Woolworths boosts supermarket sales in NZ

Australian retailing giant Woolworths is reporting higher supermarket store sales but lower consumer electronic store sales in New Zealand.

Woolworths, operator of 152 Countdown, Woolworths and Foodtown supermarkets, said its supermarket sales here rose 5.2 percent in the fourth quarter from a year ago.

The rise is 4 percent on a comparable store basis.

Sales in its New Zealand supermarkets in the 52 weeks to June 27 totalled $NZ5.2 billion, up 4.6 percent on last year. On a comparable basis the annual rise is 4 percent.

The company attributed the sales increase to its transition to a single Countdown brand in New Zealand.

"It reflects the hard work of the New Zealand team to continually improve our customer offer through new formats, improved ranging, private label growth and improved in-stock position," the Australian company said.

The company also owns the Dick Smith consumer electronics chain and said comparable annual store sales declined by 12.1 percent in its New Zealand business in a weak economic environment. Fourth quarter sales in New Zealand decreased 7.6 percent on a year ago. On a comparable basis the drop was 11 percent.

In Australia, the company's brands include Woolworths, Safeway, Dick Smith Electronics and PowerHouse, Tandy, Woolworths Liquor, BWS, Dan Murphy's, BIG W, Woolworths HomeShop, ALH Group, Everyday Money and Everyday Rewards under its umbrella.

In New Zealand, it is one of two large operators that dominate the supermarket sector, the other being the locally owned Foodstuffs.

Earlier this month the Green Party and Horticulture New Zealand called for a supermarket code of conduct and an ombudsman to investigate prices after fruit and vegetable growers complained of high supermarket mar

- NZPA