Woolworths charged after rat infestation at Dunedin South supermarket

Woolworths NZ has been charged over a "significant rodent infestation" which led to the nearly three-week closure of its Dunedin South supermarket last year.

New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said following a "thorough investigation into rodent activity at Countdown Dunedin South last year, New Zealand Food Safety has laid a charge against Woolworths New Zealand Limited under the Food Act 2014".

The charge related to a failure to ensure a significant rodent infestation was promptly identified and escalated in accordance with its food control plan. It carried a maximum fine of $200,000.

Woolworths NZ director of stores Jason Stockhill acknowledged the filing of the charge in a statement to 1News.

"We take our food safety responsibilities and the health and safety of our team and customers seriously.

"We’ve worked closely with New Zealand Food Safety following the issue in our Dunedin South store in late 2023. Since then we have improved our processes and controls, implementing a best-practice strategy for pest control and management."

Countdown Dunedin South, as it was then known, ceased trading from February 9, 2024, with the supermarket chain attempting to rid the store of rodents since the October prior.

While it was initially supposed to be closed for 48 hours, the store’s reopening date was constantly being pushed back as more rodents were found.

The store had to close for 48 hours after the last sighting or capture as approved by NZFS, so each time the supermarket prepared to reopen, another sighting or discovery pushed the timeline back.

After nearly three weeks of closures, the store finally reopened its doors on February 28, with Woolworths assuring customers that a new best-practice pest management strategy had been put in place.