Countdown has opened its first supermarket in the Welllington CBD today.

The new store, Countdown Cable Car Lane, is the first step in the company’s next generation of energy and carbon reduction-focused stores. Countdown said the store’s new transcritical refrigeration system uses naturally existing carbon dioxide and is a true natural refrigerant system that has zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Wellington’s mayor, Celia Wade-Brown, who was at this morning’s opening, said the first Countdown supermarket in the Wellington CBD is a welcome addition to the area.

“The CBD has experienced a growth in population of 14 per cent in the last five years to 2015. We definitely need this new Countdown store in our busy smart capital,” said Wade-Brown.

Store manager, Paul Berney, said the new store may be small in size but they have designed an offer that city centre customers will love.

“With a full service deli and a range of ready meal options, Countdown Cable Lane will be a hit with our on-the-go customers,” Berney said.

During the official opening on Tuesday night, the Countdown team presented $500 cheques to both The Salvation Army and Kaibosh in recognition of their ongoing food rescue relationship in the region.

The new Cable Car Lane store will also join Countdown’s Food Rescue programme, supporting The Salvation Army and Kaibosh. The programme has donated $3.5 million worth of food to food banks around New Zealand in the last year.