Countdown is honouring “unsung heroes of Aotearoa” by immortalising them as collectible toys made with 100 per cent recycled plastic.
From today (Friday) – in-store and online – customers will be able to build their own Kiwi Farm with Kaipara Kumara, a red rural letterbox and figurines based on actual growers and farmers who supply the store nationwide.
Countdown Bricks Farm, like its predecessor, has been certified by Environmental Choice New Zealand. This year’s collection is made entirely of recycled plastic, breathing new life into items that would otherwise end up in a landfill, such as old swimming goggles, luggage handles, and fridge parts.
Brid Drohan-Steward, brand director at Countdown, said honouring legends who work tirelessly to supply produce to Kiwi households is an apt follow-up to last year’s Countdown Bricks collection.
“Kiwi families loved getting creative with Countdown Bricks last year, and what better way to build on their collections than to highlight the incredible growers who deliver world-class products to our customers,” said Drohan-Stewart.
“This year, Kiwi kids will also have the opportunity to learn more about where their kai comes from – and the people who make it happen.”
Anthony Blundell, MD at Kaipara Kūmara, is featured in one of the collectible toys and has been working in the family business for 40 years. His father was one of the first growers to sell directly to Countdown, known as Foodtown, in 1967.
“Being chosen to feature as a brick figurine shows how important that relationship is on both sides,” said Blundell.
In addition to Blundell, customers will see figurines of produce managers Brier O’Shea and Simba Mashingaidze, Kathy Cowell of Balle Brows, Gordon McPhail of LeaderBrand’s, Blair Wilcox, and Toni Baker of New Zealand Gourmet.
“For those who don’t want to collect, we’ll have donation boxes in store so that unwanted bricks can be passed on to the store’s chosen charity to be loved by someone else,” added Drohan-Stewart.
Customers will receive one pack of Countdown Bricks for every $30 spent. There are 40 unique packs available to collect until December 25 or while stocks last.
