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.
Global trade has been thrown into another bout of uncertainty following the overnight ruling by US Supreme Court, striking down President Donald Trump's decision to impose additional tariffs on trading partners.
Controls on the movement of fruit and vegetables in the Auckland suburb of Mt Roskill have been lifted.
Fonterra farmer shareholders and unit holders are in line for another payment in April.
Farmers are being encouraged to take a closer look at the refrigerants running inside their on-farm systems, as international and domestic pressure continues to build on high global warming potential (GWP) 400-series refrigerants.
As expected, Fonterra has lifted its 2025-26 forecast farmgate milk price mid-point to $9.50/kgMS.
Bovonic says a return on investment study has found its automated mastitis detection technology, QuadSense, is delivering financial, labour, and animal-health benefits on New Zealand dairy farms worth an estimated $29,547 per season.

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