Coutts appointed chair-elect of Mainland Group
Fonterra has named Elizabeth (Liz) Coutts the chair of Mainland Group, the proposed divestment entity of the co-operative’s consumer business.
Fonterra is leading the charge in China to get consumers eating more dairy products.
And to meet increased demand in China it is installing more production lines at its New Zealand plants.
The co-op says it has 50-80% market share in most foodservice categories in China. To grow sales it launched Anchor Food Professionals -- foodservice specialists working with chefs and drawing consumers into their bakeries, pizzerias, restaurants or coffee shops.
Now in 76 cities, Anchor Food Professionals aims to grow this presence to 160 cities in five years.
A lot of cream in China has traditionally been made from non-dairy products such as canola. The teams working there in foodservice kitchens are showing customers the difference dairy makes to premium foods.
This growth is prompting Fonterra to add to the production capacity of its UHT plant at Waitoa, in Waikato.
It recently completed a new 1L UHT line and began work on a second such line to produce an extra 45 million litres annually for the Asia, Middle East and Caribbean markets.
The $35 million expansion will enable the Waitoa plant to add 120 million cream packs and 26 jobs in the region.
Fonterra chief operating officer global operations Robert Spurway says decisions on these expansions are based on demand.
“It reflects the work our foodservice team is doing in the markets, and our teams at our sites, to support one of the fastest growing and highest returning parts of the business.”
Spurway says the Waitoa expension is good for the region.
Rural retailer Farmlands has launched a new casual clothing range available across 42 stores nationwide and through its online store.
Federated Farmers says the health and safety changes announced this week by the Government represent the start of overdue reforms.
The Government is calling on rural New Zealanders to share their views on proposed regulations designed to improve the management of farm plastic waste.
For many urban New Zealanders, stepping into Pāmu’s Pinta dairy farm near Taupo last month was the first time they had had the chance to experience farm life up close.
After tasting 240 New Zealand made cheeses, judges have bestowed medals upon 199 of the entries.
Bay of Plenty’s top share farmers Andre and Natalie Meier are no strangers to the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards winning circle.
OPINION: Is it the beginning of the end for Greenpeace?
OPINION: The good times felt across the dairy sector weren't lost at last week's Beef + Lamb NZ annual meeting.