New Zealand Sign Language Week Highlights Inclusion at Fonterra Clandeboye
Last week marked New Zealand Sign Language Week and a South Canterbury tanker operator is sharing what it's like to be deaf in a busy Fonterra depot.
Fonterra has started consulting staff on proposals to streamline its business. The co-op is likely to shed hundreds of jobs as part of the review.
In an update, Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings says the consultation is being conducted globally starting with its procurement, finance, information services, human resources, strategy and legal functions. Other parts of the business will follow in the coming months.
The purpose of the review is to ensure that the company is best placed to respond to a rapidly changing global environment, says Spierings.
The initial phases of the process have looked at the entire business in detail and had identified potential areas, including significant initiatives in procurement, business operations and working capital, where the Co-operative can unlock increased value for its owners.
The cooperative’s leadership is now building these opportunities into defined plans that will drive further improvement across the business, allowing Fonterra to fund its growth strategy and deliver stronger results says Spierings.
“We have the right strategy and the long-term future of dairy is sound, however the world is changing and global dairy markets are increasingly volatile. To keep ahead of the game, we need to be more agile, reduce costs and generate value,” says Spierings.
Fonterra will provide an update on the impact to its business structures following completion of consultation, which is expected later in July.
More than 1200 exhibitors will showcase their products and services at next month’s National Fieldays, with sites nearly sold out.
Despite difficult trading conditions for European machinery manufacturers brought about conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, alongside the United States imposing punitive tariffs, Italian manufacturer Maschio Gaspardo, has seen turnover increase 12% in 2025 to €390 million (NZ$775m) with a net profit of €11.2 million (NZ$22.3).
New Zealand innovation company Techion, best known for its animal diagnostics platform, FECPAK has signed an exclusive strategic partnership with Farmlands to bring independent animal health disease intelligence to its customers.
Zespri says it welcomes the recently signed Western Bay of Plenty Regional Deal, describing it as an important step towards supporting growth in the region and for New Zealand's kiwifruit industry.
Troubled milk processor Synlait has lost its third chief executive in five years.
Westgold butter has been named New Zealand's tastiest in a blind tasting conducted by Consumer New Zealand.
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