MILK TRAIL BLAZER
(MIRAKA)
Central North Island dairy company Miraka’s
trail-blazing approach to sustainable dairying
has been making waves within New Zealand’s
agriculture sector. The Māori-owned company
takes a long-term view, incorporating
sustainable land management, animal
welfare and employee wellbeing in business
decisions. Miraka uses renewable geothermal
energy to generate over 300 million litres of
premium milk products each year. And in
a first for New Zealand, the company now
reports farm-specific carbon emissions for
each of their over 100 farms. “At Miraka we
believe in the importance of kaitiakitanga. Our
goal is to have the lowest carbon footprint
of any dairy processor in the world,” says
Murray Hemi, Miraka’s Kaitiaki and general
manager of environmental leadership. As
demand increases for premium dairy products
with a low carbon footprint, Miraka says the
company is well-placed to grow export sales.
www.miraka.co.nz
COMPANY
FOCUS
FARMHOUSE ON WORLD STAGE
(WHITESTONE CHEESE CO)
Whitestone Oamaru’s Whitestone Cheese Co has been setting the stage alight, named among
the winners at the 32nd annual World Cheese Awards in Bergamo, Italy. Among a record-breaking
3,804 entries Whitestone Cheese was awarded a coveted Bronze award for its Farmhouse cheese,
a pressed white mould semi-soft cheese, Whitestone’s first and original cheese that launched the
cheese company in 1987. With entries representing 42 nations from six continents at the World
Cheese Awards this year, Whitestone Cheese has gained an internationally recognised seal of
approval from a truly global cheese event. Simon Berry, managing director explains, “The decision to
enter Farmhouse was an easy one, as this cheese stands on its own feet internationally. A pressed
cheese with a white mould rind is rare, we knew it would shine in any category it entered. To achieve
an international bronze is fantastic recognition for our original cheese that has gone unchanged
since the late 80’s. Also, recognition of our founding team and their pioneering development back in
1987.” www.whitestonecheese.co.nz
PUREED FOOD IS SUPREME
(THE PURE FOOD CO)
A company that produces texture-modified products to enhance the quality of
life for people with eating difficulties was named the Massey University Supreme
Award winner at year’s New Zealand Food Awards. The Pure Food Co also won
the James & Wells Business Innovation Award, with judges saying the company
showed an impressive level of collaboration with target customers to understand
consumer needs and realise the benefits of intellectual property to build a trusted
brand. The Auckland-based company was co-founded by Sam Bridgewater
and Maia Royal in 2014 after a family member of Mr Bridgewater’s became so
ill he could no longer eat solid foods. Products are supplied both nationally and
internationally to hospitals and rest homes as well as direct to consumers. The
nutritional benefits and quality of the food is achieved through collaboration with
chefs, dietitians and food technologists. “We’re honoured to get this award. It’s
something we had hoped to win in the past, so getting it tonight is unreal,” Mr
Bridgewater says. “Every day we try and put our feet in our consumers’ shoes,
our elderly customers. We try to think about what makes a better meal for them
and how we can improve their nutrition.” The judging panel said The Pure Food
Co met all of the criteria for selection of a Supreme Award winner, judged against
the three themes of innovation, excellence and sustainability. “The judges agreed
that this company demonstrated best practice in terms of its growth and strategic
direction, market development and product development processes, and nutritional
and health impacts.” Judges stated that the products were innovative and of
extremely high quality. “From a social sustainability perspective, The Pure Food
Co proactively engages in upskilling health care professionals as well as their own
staff, and from an environmental sustainability perspective, they seek to manage
the environmental impacts of their processes.” www.thepurefoodco.com
80 ANNUAL DIRECTORY 2020
/www.miraka.co.nz
/www.whitestonecheese.co.nz
/www.thepurefoodco.com
