the 180th store was a fantastic milestone. “As a business, we are really committed to providing growing communities throughout New Zealand with great food at really great prices. Our 180th store, Countdown Northwest, will be a great addition to the area. With the opening of Countdown Hobsonville two weeks ago, and now Countdown Northwest, not only are we delivering new supermarkets, but jobs too, with almost 100 new jobs created in the region in the last month alone,” Lamont says.
