Woolworths Supermarkets (New Zealand) 4993921 223255401 2008-07-03T07:42:50Z D345393 2714271 {{Infobox Company | name = Woolworths | logo = [[Image:Woolworths Supermarkets NZ logo.svg|250px]] | type = Subsidiary | foundation = 1929 | founder = | location_city = Auckland | location_country = New Zealand | locations = 63 (2008)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.progressive.co.nz/about_us/index.asp|title=Fact file|publisher=Progressive Enterprises|accessdate=2008-06-14}}</ref> | key_people = | industry = [[Retail]] | market cap = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | assets = | equity = | num_employees = | parent = [[Progressive Enterprises]] | homepage = [http://www.woolworths.co.nz/ www.woolworths.co.nz] | intl = yes }} '''Woolworths''' is an [[Auckland, New Zealand|Auckland]]-based supermarket chain and a unit of [[Woolworths Limited]]. ==History== === ''1929 - 1979'' Woolworths === Founded in 1929 by Percy Christmas, the chain was separated from the parent company Woolworths Limited in [[Australia]] and was called Woolworths New Zealand. The chain during this period was mainly Variety and General Merchandise products trading under the Woolworths brand In 1956 Woolworths first entered food retailing with their Food Fair store, it wasn't until 1967 that Woolworths launched its first Supermarket in Henderson 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 (New Zealand)|DEKA]]. 1987 and 1988 saw the launch of the [[Price chopper (New Zealand)|Price Chopper]] and [[Big Fresh]] brands === ''1990 - 2001'' Dairy Farm International=== [[Image:Woolworths Wanganui.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Woolworths [[Wanganui]]]] Ownership changed hands in 1990 when [[Hong Kong]]'s [[Dairy Farm International Holdings|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 tacky cut-out animals and music; and [[Price chopper (New Zealand)|Price Chopper]] was positioned in the discount sector. The Woolworths stores are broad-range supermarkets with an average size of {{convert|30000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}. The Big Fresh stores were larger, with an average size of {{convert|51000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}, and offerd the widest possible selection and excellent value. The Price Chopper stores were compact with an average size of {{convert|14000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}}, 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 on-line 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, 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]] === ''2001 - present'' Progressive Enterprises=== In 2001 Dairy Farm International sold its Woolworths New Zealand Limited business and it merged with [[Progressive Enterprises]] (operator of [[Foodtown]], [[Countdown (supermarket)|Countdown]], SuperValue and FreshChoice. In 2005, [[Woolworths Limited]] re-acquired the [[New Zealand]] unit. In 2003 the [[onecard|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. 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. ==Operations== There are 63 Woolworths supermarkets and 22 [[Woolworths @ Gull|Woolworths Quickstop]] and [[Woolworths @ Gull|Micro]] Stores across [[New Zealand]]. == 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 [[Franklins]] Australia as their generic range of products, with their ties to [[Dairy Farm International Holdings]] the No Frills product was launched into the Woolworths New Zealand Supermarket Group and had a huge success with the [[Price chopper (New Zealand)|Price Chopper]] 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 and have products with quality equal to or better than the leading brands. The products didn't just have the quality but also had prices that were anywhere between 10-15% cheaper than the national brands. First Choice had over 600 different products and new products were continually being developed everyday. 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]] ==See also== * [[Progressive Enterprises]] * [[Foodtown]] * [[onecard]] * [[Countdown (supermarket)|Countdown]] * [[Woolworths @ Gull]] * [[Woolworths Limited]] * [[Woolworths Supermarkets|Woolworths Supermarkets Australia]] * [[Big Fresh]] * [[Price chopper (New Zealand)|Price Chopper]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [https://www.woolworths.co.nz/homeshopping/Default.aspx Woolworths Supermarkets (New Zealand)] * [http://www.progressive.co.nz/home1.asp Progressive] [[Category:Department stores of New Zealand]] [[Category:Supermarkets of New Zealand]]