New Synlait CEO Leon Fung Commits to Christchurch Move
Canterbury milk processor Synlait has come through tough times and is now ready to scale up from a stable base, says its newly confirmed CEO Leon Fung.
OPINION: The pain continues at listed Canterbury milk processor Synlait.
The company is in talks with employees over plans to cut its workforce by 15% and annually save about $12 million.
The company has been in turmoil since Covid decimated infant formula sales to China of its key customer and shareholder a2 Milk.
Synlait co-founder John Penno, who was forced to come back as chief executive earlier this year, says some parts of the business are now over resourced, and some areas are under resourced.
The new structure will "remove any unhelpful hierarchy from the organisation".
Three men have been sentenced in District Courts after Ministry for Primary Industries prosecutions over animal welfare, food safety and cattle tracing offences.
Fonterra’s 2026 financial year was a year of delivery, with record volumes of milk collected, processed and shipped by the co-op.
OPINION: The Government's decision to reinstate agriculture and horticultural science as a standalone subject from Year 11 is the right one.
Dairy farmers, still holding onto their Fonterra shares despite switching milk supply elsewhere or exiting the industry, now face a stricter share sell-down requirement.
Hamilton-based agritech company Aimer Farming has completed a $3 million capital raise to support its next stage of growth, including a beef farming product due to launch in 2027.
When dairy manager Miriam Lauridsen learned the farm, she was joining held weekly health and safety meetings, she initially thought that was “a bit over the top”. Experiencing that culture changed her mind.
OPINION: It seems Canterbury processor Synlait is still in the doldrums.
OPINION: Get offside with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at your own peril.