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Kathryn Calvert
Editor NZ FOODTechnology
Welcome to a news-packed May edition…and we bluntly ask – does the food industry really care about the
health of its customers? A recent study says while some are ‘walking the talk’, others are dragging their heels
on reformulating their recipes to cut back on the bad stuff. In a world where image is everything and branding
defines the philosophy of companies, is our stance doing as much damage as sugar, salt and additives appears
to be doing to customers? Katherine Rich says the study questions are “slanted” and that manufacturers are
doing their bit. What do you think? Have a great May.
EDITOR'S NOTE
BREAKING NEWS
ARE WE WALKING THE TALK?
BOOST FOR
KIWI BEVERAGE
INDUSTRY
Two New Zealand companies
have teamed up to install stateof
the-art technology at the
Apollo plant in Hawke’s Bay’s
Whakatu that will bring some of
the best in fruit and dairy beverages
to the country. The agreement
between Fonterra Brands
New Zealand and Apollo Foods,
an innovative start-up company,
will help both companies capitalise
on the increasing global
popularity for lifestyle beverages.
Apollo’s new operation
includes innovative beverage
filling technology which allows
a range of different containers
to be produced on site and
filled with a range of different
products on the one production
line.The technology at the
plant provides market-leading
quality control and allows for a
superior fresh taste experience
over an extended shelf life. This
provides opportunities for outlets
to stock a greater range of
products and in turn gives consumers
more choice. Fonterra
Brands New Zealand managing
director Leon Clement says
a global surge in demand for
dairy and fruit beverages presents
a fantastic opportunity for
both companies. “As high-quality
drinks play an increasingly
large role in consumers’ diets
around the world, New Zealand
companies have a real opportunity
to create value-adding
initiatives across our primary
industry sectors,” he says. “By
taking an innovative partnership
approach to production
with Apollo Foods, we have
been able to open up new opportunities
for future brands –
and create even more value for
our farmers.” The Apollo Foods
facility will have the capacity to
produce millions of litres of beverages
each year, allowing the
two companies to take the lead
in their respective categories
and benefit from new technology
to supply consumer drinks
to the growing market. Following
the commissioning of the
plant last month, production
is underway of a new-look,
new-formulation ‘Mammoth’
flavoured milk which contains
40% less sugar and a shelf life
of six months. In the coming
months both Fonterra Brands
New Zealand and Apollo will independently
release their own
varieties of new beverages to
the New Zealand market.
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