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Fonterra has pulled the plug on another investment overseas as the co-op continues to rebuild its balance sheet.
The co-op today announced that it had sold its interest in German nutritional food maker foodspring’s parent Goodminton A.G, and will realise a gain on sale of $64 million.
Mars has signed an agreement to purchase a majority shareholding in foodspring. Fonterra’s chief operating officer NZMP, Kelvin Wickham, says the partnership with foodspring has been an exciting early activity for Fonterra’s new Sports and Active Lifestyle business unit.
“From day one both foodspring and ourselves could see how our two companies would complement each other to make the most of the fast-growing sports and active market. “foodspring had established a strong on-line sales channel and a digital nutrition and wellbeing coach, and we’re the protein innovators with a range of high value, advanced ingredients.
“Both companies could see the growth opportunities within the targeted nutrition market. And that’s exactly what’s happened. Over the past 18 months foodspring has become the fastest growing targeted nutrition brand in Europe. “At the same time, the partnership gave us immediate and direct access to the fast-growing consumer Sports and Active Lifestyle segment. This is not just about professional athletes or bodybuilders anymore.
"Today it’s about everyday people taking more interest in their health and wellbeing, living longer and leading more active and healthier lives.
“This continues to be a really attractive market for our dairy protein and dairy speciality ingredients and we will keep up the momentum in this market. We are excited about continuing our relationship with foodspring and its new owners Mars, who will remain a valued customer of our NZMP ingredients business,” says Wickham.
The Sports and Active Lifestyle market is one of the fastest growing categories within the food and beverage industry. It is helping people with their health and wellness needs and is estimated to be worth $200 billion globally.
“Nutrition plays a key role, and a great example of this is people across the world recognising protein as an important ingredient to support their health, with milk among the holy grail of protein sources,” says NZMP Director Sports and Active Nutrition, Komal Mistry.
“We’ve got a strong 60-year track record when it comes to protein and have a remarkable Research and Development team who are always finding new ways to innovate,” The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals from competition authorities.
OPINION: There is zero chance that someone who joined Fonterra as a lobbyist, then served as a general manager of Fonterra's nutrient management programme, and sat on the board of Export NZ, a division of lobbyist group Business New Zealand, doesn't understand that local butter (and milk and cheese) prices are set by the international commodity price.
Kiwis love their butter, and that's great because New Zealand produces some of the best butter in the world. But when the price of butter goes up, it's tough for some, particularly when many other grocery staples have also gone up and the heat goes on co-operative Fonterra, the country's main butter maker. Here the co-op explains why butter prices are so high right now.
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