Revamped Fonterra to be ‘more capital-efficient’
Fonterra chair Peter McBride says the divestment of Mainland Group is their last significant asset sale and signals the end of structural changes.
Fonterra's manufacturing sites work to turn Fonterra farmers’ milk into products that end up in over 140 countries.
They employ 7000 people throughout the country in a range of roles from factory processors to tanker operators, food safety and quality experts and environmental managers.
So, the Best Site Cup awards at Fonterra is an event everyone looks forward to. This year, however, things were different thanks to Covid-19.
A Fonterra spokesman says teams gathered across the country to dial into the celebration last month.
“Our sites are starting to ramp back up after winter [shutdown], so it was nice to see the teams come together to celebrate the year that’s been,” he says.
“It’s been a season like no other and we’re proud of how the teams have come together during these challenging times.
“It’s nice to be able to take the time to celebrate the season and some outstanding success stories.”
Pahiatua in the Lower North Island received the Sustainability award, based on the focus they’ve had on reducing water, energy and waste. The site has the lowest water-to-milk ratio of Fonterra sites in New Zealand and they’ve reduced their water use by more than half a million litres a day through a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant.
The Darfield site took away the Best Big Site award. They’ve had a great year making progress against their goals, including the target set by the co-op last year to reduce their water use by 30% by 2030.
The Kauri site was recognised for Health and Safety. In the midst of droughts and floods in Northland, health and safety remained front of mind for the site.
Te Rapa, Hamilton, took out the Transformation award. They made improvements in a variety of areas including employee engagement, health and safety and product quality.
Dubbed the ‘Oscars of Manufacturing’, the awards are now in their 14th year. There were 14 awards up for grabs.
New Zealand needs a new healthcare model to address rising rates of obesity in rural communities, with the current system leaving many patients unable to access effective treatment or long-term support, warn GPs.
Southland farmers are being urged to put safety first, following a spike in tip offs about risky handling of wind-damaged trees
Third-generation Ashburton dairy farmers TJ and Mark Stewart are no strangers to adapting and evolving.
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
Fonterra chair Peter McBride says the divestment of Mainland Group is their last significant asset sale and signals the end of structural changes.
Thirty years ago, as a young sharemilker, former Waikato farmer Snow Chubb realised he was bucking a trend when he started planting trees to provide shade for his cows, but he knew the animals would appreciate what he was doing.
President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on imports into the US is doing good things for global trade, according…
Seen a giant cheese roll rolling along Southland’s roads?