Countdown price freeze

ANALYSIS: On Thursday, Countdown announced it would lock in the prices of hundreds of “essentials” over the winter months.

The price freeze might be helpful to some people – particularly if you’re planning a spicy salmon dish. UHT is handy to have in the pantry for emergencies, sure. Meat to feed the six of us accounts for about a third of that, and we’re not buying the fancy stuff. The bananas? Where’s the meat? We stick to in-season fruit and vegetables and steer clear of pre-packaged salads.