Alliance Group faces crucial vote on Dawn Meats deal
The future of the Alliance Group is “pretty dark” if the proposed Dawn Meats deal does not go through, says board chair Mark Wynne.
Meat co-operative Alliance Group’s upgraded facility in Southland has started processing beef.
The company began processing cows and light bull at Lorneville near Invercargill this week after an 18-month project to further upgrade its modern venison plant on the site.
David Surveyor, chief executive of Alliance Group says the project was a key part of the co-operative’s beef growth strategy and in direct response to farmer demand.
“We have seen a steady increase in supply volumes year on year and our farmers have been seeking more beef capacity in peak season. This investment meets this need but also benefits our deer farmers because we have increased the plant’s venison processing capacity.”
The new beef processing facility will free up space at the co-operative’s Mataura plant for prime steer, heifer and bull.
Alliance Group is continuing to invest in a premium beef portfolio and strengthening its beef performance at its Mataura, Levin and Pukeuri (Oamaru) plants.
“We are focused on maximising our operational performance to benefit farmer-shareholders and create a stronger co-operative. This beef expansion also reflects our commitment to the Lorneville plant, which is an important part of our network and the Southland region,” says Surveyor.
“The expansion creates a longer season for our venison/beef plant employees at Lorneville and adds new jobs to the region.”
Alliance Group is Southland’s largest employer and the Lorneville plant alone has almost 2,000 people in total on site at peak capacity.
Meat co-operative, Alliance has met with a group of farmer shareholders, who oppose the sale of a controlling stake in the co-op to Irish company Dawn Meats.
Rollovers of quad bikes or ATVs towing calf milk trailers have typically prompted a Safety Alert from Safer Farms, the industry-led organisation dedicated to fostering a safer farming culture across New Zealand.
The Government has announced it has invested $8 million in lower methane dairy genetics research.
A group of Kiwi farmers are urging Alliance farmer-shareholders to vote against a deal that would see the red meat co-operative sell approximately $270 million in shares to Ireland's Dawn Meats.
In a few hundred words it's impossible to adequately describe the outstanding contribution that James Brendan Bolger made to New Zealand since he first entered politics in 1972.
Dawn Meats is set to increase its proposed investment in Alliance Group by up to $25 million following stronger than forecast year-end results by Alliance.
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