[7][8] In 1992, Foodland Associated Limited bought J. Rattray & Son (which included Countdown) for $175 Million (NZD) from the Magnum Corporation.

[11] During the period of 1993–2005, Countdown changed from a foodmarket type format offering mainly groceries to a "full-service discount supermarket".

FAL bought Woolworths (NZ) Ltd. from its Hong Kong-based owners Dairy Farm Group in 2002.

[12] The sale saw Progressives brands (Foodtown, Countdown, 3 Guys, SuperValue and FreshChoice) joined by Woolworths, Big Fresh and Price Chopper.

[16] The result of which was an undertaking by the parent company to change its methods of offering fuel discounts in Australia.

A single Woolworths outlet continued to operate at Mount Maunganui's Bayfair Shopping Centre until late 2018.

[27] During the national lockdowns in response to COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Countdown limited the number of customers allowed inside stores at any one time.

Countdown was previously granted permission by the Ministry of Health to operate these pharmacies, but the court decided that these were invalid.

The rebrand will come into effect from early 2024 with signage changing over the next 2 years, this is part of a transformation programme that will cost a total of $400m.

[36] In late January 2024, a rat infestation was reported at a Woolworths New Zealand store at South Dunedin.

Woolworths New Zealand confirmed that it had contracted the services of several specialist pest controllers and would cooperate with MPI's investigation.

This incident prompted New Zealand Food Safety to launch an independent review of Woolworth's national pest management processes.

[42] Woolworths also attracted criticism from First Union after Countdown employees in Dunedin were threatened with dismissal if they spoke to the media.

[47] Major store operations are handled in Woolworths NZ's head office in Mangere, Auckland.

Fruit and vegetables from across New Zealand and the world are sent to the three distribution centres in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, where they are shipped to stores daily.

[50] A year earlier in September 2008, a Consumer magazine survey placed Countdown second in Auckland, with a basket of 15 private label items costing $38.24, $0.91 higher than fellow Progressive Enterprises' brand Woolworths (the Woolworths stores in question have since been rebrand as Countdown), and $1.87 lower than third-place Pak'n Save.

The word "Countdown" reused the original logo's red colour, but with a newly adapted font-type.

The previous light green background was replaced with a white one and a logo with the "Shop Smarter" slogan was added.

As of 2018, the font used in the logo was changed to one more similar to the Australian Woolworths, and itself is dark green, but when used on stores it is white.

The new slogan also accompanied the introduction of "The Smart Shopper", a series of 60-second twice-weekly television segment hosted by Richard Till.

[52] From August to November every year, every Countdown store conducts fundraisers for sick children, using techniques including selling $2 wristbands and $5 raffle tickets.

This nationwide programme ensures that food that can't be sold but is still fit for consumption is put to good use.

[45] Countdown used a discount and rewards programme called "OneCard" which was introduced in July 2003 and was shared by the Woolworths and Foodtown brands.

The actual Onecard is a standard magnetic stripe card that is loaded into the POS system via the EFTPOS terminal.

In August 2016 fuel discounts redeemable at BP, Caltex and Gull petrol stations replaced the former arrangement with Shell/Z.