AUSTRALIA TO INCREASE RECYCLING CAPABILITIES

The Australian Food and Grocery Council welcomes federal government funding to increase Australia’s recycling capabilities as significant progress in developing a circular economy for packaging materials.

AFGC CEO Tanya Barden said AUD 60 million in funding for hard-to-recycle plastics, including soft plastics, and consultation on a national framework for recycled content traceability, announced on Tuesday by Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek, will boost the ability of food and grocery companies to use recycled materials in packaging.

Read more here boutique butchery in Camberley, Hastings, creating quality products sold in-store and online.

Jordan, passionate about hunting and the outdoors, started his butchery trade at 15 in a butcher shop in Woodville. After working six years for the previous owner of Wild Game, Jordan took over the business and took great pride in crafting his award-winning products. Read more here

COUNTDOWN’S $400 MILLION INVESTMENT

Countdown has announced its long-term commitment to delivering New Zealand’s best supermarket experiences for customers and teams with an accelerated transformation programme underway.

The transformation includes more customer value through a refreshed loyalty programme with the launch of Everyday Rewards for New Zealand planned for early 2024. Significant investment is planned, with over NZD 400 million over the next three years allocated to a renewal of the store network, with a focus on older stores across Aotearoa. Customers will also see more convenient eCommerce shopping options, a deeper connection to grassroots community activities, and further commitment to top-quality fruit and vegetables with a state-of-the-art Christchurch Fresh Distribution Centre opening in 2024. This will complement the Auckland Fresh Distribution Centre, which opened in 2022. Read more here

Local Drinks Brand Bolsters Its Board

The rise of the sober curious movement has seen the non-alcoholic beverage industry boom in the last few years, with the category now valued at $178 billion globally, with $14.7 billion accounting for the emerging zero percent alcohol category.

Local company Finery was the first to the New Zealand market in the ready-to-drink, low and no-alcohol category. Now, the company is in sight of expansion with the support of two high-profile FMCG players investing in the brand and announcing a crowd-funding campaign. Read more here

Long Road Ahead For Taming Inflation

Statistics New Zealand's Food Price Index (FPI) shows food prices increased 12.5 percent for June 2023 compared to a year ago.

Chris Quin, Foodstuffs New Zealand managing director, said that the food sector faced complex challenges due to record inflation. However, the pace and intensity of rising costs that growers, manufacturers, and retailers had seen showed signs of easing.

Commenting on the latest food price inflation figures released by Statistics New Zealand today, Quin said after the supply shocks of early 2020, record cost increases were beginning to moderate. Still, it would take time for this to flow through to customers.

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Finalist At The Energy Excellence Awards

The Energy Excellence Awards are focused on recognising excellence across the broader energy sector for activities over the past twelve to twenty-four months. Ten awards are presented, including the customerfocused Energy Retailer of the Year Award.

Z General Manager Customer Andy Baird said that being recognised as a finalist was a testament to all those across Z who focus on providing top-quality service and products to keep New Zealand motorists moving.

“We’re proud that our commitment to New Zealand’s transition to a low carbon future has been cited within the selection process as we look at ways we can help our customers in their transition journey,” said Baird. Read more here

Seasonal Produce

Even in a typical year, no two days or seasons are the same for New Zealand's produce growers. No one knows this better than Justin Dykhoff, Foodstuffs South Island's Produce Manager, who, together with his team of people based in Christchurch, is responsible for buying a significant portion of South Island's produce that can be found in PAK'nSAVE, New

World, Four Square and Raeward Fresh stores.

Dykhoff's been choosing the pick of the pack for 12 years now and says this year has been like no other, with extreme weather and higher-thanaverage rainfall impacting this year's winter crops.

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