Listen to The Country online: Fonterra's Matt Bolger on an impressive GDT result
Today on The Country radio show, host Jamie Mackay catches up with Matt Bolger, Fonterra's managing director of co-operative affairs.
He talks about a great GDT result, up 4.6%, with whole milk powder jumping 6.2%.
On with the show:
Christopher Luxon:
The Prime Minister ponders the GDT Auction, falling livestock numbers, carbon farming loopholes, and the windfall from FTAs.
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Newsroom
2 days ago
- Newsroom
The secret diary of .. Luxon in China
MONDAY 'Where are your slippers?,' Amanda said. 'You'll need your slippers.' Much is at fate for the destiny and wellbeing of New Zealand as I head to China this week to deliver a set of deliverables. 'I can't find your slippers,' she said. Other great helmsmen from history must have felt the same excitement and sense of purpose as they prepared to carry the hopes of their people and sit down to make sure they get share of mind. 'Your feet get so cold in air-conditioned hotel rooms,' she said. But it's more than the welfare of Kiwis that is at stake. These talks in China are held at a delicately poised time of increased global volatility and I have an important voice as world leaders iron out a phased launch within a wider strategy. 'If you won't help, then suit yourself,' she said. The DPS arrived. It was time to go. The great tides of history wait for no man. TUESDAY It's a very long flight to China but that allowed an opportunity to get to know the trade delegates from Zespri, Fonterra, and Supercheap Auto which stocks a variety of car batteries, air filters, coolants and more. Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran was also among the delegation. 'Not what it used to be, is it,' I said. 'Sorry?' 'The airline. It used to be one of the world's great airlines. I led it into an era of unprecedented success but the bottom seems to have fallen out since I left office.' 'None of that is true,' he said, and left to use the bathroom. I never saw him again. WEDNESDAY We raced off out of the blocks with meetings to raise awareness of the New Zealand tourism offering in the Chinese market, and a visit to a cosmetics event to discuss regulatory barriers of skincare products. You don't want to boil the ocean by alphabetising our client contact information but at the same time you want to reach out and come away with important learnings. I was on my feet all day. They hurt and I think I might have chilblains. THURSDAY To the Langham Hotel for a Fonterra event promoting grass-fed dairy where attendees were served milk in champagne flutes. And then the Peninsula Hotel, to oversee the announcement of a new flight route between China and South America, stopping in Auckland. After that, The Do Drop Inn where reps from Supercheap Auto wowed Chinese officials with budget deals on the Tridon Coolant Temperature Sensor, Fuel Injection Air Flow Meter and the Bissell Spot Clean Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner. Our tiger team really moved the needle on that one. But it was misery to go back to the hotel. They keep the aircon on high and I just could not get my feet warm. FRIDAY A face-to-face with President Xi in Beijing—my first since China sent a strike force into the Tasman Sea without warning. I said to him, 'We have huge areas of co-operation that can advance the wealth of both countries, but we also have to acknowledge that we have differences.' He seemed to be playing Solitaire on his phone, but he gave me his full attention, and asked, 'What differences?' I thought of the possible bonanza in sales of meat and kiwifruit. I thought of the benefits of the visit to the skincare event and the excitement caused by good deals on motor oil provided by Supercheap Auto. Mainly I thought of how my feet were frozen blocks of ice, and I said, 'Nothing really. It's all good. Let's lean into our moving parts and build on our core competency!' The DPS arrived. It was time to go. They had found me a pair of slippers.
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
The secret diary of . . . Christopher Luxon in China
MONDAY "Where are your slippers?" Amanda said. "You'll need your slippers." Much is at fate for the destiny and wellbeing of New Zealand as I head to China this week to deliver a set of deliverables. "I can't find your slippers," she said. Other great helmsmen from history must have felt the same excitement and sense of purpose as they prepared to carry the hopes of their people and sit down to make sure they get share of mind. "Your feet get so cold in air-conditioned hotel rooms," she said. But it's more than the welfare of Kiwis that is at stake. These talks in China are held at a delicately poised time of increased global volatility and I have an important voice as world leaders iron out a phased launch within a wider strategy. "If you won't help, then suit yourself," she said. The DPS arrived. It was time to go. The great tides of history wait for no man. TUESDAY It's a very long flight to China but that allowed an opportunity to get to know the trade delegates from Zespri, Fonterra, and Supercheap Auto which stocks a variety of car batteries, air filters, coolants and more. Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran was also among the delegation. "Not what it used to be, is it," I said. "Sorry?" "The airline. It used to be one of the world's great airlines. I led it into an era of unprecedented success but the bottom seems to have fallen out since I left office." "None of that is true," he said, and left to use the bathroom. I never saw him again. WEDNESDAY We raced off out of the blocks with meetings to raise awareness of the New Zealand tourism offering in the Chinese market, and a visit to a cosmetics factory even to discuss regulatory barriers of skincare products. You don't want to boil the ocean by alphabetising our client contact information but at the same time you want to reach out and come away with important learnings. I was on my feet all day. They hurt and I think I might have chilblains. THURSDAY To the Langham Hotel for a Fonterra event promoting grass-fed dairy where attendees were served milk in Champagne flutes. And then the Peninsula Hotel, to oversee the announcement of a new flight route between China and South America, stopping in Auckland. After that, The Do Drop Inn where reps from Supercheap Auto wowed Chinese officials with budget deals on the Tridon Coolant Temperature Sensor, Fuel Injection Air Flow Meter and the Bissell Spot Clean Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner. Our tiger team really moved the needle on that one. But it was misery to go back to the hotel. They keep the air-con on high and I just could not get my feet warm. FRIDAY A face-to-face with President Xi in Beijing — my first since China sent a strike force into the Tasman Sea without warning. I said to him, 'We have huge areas of co-operation that can advance the wealth of both countries, but we also have to acknowledge that we have differences." He seemed to be playing Solitaire on his phone, but he gave me his full attention, and asked, "What differences?" I thought of the possible bonanza in sales of meat and kiwifruit. I thought of the benefits of the visit to the skincare event and the excitement caused by good deals on motor oil provided by Supercheap Auto. Mainly I thought of how my feet were frozen blocks of ice, and I said, "Nothing really. It's all good. Let's lean into our moving parts and build on our core competency!" The DPS arrived. It was time to go. They had found me a pair of slippers. By Steve Braunias
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- NZ Herald
Red meat in demand worldwide
China, US appetite for NZ red meat called 'buoyant' by CEO. The Markets is a monthly segment on The Country where a guest takes a closer look at the red meat export markets. Recently, host Jamie Mackay spoke with Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dan Boulton about strong demand in China and the US, and the Plate to Pasture Farmer Conference coming up in July. Red meat prospects in the China and US markets are 'very buoyant', says Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dan Boulton. Boulton was in Toronto when he caught up with The Country's Jamie Mackay and had been in China the week before with the Silver Fern Farms board in Shanghai and Xi'an. 'It was great connecting with our customers,' he said. 'There's an improvement in confidence in the China market, and we're seeing that reflected in pricing across beef, lamb, and venison.' Boulton said that, while China wasn't leading global pricing, it was still 'definitely competitive'. 'That's what we want to see coming out of one of our big markets.' As for the US, demand for beef was very strong, which was causing a supply issue. 'That's off the back of reduced beef numbers in the US, but right now in New Zealand, our kill numbers are down as we move into winter,' Boulton said. While that created some domestic challenges that processors were having to navigate, Boulton says that it also creates the upside of some healthy price tension in the markets. 'That creates some really healthy price tension in the markets as well, which we enjoy.' Boulton said the 10% tariff from US President Donald Trump hadn't had much effect. 'We've managed to pass most of the tariffs on into markets, so that's a good outcome,' he said. 'There's clearly a lack of confidence that's in the market in North America at the moment, and I guess uncertainty is quite high. 'But again, the demand for red meat, particularly our grass-fed red meat, is really strong.' Boulton said consumer confidence was waning in mid to low-level casual dining, but fine dining was 'absolutely pumping'. 'People are trading down and eating at home, but our retail business up in North America is going extremely well.' The Lamb Company, a joint in-market venture owned by Silver Fern Farms, Anzco, and Alliance, is another Kiwi success story in America. Including Australian partners, WAMMCO and Southern Meats, The Lamb Company has been the leading North American supplier of lamb and other premium, naturally raised proteins for over 50 years. Boulton said it had turned over $1 billion in revenue across the North American market this year, with growth in retail, food service and e-commerce. This growth meant the company could invest in three state-of-the-art processing facilities. 'We've got one in Toronto, we've got one in New Jersey, and one in Los Angeles, and they're distributing to almost every state in the US and Canada, twice a week.' Boulton said teamwork was a big part of the company's success. 'We've got a team of 50 people representing our lamb out in the market up here, and about another 450 people working across those processing facilities. 'So really, really good collaboration and it's just gone from strength to strength.' Back home, Silver Fern Farms is getting ready for its Plate to Pasture Farmer Conference. The conference is from July 15 to 17 and is held at the Claudelands event centre in Hamilton. Free to attend and open to all Silver Fern Farms' suppliers, shareholders and teams, it's a chance to get off-farm, network, and re-focus for the season ahead. This year was about celebrating 'Creating Goodness Together', and Boulton was keen for young people to attend. 'We've got a particular focus on that next generation to come and understand and connect with other farmers and get some fresh insight around what's happening in the sector.' There's an impressive line-up of industry leaders and expert speakers, and the conference is jam-packed with activities, including a barbecue, national boning competition finals, butchery and cooking classes, and a farm tour. There's also the Plate to Pasture Awards to look forward to. 'You talk to people that have been to our conferences previously, and it's a really, really positive few days,' Boulton said. He encouraged those interested to register. 'Spots will fill up fast, but there's a lot of great content that we're going to be sharing.'
