FMCG August 2022

fmcgbusiness.co.nz

L E A D I N G

I N D U S T R Y

N E W S

AUGUST 2022 – Volume 9 – No 7

Tuffy’s making a

Bold Statement

this winter

PLUS! NZ’S FINEST n PASTA & RICE n FROZEN FOOD TRENDS n WHAT’S HOT n NEW ZEALAND’S LARGEST FMCG AUDIENCE

contents AUGUST 2022

UP FRONT

GOOD BUSINESS

4 EDITOR’S NOTE

28 INDUSTRY NEWS AND INSIGHTS

6 INDUSTRY NEWS

32 20

SPECIAL FEATURES 16 FROZEN INNOVATION 18 INTERNATIONAL FLAVOURS Category news and IRI data

29 PROFILE B Corp Certification for Heilala Vanilla

20 RICE & PASTA

30 FGC

22 NZ’S FINEST Celebrating ONZFP Awards winners

31 JAMES & WELLS Getting more value out of your IP

REGULARS 10 COVER STORY Tuffy’s new seasonal designs

32 THE MAGIC OF CHOCOLATE 33 LEGAL ADVICE

EVENTS

11 WHAT’S HOT New products in store

34 NZ CHAMPIONS OF CHEESE AWARDS 2022

12 HEALTH & BEAUTY What’s trending in natural antiaging skincare

36 CHOCOLATE AND COFFEE AT THE CLOUD

13 HEALTH & WELLNESS 14 BEST IN SEASON Fresh produce update 15 FMCG BUSINESS PRODUCT OF THE YEAR Another finalist is revealed

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28 PROFILE Finery cocktails founder a finalist in rise up competition

17 PROFILE MSC – your trusted partner for transporting frozen meat 25 PROFILE Award-winning Nut Brothers 26 KANTAR Innovation to grow your brand

37 OUT & ABOUT Our people at work and events around the country

CONVENIENCE & IMPULSE RETAILING 38

TOBACCO LEGISLATION The slippery slope to prohibition

40 NZACS Meet Tracey Fookes, NZACS newest management committee member 41 FOUR SQUARE A new store opens in Auckland’s St Helierrs

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[ editorial ]

A PIVOTAL YEAR FOR OUR SECTOR Consumers’ needs, shopping habits and priorities have radically transformed over the last year and they continue to change. Retailers who are agile, delivering an optimised experience across both digital and physical aisles will win in this new pandemic environment.

In this issue we find out what’s hot, what’s driving sales in store, what’s fresh in the produce section, and discover award-winning, local products in our special feature on pg 22-25. We also bring you snapshots from the Rice and Pasta category, new trends in the Frozen aisle and Lew Bentley’s musings on the magic of chocolate.

You will find expert IP tips from the James & Wells team on pg 31, who suggest that good, holistic IP portfolio management can help businesses to better realise the economic benefits of their intangible assets.

This is a pivotal year for our food and grocery sector, says FGC Chief Executive Katherine Rich, and she explains why on pg 30. Katherine Rich, the James & Wells team, and Lew Bentley, Head of Strategy at Shopper Marketing Agency energi, are among many respected industry experts who will be speaking at our FMCG Business Marketing Summit in September. It promises to be a great day out for you, with plenty of inspiration and networking opportunities, including lunch and drinks. Find out more and secure your tickets now over on fmcgsummit.co.nz .

We hope to see you there!

PUBLISHED BY C&I Media (NZ) Ltd PO Box 109 342 Newmarket, Auckland 1149 MANAGING DIRECTOR Simon Grover COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR Safa de Valois safa@c-store.com.au EDITORIAL DIRECTOR James Wells james@intermedia.com.au HEAD OF CONTENT Tamara Rubanowski trubanowski@intermedianz.co.nz ph: 027 278 4761 ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER C&I NZ Deb Jackson d.jackson@c-store.com.au NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Vicky Bennett vbennett@intermedianz.co.nz ph: 021 626 115 ART DIRECTOR Leanne Hogbin leanne@intermedia.com.au PRODUCTION MANAGER Jacqui Cooper jacqui@intermedia.com.au DIGITAL AND PRINT COORDINATOR Eclypse Lee elee@intermedianz.co.nz

Tamara Rubanowski trubanowski@intermedianz.co.nz www.fmcgbusiness.co.nz

C&I Media takes its Corporate and Social Responsibilities seriously and is committed to reducing its impact on the environment. We continuously strive to improve our environmental performance and to initiate additional CSR based projects and activities. As part of our company policy we ensure that the products and services used in the manufacture of this magazine are sourced from environmentally responsible suppliers.

