Woolworths says its New Zealand supermarket chain increased its half-year gross earnings by 9% to $162.3 million, despite slowing demand.
The Australian supermarket operator says sales at its 165 Countdown stores rose 2.2% to $2.9 billion and it continues to take market share from Foodstuffs' Pak n Save and New World supermarket chains.
Overall, Woolworths profit excluding one-off items rose 4% to $A1.3 billion and the company slightly upgraded its full-year forecast profit to expand by between 4% and 6%.