Outdoor equipment retailer Kathmandu may sell shares in an initial public offering as early as next month.

Progressive Enterprises is to phase out its Foodtown and Woolworths brands during the next five years.

Progressive Enterprises, owner of the Woolworths, Foodtown and Countdown brands, is uniting all its supermarkets under one Countdown banner.

Food prices are continuing to rise but have steadied after reaching record highs last year. Milk and cheese have become cheaper.

Pak'nSave has topped the list of the country's cheapest supermarkets - for the 10th year running.