Woolworths says the New Zealand market remains challenging, despite increases in its latest sales figures.
Its Countdown, Woolworths and Foodtown supermarkets had sales of $1.4 billion in the three months to early April, an increase of 3% on the same period last year.
The company says the earthquake in February hit sales in Christchurch. Four stores are still closed and undergoing repairs there.
However, sales exceeded market growth, which Woolworths attributes to converting stores to the Countdown brand, a new format and more choice of products.
Overall, quarterly sales rose 5% to $A13.6 billion.
