Countdown store closed for a 4th day as more rats found.

[nzoomed]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/dunedin-su...fjEAi5lufY

[Lilith7]

Someone theorised jokingly that it might be that the rodents are courtesy of their competition...

And on a more serious note..

https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-chr...e-problems

ÔÇ£If this is isolated to just certain players in the industry, then itÔÇÖs not an industry crisis, but a company that has different systems which is being viewed as guilty by association because they belong to the same industry,ÔÇØ Laufer said.
ÔÇ£When people see images of rats or mice [in supermarkets] on TV, or videos, or in the newspaper, thatÔÇÖs very, very damaging, and in terms of customers and potential customers.
ÔÇ£If they have options, theyÔÇÖre much more likely to say, ÔÇÿI have a Countdown nearby, but thereÔÇÖs a New World not far away, maybe itÔÇÖs better to go thereÔÇÖ. So thatÔÇÖs a thatÔÇÖs the big risk for Countdown.ÔÇØ
He said in the fallout of such incidents, it was important for the supermarket giants to convince the public they have made a major change in the way they operate in order to prevent this from happening again.
He said it was likely management were trying to track down the employee who leaked the image of rats in the deli to media, to figure out why they didnÔÇÖt feel comfortable talking to management.
ÔÇ£I donÔÇÖt think that person will put their hands up anytime soon,ÔÇØ he said.
He said he didnÔÇÖt think the highly public nature of the story was affecting morale, and rather staff were relieved the situation was getting the attention it deserved.
ÔÇ£From what IÔÇÖve been told, theyÔÇÖve been raising the alarm for a while and they hadnÔÇÖt really been listened to, theyÔÇÖve been a bit frustrated,ÔÇØ Wilson said.
ÔÇ£The situation is improving... I think the actions the company and [the pest control company] have been taking have had an effect. TheyÔÇÖll hopefully have the store back open as possibly the cleanest Countdown in the entire country.ÔÇØ

[Zurdo]

Lucky, they will rebrand that store Woolworths.

[nzoomed]

Well the competition is not immune either, looks like rodents have been spotted in some North island foodstuffs supermarkets too and pigeons are making their way inside an Auckland countdown eating food off the shelves.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/supermarke...D4VGB5AXU/


https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/supermarke...GFB7RPL3I/

[Zurdo]

I guess it must be hard times for all creatures.

[Lilith7]

I guess it must be hard times for all creatures.

They've clearly heard about this new Govt & are making hay while the sun shines...

[alpha111]

We didn't have to worry about rodents in the Upper Hutt Countdown. But we may have to in future .Locals mourn death of Angus the Countdown Cat; he was a cute cat.
https://www.thepost.co.nz ÔÇ║ nz-news ÔÇ║ locals-mourn-d...
30 Jan 2024 ÔÇö One of Upper Hutt's most popular residents, Angus the Countdown Cat, has died. Locals say he will be greatly missed.

[nzoomed]

At least cats would keep the rodents down!
I got a video I took a few years ago of a friendly neighborhood cat that entered our new world store, done know who owned it, but it was hanging around a bit

[Lilith7]

At least cats would keep the rodents down!
I got a video I took a few years ago of a friendly neighborhood cat that entered our new world store, done know who owned it, but it was hanging around a bit

It might not be a bad idea for every supermarket to have a cat or two...

[zqwerty]

Once upon a time it would have been commonplace to have a cat to keep the rodent population down and also the older generations would have put out traps off their own bat at the first hint of rodents roaming the supermarket alas present day last few generations in general have no interest in doing a good job and let the side down all the time.

[nzoomed]

Once upon a time it would have been commonplace to have a cat to keep the rodent population down and also the older generations would have put out traps off their our bat at the first hint of rodents roaming the supermarket alas present day last few generations in general have no interest in doing a good job and let the side down all the time.

If you go back far enough in time, cats were primarily kept for rodent control rather than pets, especially on ships.

[Lilith7]

Once upon a time it would have been commonplace to have a cat to keep the rodent population down and also the older generations would have put out traps off their our bat at the first hint of rodents roaming the supermarket alas present day last few generations in general have no interest in doing a good job and let the side down all the time.

If you go back far enough in time, cats were primarily kept for rodent control rather than pets, especially on ships.

They think that's how cats first endeared themselves to humans, by helping kill mice which would try to eat the wheat or other crops in early times.


And so eventually, they enslaved us...  



I have a cat. A cat who is an expert at spotting a sucker when she sees one. So, I have a cat.

[harm_less]

Once upon a time it would have been commonplace to have a cat to keep the rodent population down and also the older generations would have put out traps off their our bat at the first hint of rodents roaming the supermarket alas present day last few generations in general have no interest in doing a good job and let the side down all the time.

If you go back far enough in time, cats were primarily kept for rodent control rather than pets, especially on ships.

My late Dad and his BIL (my uncle) were Dutch immigrants who both struggled with the NZ concept of cats in the home. Their approach was that dogs belonged in the house partly on a security basis whereas cats belonged outdoors to deal with vermin.