Mar 13, 2018 - New Zealand cheese continues to turn heads on the international stage, with Fonterra named category runner-up for its NZMP three-to-six month Cheddar Cheese in the 2018 World Championship Cheese Contest. NZMP Unsalted Butter was also runner up in its category in the prestigious competition held in the United States over the last week.The bi-annual competition features the cream of the cheese and butter world, with products from 26 countries vying for top honours. This year’s competition attracted a record-breaking 3,402 entries in over 120 categories. The Fonterra NZMP Cheddar Cheese is crafted at Fonterra’s Stirling site in Otago. Fonterra Site Manager Stirling Dwayne Smith says his team was delighted with the judges’ evaluation of the cheese, scoring it an impressive 99.15 out of 100. “We are really proud to receive this award, which is testament to the expertise of our cheesemakers. Making NZMP cheese is a collaborative affair, with Fonterra cheesemakers working together to carefully guide a cheese through its development to maturity. We carefully select the best ingredients to make the very best natural cheese and we take great care to make sure that every block is perfectly made for its intended use before we bring it to the market.” Fonterra Plant Manager Matt Walton, who leads the production team for the NZMP Unsalted Butter at Fonterra’s Te Rapa site, also says the award reflects the quality of the ingredients. “Our butter is all natural, with no flavourings, no additives and no salt – the only ingredient is fresh cream. It’s just good, old-fashioned butter that’s great tasting and great quality. Credit belongs to our Fonterra farmers because top-quality milk from grass-fed cows makes top-quality butter.” Fonterra Dairy Foods Category Director Casey Thomas said “We are delighted to have won two awards in this world-class event, competing against top cheeses and butters from many countries. It’s a great way to independently confirm that we produce some of the best dairy in the world.” The World Championship Cheese Contest, initiated in 1957, is the largest technical cheese, butter, and yogurt competition in the world. A team of 56 internationally renowned judges technically evaluated all entries over the three-day competition and commended the winners for their innovation and commitment to their craft. NZMP natural cheese and cream ingredients are exported to food manufacturers in more than 130 countries, where they are used in a variety of products and applications such as meals, bakery, sauces and snacks.
| A Fonterra release || March 13, 2018 |||
Is dairying the worst offender when it comes to environment protection? Is dairying the worst offender when it comes to environment protection? Writes Alastair Frizzell, managing director of Frizzell Agricultural Electronics in an article on Dairy News.
Mar 13, 2018 - Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) is very disappointed that the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) today refused a generous salary increase offer during mediation and insists on striking from midnight tonight. LPC has now received strike notices for 13 – 25 March inclusive.
As part of a collaboration between Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (EDSM) with New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), the University of Auckland will host 23 Indonesians for a Geothermal Project Management Course for the next 4 weeks.
Mar 13, 2018 - The new system will help in power production and extend the life of solar panels. To help companies establish new energy sources for their operations, Thailand-based Siam Cement Group (SCG) has developed a solar energy generating system that will stay afloat in reservoirs. These reservoirs supply mostly to factories that are located in Thailand’s flat central region.
Mar 13, 2018 - Kraft Heinz’s A$290m ($228.25m) acquisition of the food and instant coffee business of Cerebos Gregg's has been conditionally approved by the New Zealand competition authority.
Cerebos Gregg’s is owned by Suntory Beverage & Food, a food and beverage firm operating throughout Australasia.
The Commerce Commission ruled that Kraft Heinz should sell the licenses for the Gregg’s brand of tomato ketchup, steak sauce, barbecue sauce and the F. Whitlock Worcestershire sauce brand over competition concerns.
Heinz Wattie’s, a subsidiary of Kraft Heinz, had applied to New Zealand, Australian and Singaporean competition authorities in last November to buy Cerebos Gregg’s as part of a global transaction.
The Commerce Commission said that its decision was arrived at after mainly considering competition problems in the New Zealand market for the manufacture, import and wholesale supply of several table sauces to retailers and the food service industry.
The deal would not include Cerebos fresh coffee known as Suntory Coffee, a relatively new business unit, targeting the fast growing global fresh coffee market.
Commerce Commission chair Mark Berry said: “We believe the merger of the number one and two wholesale suppliers to supermarkets of red sauce, barbecue sauce, steak sauce and Worcestershire sauce would be likely to result in a substantial lessening of competition in each of these markets.
“However, we consider the divestment offered by Heinz Wattie’s is sufficient to remedy the competitive harm the merger would cause and we have given clearance to the merger subject to the divestment undertaking.”
The Commission also revealed that it is satisfied that are no competition issues in the national markets for Asian sauces, condiments, chilli sauce, soy sauce gravies and powdered beverages caused by the proposed transaction.
It said that this was because of various factors like insignificant levels of overlap and the existence of competitive constraint from other suppliers.
Cerebos Gregg’s supplies sauces under several brands including Gregg’s and F. Whitlock & Sons in New Zealand. The company produces the sauces at its manufacturing facility in Australia.
| A FBR release || march 13, 2018 |||
Mar 12, 2018 - During an interview over the weekend, Mr Peters questioned whether Russia was involved in the United States election or the downing of the Malaysian Airlines flight MH17.
NDO – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has called on Auckland to further expand its cooperation with Vietnam, especially in terms of economy and trade, in the hope of doubling two-way trade between Vietnam and New Zealand in the time ahead.
The Remarkably Prescient 15 Year Rule Means Trump & the National Republicans are on the Verge of a Spectacular Collapse write Peter Leyden and Ruy Teixeira for Medium. For Californians, watching what’s happening politically with Trump and the Republican Congress in America can bring a serious bout of déjà vu. It’s like watching a movie from 15 years ago, in a theater, before Netflix started streaming through the Internet and onto your TV.
When just 14 people expressed interest to be a fruit-picker for this season, the Ministry of Social Development this Monday declared a regional labour shortage. The declaration would run from March 12 until April 6.
Palace of the Alhambra, Spain
By: Charles Nathaniel Worsley (1862-1923)
From the collection of Sir Heaton Rhodes
Oil on canvas - 118cm x 162cm
Valued $12,000 - $18,000
Offers invited over $9,000
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
Mount Egmont with Lake
By: John Philemon Backhouse (1845-1908)
Oil on Sea Shell - 13cm x 14cm
Valued $2,000-$3,000
Offers invited over $1,500
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242