Crackdown on Chinese use of Zespri IP
Authorities in China have clamped down on companies in that country which have been packaging and selling their own local fruit under the Zespri brand.
He told shareholders that there was a global discussion before the decision was made to go with Shanghai Maling.
"Everybody who wanted to be part had an opportunity to come to the negotiation table," he told the special general meeting in Dunedin.
"In Shanghai Maling we have found a like-mined partner; the board unanimously recommends the partnership to shareholders."
Hewett says the status quo is not sustainable.
He says the Chinese company has the capital to accelerate SFF's pasture-to-place strategy and boost farmgate returns.
He also stressed that SFF still exists as a co-op.
"We intend to behave like a co-op; to say the co-op is not alive is not true."
