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: Canterbury milk processor Synlait's recovery seems to have hit another snag.
The listed company, majority-owned by China's Bright Dairy, says manufacturing challenges at its Dunsandel plant are going to hit its full-year bottom line.
However, newly appointed chief executive Richard Wyeth remains upbeat.
He says the 2025 full-year result would be a "marked improvement" on last year.
The net loss for the year to the end of July is now forecast to be between $27 million and $40 million, as opposed to a $182m net loss last year.
However, manufacturing challenges at its Dunsandel facility across a range of product segments will result in one-off costs in FY25.
Synlait has faced a slew of problems - from manufacturing overcapacity to a costly spat with its second-largest shareholder and key customer a2 Milk Company.
Wyeth, an industry veteran, is leading Synlait's recovery. He started in the role 10 weeks ago.
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.