1920s - 1960s
1929
Woolworths was established in Australia by Percy Christmas. The first Woolworths store was opened in Cuba Street, Wellington, owned by Woolworths Australia operating as a General Merchandise retailer.
1950
Woolworths acquired McDuffs general merchandise stores and rebranded them.
1956
Woolworths opens first "Food Fair" store at Panmure. This was the company's first entry to food retailing.
1958
The very first Foodtown supermarket was opened in the Auckland suburb of Otahuhu in 1958 by Mr Tom Ah Chee and Mr Norm Kent.
The Otahuhu supermarket proved a success and a second Foodtown was built and opened in Takanini, South Auckland, in 1961. Opening specials such as a box of Weet-Bix for 19 cents, a 16 ounce tin of Watties peaches costing 21 cents and 10 pounds of potatoes being sold for 29 cents, helped ensure the continued success of Mr Ah Chee and Mr Kent's venture.
1965
By 1965 two more Auckland supermarkets were launched. One in the west Auckland suburb of Kelston and another in Pakuranga in the south east. The Kelston store was the first supermarket in New Zealand to have an air-conditioned butchery preparation area.
