Countdown is a New Zealand-owned supermarket chain. It has over 60 stores across the North and South Islands of New Zealand, as well as five discount department stores in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Palmerston North.
It was founded by Paul Matthews who had previously been involved with Woolworths NZ Limited (now Countdown). The first store opened on November 7th 1996 in Albany on Auckland's North Shore. The company is listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange.