Progressive Enterprises Limited

Countdown Tokoroa will feature fresh kaimoana, miraka, mīti and more, as Countdown’s first store with both English and Te Reo Māori food categories is unveiled.

The 2,200sqm site will be officially opened on 23 June by South Waikato Mayor Neil Sinclair, and the ceremony will also include the unveiling of a Māori carving created by local master carver Lionel Matenga.

The carving, located at the entrance to the carpark, and Te Reo within the supermarket acknowledge the cultural heritage of Tokoroa, said Store Manager Mike Olsen.

“We’re proud to serve our local community and hopefully foster greater understanding of Te Reo,” Mr Olsen said. “With the national Māori Language Week just around the corner, it’s a great time for us to be encouraging everyday use of Te Reo in common places like supermarkets.”

Mr Matenga, a trustee of the Talking Poles carving project and head of Forest View High School’s art department, said the carved manaia forms, or guardian, represented vision and public declaration of dreams, aspirations and goals, and he was delighted to see it unveiled locally at Countdown.

The carving will be blessed by local iwi Ngāti Raukawa at Thursday morning’s opening ceremony.

In addition to English and Te Reo category labels, Countdown Tokoroa will also feature the hallmarks of the New Generation Countdown format, including wider aisles, a large new-format deli and a full service bakery offering fresh baked goods daily.

The new store replaces an old Countdown site on the corner of Logan and Mannering streets, and the transition will occur overnight, ensuring seamless shopping for customers.

As well as more than 5,000 new product lines compared to the previous store, the new store features several environmental initiatives, including a CO2 refrigeration plant system that will give significant energy efficiency benefits.

Night blinds on refrigerated cabinets, sliding covers on freezers, heat reclaim off the refrigeration coils, energy efficient lighting and the use of natural light in roof panels will also help minimize the store’s carbon footprint.

Chief Operating Officer Dave Chambers said the store is part of Progressive Enterprises’ $1 billion commitment made in 2009 to further develop Countdown’s store network nationwide.

“We have a loyal customer base at Tokoroa and we’re sure they will be delighted with their brand new store,” Mr Chambers said. 

Countdown Tokoroa is celebrating the new store opening with over 4,900 specials across all of the store’s departments. The store will be open Monday through to Sunday from 7:00am to 9:00pm.

Back to News ArticlesTop