COMPANY
FOCUS
The New Zealand Food & Grocery Council plans
to continue its hard work in 2020, supporting
and providing information, solutions and
help about issues such as the Government’s
proposals to introduce legislation prohibiting
“unconscionable”, or unfair, business conduct
and protecting businesses from unfair contract
terms.
Chief executive Katherine Rich says this is a probusiness
move and will particularly benefit small
food and grocery manufacturers.
“We’ve advocated for many years that New
Zealand business law dealing with unfair
practices needed to be strengthened and aligned
with Australian law. These proposals are well on
the way to achieving that.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for small
businesses but these proposals will make a huge
difference.
“FGC submitted on the proposals in the
Government’s discussion document and, like
other submitters, provided examples of unfair
conduct and contracts our members had
experienced, and the impacts, such as negative
cash flow, stress, business interruption, reduced
profitability, and a reduced ability to focus on
growing their business.
“We said such prohibitions should capture
only particularly egregious conduct, and that
most typical business dealings and behaviour
should not be affected, and the Government
has listened. These proposals don’t undermine
businesses’ ability to compete, participate in
robust negotiations, or enter into contracts.
He says that it was important that whatever
changes were made brought us into line with other
countries we trade with, and that’s happened, with
these proposals being modelled on Australian law.
“There, they have had some form of prohibition on
‘unconscionable conduct’ since 1986, and their
Unfair Contract Terms regime was expanded in
2016 to protect small businesses.
“This is particularly relevant, considering the
Single Economic Market benefits for New Zealand
having law that is more consistent with Australia’s.
“These proposals will also complement the
Commerce Commission’s new powers to
accept enforceable undertakings and to
undertake competition studies, and could lead
to reduced costs for businesses, especially small
businesses.”
BASTION FOR THE MAKERS (FOOD & GROCERY COUNCIL)
EQUIPPED FOR THE JOB (EQM INDUSTRIAL)
EQM is described as a leading food industry equipment and technology supplier
in New Zealand. With vast experience and expertise in a wide range of equipment
and turnkey solutions, the company stocks some of the world’s leading brands,
and has developed its own custom materials for handling and packing line
equipment. EQM says it can can tackle all types of projects from meat and dairy
through to produce and snacks, and adheres strongly to its company values of
positivity, empathy, teamwork, consistency and dedication. www.eqm.co.nz
MORE THAN A TIDY KIWI
(EASI RECYCLING)
Established in New Zealand in 2013, Easi Recyling offers a wide
range of recycling products to suit every company’s recycling
needs and aims to maximise materials value by segregation at
source and compaction. The company has implemented more
than 3000 recycling solutions in the UK and has become a leading
provider of waste equipment here. It is the sole distributor of the
ingenius Longopac continuous bagging system and Orwak balers,
both from Sweden, and continues to add innovative new products
as the recycling sector develops.
www.easirecycling.co.nz
84 ANNUAL DIRECTORY 2020
/www.eqm.co.nz
/www.easirecycling.co.nz
