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March 2014 Vol 7 Issue 3
New French chef at The Sugar Club, Nico Bonnaud: “Like Peter’s signature style, it’s a fusion of incredible setting and internationally renowned cuisine.” (see page 11)
MEAT PRICES SET TO RISE THE rest of the world wants our meat and is willing to pay top dollar for it, meaning inevitable rises in domestic beef and sheepmeat prices. A decrease in supply from the US following drought and increasing demand from new and hungry market China has both countries looking to NZ for satisfaction. The latest update to the Ministry of Primary Industries 2014/15 forecast has revised revenues of meat exports up $1.2 billion, the only industry to record >20% over the previous forecast. One agri-business analyst spoken to says several factors will lead to
higher domestic meat prices this year and into the future. “Like dairy, the beef industry is focused on exports and with the demand from China looking to grow massively, it could well be that we soon start paying the kind of skewed prices for beef and lamb that we currently pay for an off the shelf bottle of milk.” Other issues contributing to less supply include lowered head counts of both the domestic sheep flocks and cattle herds, plus the droughtstruck domestic industry has its own regional financial crises - to the extent of desperate ‘farm gate’ meat sales.
SUPPLIERS CLOSED OUT UNFAIR treatment of suppliers isn’t limited to the retail sector, we’ve discovered in wake of the alleged Countdown bullying scandal. R&C has spoken to local foodservice suppliers finding it impossible to find distributors willing to take their product, despite success in the retail and export markets. One manufacturer said they had a single competitor monopolising all their possible domestic distribution
options and their only recourse was to find franchise clients willing to take stock in high enough bulk to justify delivery costs. “Absolute credit to our competition, they do a great job, but it drives me crazy that while our international market is strong, distributors here won’t let us in.” It’s certainly a shame not to give a break to domestic manufacturers that employ New Zealanders – supporting each other benefits everyone.
Christchurch Icons Reopen Post Quake
TRADE GROUPS TO WORK TOGETHER HOSPITALITY New Zealand and the Chefs Association have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work more closely together on industry projects. The agreement sets out how the two national organisations will work more closely together and on joint projects including an annual food trends survey, a national series of training seminars and on local events around the country. The first
KEREAMA TOPS IN MANAWATU SEAN Kereama is the new president of the Restaurant Association’s Manawatu branch. Currently executive chef at the Wharerata Function Centre, he has had a long and distinguished career in hospitality. It includes head chef at the local Kingsgate, executive chef at Valentines
DIRTY DEEDS UNDOING? NEW Brighton pub the Bower Tavern reopened in February in a building comprised of 18 shipping containers, said to be the largest container building in the city. Also, this month sees former Irish pub The Bog reopen after three years. Moved from Cashel St to Victoria St, The Bog also has a new fit-out, an industrial punk theme.
joint project will be launched next month. The deal was signed earlier this month by Chefs president Anita Sargison and Hospitality NZ president Adam Cunningham. The start of the collaboration in April will be a kitchen management seminar series run by the Chefs Association aimed at upskilling managers, chefs and cooks in the art of menu engineering and cost management.
AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd last month lost a bid for name suppression in a dispute currently before the ERA, laid by three former employees of his Tauranga restaurant Phil’s Place. ERA adjudicator Tania Tetitaha said that not only was his involvement with the property well known and his
the country.
and a range of teaching roles. Kereama says the hospitality business in the region has undergone steady growth in sales and with sales per employee nearly 20% higher than the national average, the region has one of the most productive workforces in
name already published in relation to the case, he was “intimately involved in the cause of action giving rise to this dispute...[and] does not largely dispute what occurred and his involvement. [Therefore] his reputation cannot be marred by events he accepts are truthful.” The Herald on Sunday last October reported that the original number of plaintiffs was eight.