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The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
The listed company, which relies on Synlait for its A2 infant formula supply, resolved a long-running dispute with the milk processor in August: it continues to hold a 19% stake in Synlait.
Speaking at a2MC’s annual meeting today, chair Pip Greenwood noted that more Chinese label registrations and own processing plant were critical components of the company’s supply chain transformation strategy.
“The Company continues to explore opportunities to achieve this through investment in its own supply chain and through acquisitions and commercial partnerships.
“While we do not have any new information to share with you today, I can say that we continue to make good progress in this regard and that this remains a top priority for management and the board.”
Greenwood told shareholders that the 2024 financial year was a milestone year for its China label product, following re-registration in June 2023 of its upgraded China label infant milk formula product.
“Given the positive signs we have seen including strong consumer offtake and healthy metrics, we are pleased that the transition has been successful.
“As a proud New Zealand company, we are delighted that in our largest market China, our consumers continue to highly value the A1 protein free proposition and our products’ New Zealand provenance.
“Being the pioneer of A1 protein free helps us differentiate our products in a competitive market. It is especially pleasing that in FY24 we achieved a top 5 brand position in the China infant milk formula market with our China and English label products combined.”
The company is also progressing an application for long-term US Food and Drug Administration approval to import infant milk formula into the US.
The chair of Beef + Lamb NZ, Kate Acland says the rush appears to be on to purchase farms and convert them to forestry before new rules limiting this come into effect.
New Zealand farmers will face higher urea prices this year, mainly on the back of tight global supply and a weak Kiwi dollar.
Andy Caughey of Wool Impact says a lot of people in NZ have been saying it's crazy that we are not using natural fibres in our buildings and houses.
Former chief executive of Beef+Lamb New Zealand Scott Champion will head the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) from July.
Avian flu getting into New Zealand's poultry industry is the biosecurity threat that is most worrying for Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard.
The annual domestic utilisation of wool will double to 30,000 tonnes because of the edict that government agencies should use woollen fibre products in the construction of new and refurbished buildings.
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