Two milk processing plants changing hands
Two large milk processing plants in New Zealand are changing hands.
Milk company A2 has announced a net profit of $386 million, a 34% increase over the previous financial year.
The maker of A2 milk products says it has made significant gains in revenue and earnings, with strong performances in all key product segments, and across all core markets.
Total revenue for year ending June 2020 was $1.7 billion, a 33% increase over the previous year. The company’s flagship A2 infant formula nutrition products contributed $1.4b.
Unlike many companies that were impacted by COVID-19 disruptions, A2 says its performance was robust throughout the year.
“We demonstrated significant resilience in the second half, managing the business in the face of the Covid-19 global pandemic,” it says.
“We estimate that COVID-19 had a modest positive impact on revenue and earnings for the year.”
The company says revenues in the third quarter, as Covid-19 was setting in, was well above expectations due to the impact of changes in consumer purchase behaviour.
Westpac NZ has announced new initiatives that aim to give customers more options to do their banking in person.
New Zealand red meat exports experienced a 29% increase year-on-year in September, according to the Meat Industry Association (MIA).
The head of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) biosecurity operation, Stuart Anderson, has defended the cost and the need for a Plant Healht and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) being built in Auckland.
BNZ says its new initiative, helping make the first step to farm ownership or sharemilking a little easier, is being well received by customers and rural professionals.
The head of Fonterra's R&D facility in Palmerston North is set to literally cross the road and become the new vice chancellor at Massey University.
Allan Freeth, chief executive of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has announced he is resigning.

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