Confidence in long-term market-led strategy
Farmers should have confidence in the long term value of Silver Fern Farms market-led strategy.
Shanghai Maling's investment of $360m into Silver Fern Farms in return for 50% ownership is a game changer into a complex market, says SFF chief executive Dean Hamilton.
The can bring some real value to the company on a number of fronts, he told a China Business Summit in Auckland today. They are 38% owned by Bright Food, one of the largest food conglomerates in China.
"We visited an enormous inland customs clearance business in the middle of Shanghai which is very exciting for us in terms of our ability to bypass the port clearance system so we think that will give us a quite exciting opportunity," Hamilton said.
"Secondly Shanghai Maling have the largest fresh pork distribution business in Shanghai so they know how to handle chilled product, they have their own trucks. So in terms of partnering with someone who understands that part of the supply chain, we believe that has got great opportunity.
"Thirdly between themselves and Bright they have over 6000 supermarkets. So trying to get in into a very complex part of the end market, the opportunity to leverage those supermarket will put us in a unique position."
Fourthly they have a direct to home business now, he said.
Former Fonterra executive Alex Turnbull has been appointed CEO to lead all five Yili Oceania Business Division companies in New Zealand.
Fonterra executive René Dedoncker is leaving the co-operative later this year to lead Australian agribusiness Elders.
Alliance Group and the Southland Stags rugby team have joined forces in a partnership that will see the the meat co-operative's farmgate brand feature on players' team kits and replica jerseys.
Fonterra's plan to expand its organic programme to the South Island is being well received by farmers, the co-op says.
Voting has started for the renewal of DairyNZ's milksolids levy.
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