This magazine is printed on Impress stock from Spicers Paper using FSC® MIX source pulp from responsible sources and other controlled sources. We print using BIO-inks that contain base materials from renewable resources including wood resin (rosin, colophony), vegetable oils, linseed oil and soy bean oil. This magazine is printed by ICG, an ToitŪ enviromark gold certified printer.

ISSN 2382-1663 (print) ISSN 2624-4802 (online)

ON THE COVER Tuffy is making a bold statement this winter with the launch of a new Tuffy Seasons range, starting with an Autumn/Winter design.

Find out more on page 10.

FMCG BUSINESS IS PROUDLY ASSOCIATED WITH food& grocery COUNCIL NEW ZEALAND

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FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

FMCG Business is audited and verified by ABC. DISCLAIMER This publication is published by C&I Media (NZ) Ltd (the “Publisher”). Materials in this publication have been created by a variety of different entities and, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher accepts no liability for materials created by others. All materials should be considered protected by New Zealand and international intellectual property laws. Unless you are authorised by law or the copyright owner to do so, you may not copy any of the materials. The mention of a product or service, person or company in this publication does not indicate the Publisher’s endorsement. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Publisher, its agents, company officers or employees. Any use of the information contained in this publication is at the sole risk of the person using that information. The user should make independent enquiries as to the accuracy of the information before relying on that information. All express or implied terms, conditions, warranties, statements, assurances and representations in relation to the Publisher, its publications and its services are expressly excluded. To the extent permitted by law, the Publisher will not be liable for any damages including special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages (including but not limited to economic loss or loss of profit or revenue or loss of opportunity) or indirect loss or damage of any kind arising in contract, tort or otherwise, even if advised of the possibility of such loss of profits or damages. While we use our best endeavours to ensure accuracy of the materials we create, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher excludes all liability for loss resulting from any inaccuracies or false or misleading statements that may appear in this publication. Copyright © 2022 - C&I Media (NZ) Ltd

[ news ]

NEW WORLD WAIROA OPENS WITH A NEXT GENERATION STORE

Locals love the donuts from the in-store bakery.

Owner operator Brookes Stewart with his Mum on opening day.

New World Wairoa has opened its much-anticipated brand-new store at for the long-term in New Zealand communities. “We invest around 51 Queen Street. The store completely replaces the original store and $100m every year in construction and refurbishment of property across is the latest generation New World design and format, while keeping its our North Island stores, supply chain network, and support centres. community at heart.

Since the start of this financial year we’ve already invested $27m – The 2,009sqm supermarket is almost double the size of the including $17m in Wairoa.” previous store and has created eight new fulltime roles. It will provide Stewart adds: “Every store is run by an owner like me who lives Wairoa locals and visitors with all the essentials, including a larger and works in their community. It means we can be really close to our range of grocery offerings, wider variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, customers, understanding the needs of our community and can respond a delicious new bakery range - and a bigger range of convenient options quickly, including little details we know our locals want and will love like to grab-and-go. our new made-in-store donuts, and our wider range of meal solutions.”

Brookes Stewart, owner operator of New World Wairoa says the team “Sustainability has been kept high in mind in the store design and are so excited to bring the community the latest contemporary shopping with the fixtures and fittings inside the store. It’s the seemingly small experience. “The team behind the things that can make a really big build all worked tirelessly to make difference, such as having doors sure this store is the very best New on meat and produce chillers, World has to offer. We’ve been saving power and helping us well set up to deliver the very best reduce emissions, while giving customer service and value in a our customers a more sustainable beautiful store Wairoa can be really shopping experience.” proud of. I’m sure our community The store’s exterior features a will love it as much as we do.” mural by local artist Chantze Rohe Along with Stewart, Foodstuffs (Ngati Kahungunu, Rongomawahine.

North Island, a 100% New Zealand The mural’s story speaks to owned and operated co-operative Wairoa and encompasses three are behind the investment in New fundamental elements, Te Tangata, World Wairoa.

Te Wai and Te Whenua.

Foodstuffs North Island CEO “The mural is really special to us Chris Quin says New World Wairoa and we’re so privileged and grateful The store’s exterior features a mural by local artist Chantze Rohe. is an example of how the coto be home to such a beautiful (L to R) Jack Beaton, Chris Quin, Brookes Stewart and Chantze Rohe. operative and its members invest piece of local taonga,” says Stewart.

FOR MORE INDUSTRY NEWS FOLLOW US ON 6

FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

CHECK OUT WWW.FMCGBUSINESS.CO.NZ

Are you looking to elevate your FMCG brand through impressive marketing?

