World Butchers' Challenge captains go head-to-head before competition
Ahead of the World Butchers' Challenge, the captains of 14 nations’ teams squared off in Paris over the weekend.
Independent meat company Affco’s chief executive Hamish Simpson has become the latest high profile departure from the industry.
He follows former Silver Fern Farms chief executive Keith Cooper and former Alliance head Grant Cuff, who stepped down late last year.
Simpson left last month after eight years at the helm of Affco, owned by South Island-based Talleys Group.
Simpson told Affco suppliers it was time for a change; he wants to explore other opportunities.
“I have enjoyed my time with AFFCO and leave with the company in good heart. We are profitable, financially sound, have modern well placed plants and, most importantly, a strong team to carry the business forward.”
At Alliance, new chief executive David Surveyor starts this month after a season as executive general manager of Laminex, a subsidiary of Fletcher Building.
He says he is excited about his new job. “Alliance Group has blazed a trail for New Zealand exporters for many years, not just in traditional markets, but also China and more recently Brazil and India.
“It is a privilege to be leading the business into its next phase. I aim to build on what has already been achieved to further improve the Alliance Group’s performance and returns to the company’s shareholder suppliers.”
At the country’s biggest meat company, Silver Fern Farms, Dean Hamilton is moving into the chief executive role, replacing Cooper, who has resigned after eight years in the top job and a total of 24 years at the cooperative.
Hamilton joined SFF as chief strategy officer in April 2014.
Last month's Agritechnica event led to a wide group of manufacturers celebrating successes when the 2026 Tractor of the Year Competition winners, selected by a panel of European journalists, were announced in Hanover Germany.
According to the latest Federated Farmers banking survey, farmers are more satisfied with their bank and less under pressure, however, the sector is well short of confidence levels seen last decade.
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.
Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.

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