Monday, 17 December 2012 12:46

Tough decisions stimulate growth – Spierings

Written by 

Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings says since the co-op's formation in 2001, the board and farmer shareholders had made the tough decisions required to position it for growth.

 

Establishing a Fair Value Share, achieving a transparent Milk Price, and introducing a dividend policy were the first three hurdles, he told Fonterra's annual meeting in Hamilton today.

"This year, TAF (trading among farmers) has delivered permanent share capital and a stable capital base," he says.
"Looking ahead, our business strategy is to grow volumes, grow value, generate more cash and improve our return on capital."

To deliver on this, Spiering's priorities are to:
• Shift more ingredients sales direct to customers and generate prices higher than Global Dairy Trade;
• Grow consumer and foodservice volumes;
• Align costs and spending so the co-op has money to invest in areas that will generate growth; and
• Maintain a balance between environmental, economic and social sustainability.

"We have to start thinking differently about cost – and have already started doing this with our focus on reducing costs by $60 million this financial year."
Building a durable co-operative for the future meant Fonterra had to align spending, to make sure resources were directed to the right priorities, says Spierings.

More like this

Cynical politics

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.

Why is butter so expensive in New Zealand? Fonterra explains

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.

Featured

Cheeses recalled over listeria risk

New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) says it is supporting importer Goodfood Group in its decision to recall Food Snob and Mon Ami brand French Brie and Camembert cheeses.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Dreams aren't plans

OPINION: Milking It reckons if you're National, looking at recent polls, the dream scenario is that the elusive economic recovery…

Fatberg

OPINION: Sydney has a $12 million milk disposal problem.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter