Tuesday, 27 June 2023 11:55

Macca's $600m NZ shopping list

Written by  Staff Reporters
McDonald's annual shopping list, released this month, shows the fast-food chain used $214m worth of NZ products in its local restaurants. McDonald's annual shopping list, released this month, shows the fast-food chain used $214m worth of NZ products in its local restaurants.

Fast-food giant McDonalds spent a record $598 million last year on New Zealand milk, cheese, and other primary industry ingredients.

Its annual shopping list, released this month, shows the fast-food chain used $214m worth of NZ products in its local restaurants. A whopping $384 million of produce was exported to other McDonald’s markets. The total spend was $52 million more than in 2021.

Nearly 7 million litres of fresh milk was sourced from dairy farmers – the equivalent of 246 Fonterra milk tankers and enough to fill Kelly Talton’s Stingray Bay aquarium tank 19 times, the company says.

Nearly 2 million kilograms of cheese and other dairy products were used locally, along with 11.6 million kg of cheese exported – the equivalent weight of 6500 empty shipping containers.

The company also used 900,000kg of lettuces and 12 million kg of potatoes in its local restaurants.

McDonalds sources its cheeses from Fonterra’s Eltham site in Taranaki. It says New Zealand farmers are also strategically important suppliers to McDonald’s worldwide. Kiwi produce is exported to McDonald’s markets including Australia, the Pacific Islands, Asia and the United States.

“McDonald’s has long recognised New Zealand as one of its top global suppliers of quality beef and dairy. It’s great to be able to supply a local menu where around 90% of the ingredients are sourced from across Aotearoa, and to share this quality produce with McDonald’s markets around the world,” says managing director NZ and Pacific Islands, Kylie Freeland.

“While we’re a small market in terms of our number of restaurants in the McDonald’s world, New Zealand is amongst the top 10 countries that supply beef to McDonald’s. Globally, we have several commitments around sustainable beef production, and the climate, which means we’re working closely with our local suppliers and industries to help encourage continuous improvement and making a positive impact on the planet.”

More like this

Fonterra's in good shape

Fonterra released its interim results last month, showing a continuation of the strong earnings performance delivered by the co-op through the 2023 financial year. Here’s what Fonterra chair Peter McBride and chief executive Miles Hurrell said about the results…

China trade

OPINION: Last week's revelation that data relating to New Zealand MPs was stolen amid Chinese state-sponsored cyber espionage targeting two arms of the country’s Parliament could test the long-standing trade relations between the two countries.

Featured

Vaccinate against new lepto strain

A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.

TV series to combat food waste

Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.

National

Frontline biosecurity 'untouchable'

Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard has reiterated that 'frontline' biosecurity services within Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will not be cut…

Machinery & Products

New name, new ideas

KGM New Zealand, is part of the London headquartered Inchcape Group, who increased its NZ presence in August 2023 with…

All-terrain fert spreading mode

Effluent specialists the Samson Group have developed a new double unloading system to help optimise uphill and downhill organic fertiliser…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Plant-based bubble bursts

OPINION: Talking about plant-based food: “Chicken-free chicken” start-up Sunfed has had its valuation slashed to zero by major investor Blackbird…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter