NEWS
SNIPS
Entries for
this year’s New
Zealand Bakels
Supreme Pie
Awards have
officially closed,
with bakers
having until July
26 to perfect
their entry for
judging day
and winners
announced on
July 31
A survey by the
New Zealand
Brewers
Association has
found 62% of
beer drinkers
only have one
or two at a
time, 58% are
unaware what’s
in beer or how
it’s made, and
85% don’t know
most beer is
99% sugar-free
Avocado prices
have risen to
new heights in
May, posting an
average price of
$5.06 each, up
50% from May
last year due to
a small harvest,
Stats NZ says
AVOCO says
early moves
by Mexico’s
avocado
producers
to enter the
Australasian
market is a
timely reminder
about the
benefits of
supporting
market
development in
Asia.
BELIEF IN
THE BAY
Hawke’s Bay’s long-awaited
food innovation hub is a step
closer to creation following the
granting of $215,000 from central
government’s Provincial Growth
Fund. The grant will help fund
a feasibility study and business
case for the project, supported
by the Hastings District Council,
Napier City Council, Hawke’s
Bay Regional Council and 13
organisations engaged in the
food, beverage and agri-tech
sectors. A ‘Discovery Phase’
report completed in the third
quarter of 2017 had input
from more than 50 food and
beverage-focused organisations
in Hawke’s Bay. HDC group
manager economic growth
Craig Cameron says the funding
announcement for the next
stage is very welcome. “This is a
unique opportunity to potentially
establish a food innovation hub
facility that will ultimately facilitate
business growth and innovation,
drive investment and economic
growth and create jobs.” The
project is being managed by a
stakeholder group made up of
representatives from industry
and councils, which expect that
the study will be completed later
this year. Cameron says further
funding from the Provincial
Growth Fund is likely to be
needed to set up the hub, which
has an estimated cost of around
$20 million. The Provincial Growth
Fund is a $1 billion per annum
investment over three years to
ensure regional New Zealand
can thrive through productive,
sustainable and inclusive
economic growth.
BILLIONAIRE TAKES ON HANSELLS
Kiwi billionaire Graeme Hart has purchased one of New
Zealand’s largest food manufacturing firms, according to
the NZ Companies Office’s website which states Hansells
Food Group has been transferred to new shareholder
HFC Acquisition – wholly owned by Hart’s Rank Group
and directed by his son Harry. The Hansells name is
synonymous with the sale of essences, baking products
and iconic brands such as Vitafresh and WeightWatchers.
It has been operational for 80 years, and has had a
turbulent past, posting a loss in the year to March 2017
of more than $6 million. Hart, New Zealand’s richest man,
added $4.6 billion to his wealth last year.
TECH COMPANIES TO FEEL THE PINCH
Hundreds of fledgling New Zealand tech companies will feel
the pinch if stimulating research and development grants are
replaced with tax credits, NZTech chief executive Graeme
Muller says. Tax credits have a place, but New Zealand
needs to be as competitive as other countries if it wants a
faster growing economy, he says “The planned changes
will help larger and more mature firms but overall they will
be detrimental to high growth tech firms and this is not
conducive for the fastest growing sector in the country. The
current consultation process presents an opportunity to
have a real good review of the structural set up and equity
for all high tech companies. We also need to make sure the
R&D incentives help both research and development – they
currently focus on research and ignore development.”
SENSUS CELEBRATES CHICORY ROOT
Sensus, manufacturer of Frutafit and Frutalose chicory
root fibres, has welcomed the announcement that the US
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognises inulintype
fructans derived from chicory root as dietary fibre for
the new nutrition facts label. The recognition consolidates
the fibre status of chicory root fibre and supports further
opportunities for healthy food applications. Sensus America
president Carl Votz says inulin/oligofructose has been
clearly shown to support physiological health benefits as
assessed by the FDA’s strict criteria. “The FDA’s inclusion of
chicory root fibre as a dietary fibre in its new food labelling
regulations allows our customers to continue marketing their
products as sources of dietary fibre and to continue to use
chicory root fibre as a tool to reduce calories and added
sugar.” www.inspiredbyinulin.com
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