Countdown’s major U-turn in dumping its name and rebranding to a rather familiar one, Woolworths, has been dubbed a “really unusual move” by a marketing expert.
Yes, it’s a back-to-the-future moment for Kiwi shoppers but the makeover isn’t cheap – it’ll cost the company $400 million.
The supermarket chain has lined Aotearoa’s street fronts for decades under a few different names.
In 2009 Woolworths and Foodtown stores became Countdown. But now it’s the final countdown as the supermarket goes back to its Aussie roots and the parent-company name Woolworths.
“The connection back to the group is really important for us to be able to bring the best of Woollies to Kiwi customers, also it denotes the importance of New Zealand to our overall group,” said Woolworths New Zealand managing director Spencer Sonn.
Marketing expert Bodo Lang told Newshub the rebrand is “a really unusual move”.
“A retro move to go …