Despite a fall in Australian lamb production during 2011, strong overseas demand and tight global supplies (particularly out of New Zealand) resulted in the third largest volume of lamb exported from Australia on record.   China saw a major jump during 2011 in Australian lamb imports, up 15 per cent year-on-year, to 29,620 tonnes. This is a region identified by both Australia and New Zealand as a key growth market for lamb (and mutton). With disruptions to New Zealand supply during late 2010... ...Read more »

Progressive Enterprises, a subsidiary of the Australian retail group Woolworths Limited, has bid farewell to the Woolworths brand in New Zealand, marking the final stage of transition to the new ‘Countdown’ brand. Woolworths Meadowlands was the last store in New Zealand to carry the Woolworths brand. The store reopened this week as a Countdown supermarket. In 2009 Progressive Enterprises announced plans to transition all its supermarkets to the Countdown brand. Over 60% of its 159 stores nationwide... ...Read more »

The giant Australian manufacturer Goodman Fielder today announced plans to merge its three retail-focused businesses in New Zealand. In August 2011, Goodman Fielder announced that it was reviewing its baking, dairy and home ingredients businesses in New Zealand following a shock 17.3% profit drop in 2010/11. In a statement released today, the company said it had concluded that the integration of the three businesses will improve interaction with its key customers, suppliers and other stakeholders... ...Read more »

New Zealand-based milk producer Fonterra and UK-based First Milk today announced a joint venture to produce “premium” whey proteins for Fonterra’s growing food ingredients business in Europe. The two dairy farmer co-operatives will combine their intellectual property to develop dairy protein streams at First Milk’s Lake District creamery in Cumbria, England. Fonterra Europe’s Managing Director, Koert Liekelema said the venture is the first step in realising its goal of local European... ...Read more »

The largest processor of milk in the world, Fonterra, today confirmed there was no change to its opening season forecast payout for 2011/12 of A$7.15 – $7.25 before retentions. The New Zealand-based dairy co-operative forecasts a milk price of A$6.75 per kilogram of milk solids and a distributable profit of 40 to 50 cents per share. Fonterra Australia-New Zealand, a subsidiary of Fonterra, owns well-known consumer dairy brands Bonlac Foods Ltd, Brownes, Bonland Dairies and Murrumbidgee Dairy... ...Read more »

With the New Zealand-based dairy multinational Fonterra announcing a drop in profits from its organic dairy operations in New Zealand this week, Australian Food News has been investigating the current state of Australia’s organic dairy industry. Dr. Andrew Monk, convenor of the Biological Farmers of Australia (BFA) Standards Advisory Group says Australia’s organic dairy industry is a “small but growing industry”. “It faces a challenge in meeting the consistently growing demand for the product... ...Read more »

New Zealand-based dairy co-operative multinational Fonterra is cutting its dairy organic operations in New Zealand following a drop in profits. The dairy giant, which owns Australians brands Brownes Calcium Plus, Bega Cheese, Peters and Brownes, and Riverina Fresh, plans to reduce the number of organic suppliers. Fonterra employs 2,000 people in Australia, collects 21 per cent of Australia’s milk, and operates 11 manufacturing sites. “People less willing to pay the premium for organic products” Fonterra’s... ...Read more »

The State of Tasmania is seeking to maintain import restrictions on New Zealand apples. The move comes despite the fact that regulator Biosecurity Australia yesterday gave the green light to the importation of New Zealand apples into Australia. Last year, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) found Australia’s biosecurity and quarantine standards stopping New Zealand apples exported to Australia to be in breach of WTO rules. In a statement passed on to Australian Food News, the Tasmanian Premier Lara... ...Read more »

Apple growers across Australia today launched a fightback against the apple import trade. The move comes following officially authorised shipments of apples being imported from New Zealand. This follows the decision of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2010 that found Australia’s biosecurity and quarantine standards to breach WTO rules. Apple growers have taken the step of branding locally grown apple with an ‘Aussie Apples’ sticker, allowing consumers to choose home-grown apples at the... ...Read more »

Lion, the Kirin-owned food and drinks company, has experienced challenging conditions and declining revenue across its businesses in Australia and New Zealand over the last six months, ending March 31 2011, according to its latest financial figures reported on August 5, 2011. The report shows declines in Lion’s beer, spirits and wine divisions in Australia and New Zealand, and in its dairy and drinks division: Beer, spirits and wine divisions in Australia and New Zealand delivered earnings before... ...Read more »