Countdown moves to 100% free farmed fresh pork nationwide

Countdown moves to 100% free farmed fresh pork nationwide, gives further boost to Canterbury economy

30 October 2018: Countdown has announced that all its fresh pork sold nationwide will now be 100 per cent free farmed and sourced from Canterbury.

This is another example of Countdown listening to its customers wanting to buy products from farms which meet high animal welfare standards.

Countdown has partnered with Patoa Farms, owned by farmer Steve Sterne and based in Hawarden, North Canterbury. Patoa has been free farming pork since 1998 and is independently certified by the SPCA.

The announcement is another boost for the Canterbury region, and comes on the back of Countdown’s recent commitment to use 100 per cent New Zealand wheat in its in-store baked bread and rolls.

Alton Gullery, Countdown’s Head of Meat, says the move to 100% free farmed fresh pork will make animal welfare considerations a more widely-available choice for consumers, and is an example of working directly with farmers to achieve a better outcome for customers.

“We’ve partnered with Patoa Farms for several years now, and have worked really closely together to be able to extend this even further, to the point where we’re now able to supply 100 per cent free farmed fresh pork at all our stores nationwide.

“We know that provenance, supporting local Kiwi producers and animal welfare are all increasingly important considerations for our customers. Steve and his team at Patoa Farms have set the bar high for free farmed pork,” says Alton Gullery.

Steve Sterne from Patoa Farms says “We know that animal welfare and knowing animals are well cared for is really important for Kiwi customers, and we’ve always taken this approach to our farming business.

“We’re delighted to be able to supply more free farmed fresh pork to Kiwi’s, and importantly make it accessible right across the country” says Steve Sterne.

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