Countdown Aims for Nutritious Checkout Options, Phasing Out Kid’s Sweets

Shopping at Countdown supermarkets in New Zealand is set for a healthy transformation.

Countdown is introducing “healthier checkouts,” where 80% of the food displayed will boast a health star rating of at least three-and-a-half stars.

This change will sweep away kids’ sweets from the checkout area, encouraging more nutritious choices. This initiative, which echoes a previous one in Australia, aims to facilitate healthier decisions for consumers without dictating their purchases.

Countdown/Woolworths NZ’s nutrition expert Deb Sue emphasized the goal of offering better snack alternatives at the checkout, while also alleviating the stress parents face from children’s last-minute treat requests.

Shoppers can now avoid checkout confrontations, with the added bonus of free fruit for kids elsewhere in the store. Stores will maintain several checkouts free from sweets and others that offer non-food items, a move that is expected to be beneficial for customers.