Alliance Group chief executive steps down
Alliance Group chief executive Willie Wiese is leaving the company after three years in the role.
Alliance Group's Pure South Handpicked 55 Day Aged Beef has been recognised on the world stage, securing top honours at the World Steak Challenge in the Netherlands.
Alliance was awarded one gold medal and two silver medals by a panel of more than 80 independent expert judges from around the world, who assessed over 500 entries from 25 countries during two rigorous days of judging.
During the competition, all steaks were coded throughout the judging process to keep the producer’s name and country of origin anonymous.
Alliance’s gold medal was awarded for a Ribeye (aka Cube Roll) with a marble score of 8, while Ribeye and Fillet steaks also earned silver medals. The medal-winning entries were processed at the company’s Mataura plant in Southland.
Wayne Rollinson, global sales director beef at Alliance Group, said the recognition highlights the strength of the company’s premium beef programme.
“Winning gold and silver at this highly respected global competition reinforces Alliance’s focus on excellence and innovation in beef production.
“It’s also a reflection of the skill and dedication of our farmer-shareholders, whose livestock underpins the Pure South Handpicked 55 Day Aged Beef range.
“We are building a strong reputation in international markets for delivering consistently outstanding eating experiences, and these results provide further proof of the world-class quality of our product.”
Rollinson further said that the quality attribute system used to judge eating quality characteristics ranging from marbling, fat colour and pH was the AUS-MEAT Chiller Assessment Programme, which is regularly audited for quality.
Pure South Handpicked 55 Day Aged Beef is carefully selected by internationally accredited assessors from prime cattle of any breed. Only a fraction of the very finest beef makes the grade which is in demand by customers across the world.
The marble score is determined using AUS-MEAT accredited Meat Eating Quality (MEQ) cameras installed across Alliance’s plant network.
Selected cuts are then aged in vacuum bags. The quality of product and the aging process results in a milder beef profile with exceptional levels of tenderness.
The World Wide Sires National All Day Breeds Best Youth Camp Best All Rounder plaudit has become family affair, with 2026 Paramount Cup winner Holly Williams following in her sister Zara's footsteps.
DairyNZ is giving New Zealand farmers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on governance and leadership experience within the dairy sector.
Herd improvement company LIC has posted a 5.2% lift in half-year revenue, thanks to increasing demand for genetics.
According to the latest Fresh Produce Trend Report from United Fresh, 2026 will be a year where fruit and vegetables are shaped by cost pressures, rapid digital adoption, and a renewed focus on wellbeing at home.
The Roar is a highlight of the game hunting calendar in New Zealand, with thousands of hunters set to head for the hills to hunt male stags during March and April.
OPINION: The past few weeks have been tough on farms across the North Island: floods and storms have caused damage and disruption to families and businesses.

OPINION: Meanwhile, red blooded Northland politician Matua Shane Jones has provided one of the most telling quotes of the year…
OPINION: This old mutt has been around for a few years now and it seems these ‘once in 100-year’ weather…