FOOD AND BEVERAGE GROWTH
Three reports launched recently by
Minister for Economic Development
David Parker show New Zealand’s food
and beverage sector is growing quickly
– up to double-digit growth across
many non-traditional categories.
Leading products include manuka honey,
chocolate, cherries and shellfish, and all are
showing strong growth, which Parker says is
great news for regional economies. “The reports
highlight that authentic and natural products utilising
New Zealand’s brand attributes are attracting
significant price premiums,” Parker says. “It’s important
we as a Government continue to support
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innovation in the sector while fostering the economic
conditions for it to thrive.” The reports are
part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and
Employment’s Food and Beverage Information
Project, and identify 51 high growth non-traditional
categories with export revenue of more than
NZ$10 billion. They also profile the 20 food and
beverage categories that have shown very strong
growth at 14% a year over the past five years and
exports valued at NZ$3.64 billion in 2016. FoodHQ
chief executive Dr Abby Thompson says the
reports look at a wide range of New Zealand food
and beverage exports, and identify several areas
with significant potential for development – chocolate
bars and blocks, fresh cherries, breakfast
cereals, muesli bars and flavoured beverages.
“New Zealand’s economy was built on producing
and exporting food and beverage products. We
know international market demands are changing,
and it is important to identify areas that have the
potential to further grow our exports in the coming
years. The report has identified areas where
we take advantage of our reputation for high-quality
produce, our culture of innovation in food, and
our geographic location, which lets us supply out
of season products to the northern hemisphere.
It highlights potential strategic directions for our
food and beverage industries, and opportunities
for further investment.”
http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/sectors-industries/
food-beverage/information-project