DON’T MISS IT. Stay ahead of the game in NZ’s fast-moving grocery and retail sectors at the

MARKETING SUMMIT Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland

Tickets on sale now THURSDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2022 Ellerslie Events Centre Auckland www.fmcgsummit.co.nz

[ news ]

MARS CEO HANDS OVER THE REINS Mars CEO Grant F. Reid has announced he is handing over the reins after leading the business through a period of unprecedented growth, impact and transformation.

Reid – who will remain at Mars until the end of the year – informed the Board of his intentions to retire from Mars 18 months ago and has been closely involved in helping ensure a best-in-class succession. He has served in the role since 2014.

Poul Weihrauch, Global President at Mars Petcare, will succeed as CEO, effective from the end of September.

Board Chair Frank Mars paid tribute to Reid’s “extraordinary legacy” – highlighting his countless achievements – fusing performance with purpose, delivering sustainable growth, ramping up Mars digital capabilities, building its iconic brands, and expanding into newer territories like veterinary health, pet services and healthy snacking. As a result, Mars said, sales had grown by over 50% to nearly US$45B under Reid’s tenure and the number of Associates had increased from 60,000 to more than 140,000.

Frank Mars added: “While he is too modest to admit it, our significant transformation and record growth as a business would not have happened without Grant’s leadership. He has visibly lived our principles and embedded purpose at the heart of our business strategy. The Mars Family are tremendously grateful for his dedication and service.”

Reid and Weihrauch have been working together closely for several

Mars CEO Grant F. Reid has announced he is retiring.

months to ensure a smooth and orderly succession that maintains the considerable business momentum.

Weihrauch has worked in many parts of the business since joining in 2000 as European brand leader for Snickers. Having led the Mars Food business, he became President of Global Petcare in 2014 and, during that time, has overseen significant growth and diversification into veterinary health, diagnostics, data, and platforms, doubling the size of the business. Weihrauch has also driven significant focus and investment into the Petcare sustainability agenda.

[ sponsored ]

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU LIVE IN ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND SUNNIEST COUNTRIES?

One of the wonderful features of the New Zealand climate is the sunshine and with sunshine comes road trips.

From Kaikoura to Bluff and everywhere in between there are amazing adventures to be experienced by simply taking a drive throughout New Zealand.

Road trips can be fun adventures but glare from the sun can make driving more difficult on the eyes. So, we here at Zephyr have you covered.

You can find New Zealand’s bestselling convenience sunglass brand at leading petrol and convenience stores throughout New Zealand. Created to protect your eyes when on adventures in the New Zealand sun.

You can rest assure when buying Zephyr, you are buying a quality product. All Zephyr sunglasses give you 100% protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays and comply to NZ/AU Standards.

From the UV400 Fashion range through to the glare blocking 8

FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

Polarised Sunglasses, Zephyr has everyone’s eyewear.

Each of the six different ranges available offer advantages that set them apart with the end user’s comfort and expectation in mind.

Plus, it does not matter the shape of your head, there is a pair for everyone, yes even big heads (the Sunglasses affectionately known as Big Ed, a large fit Sunglass to suit a bigger head).

Zephyr has a fantastic range of classic shapes and practical wrapped styles awaiting just around the corner. So next time you stop to refuel make sure you check out the range on offer.

Whatever your adventure in the sunshine is, know that Zephyr has you covered!

For enquiries or to ensure you have the best range of sunglasses in-store contact Signature Marketing NZ on 09 479 5524 or email sales@signaturenz.com

To book your table visit: grocerycharityball.org “Who in the world am I? Ah, that’s the great puzzle.”

Lewis Carroll PROUDLY SUPPORTING

[ cover story ]

TUFFY’S NEW SEASONAL DESIGNS

Tuffy is making a bold statement this winter with the launch of new Tuffy Seasons range, starting with our Autumn/Winter design. Tuffy’s new seasonal designs will be on shelf for limited times throughout the year and brings a fresh, modern take on printed kitchen towel. Designed to suit any kiwi kitchen, any time of the year.

Attention grabbing packaging is perfect for impactful instore displays and sure to catch the shopper’s eye, with beautifully illustrated seasonal designs.

The Tuffy seasons range has three modern designs celebrating the changing seasons: Autumn/Winter, Spring/Summer and the festive period, all in a convenient 4-roll pack.

Paper towel is delivering serious category growth, up 23.7% in value in the latest MAT to 26/06/22, ahead of Total Pre-packaged Grocery, which is growing at 8.1% vs YA and the Paper Goods Department, which is growing +16.4%.

Equivalent 4-packs are the most popular packs with 41.5% value share and contributing the most value growth to the category in the latest quarter (to 26/06/22), due to consumers looking for larger value packs to combat rising cost of living.

Supply shortages impacted category growth, especially in print segments. Tuffy’s print 4’s will be critical to driving growth, bringing a unique print offer to the largest and fastest growing pack group. Paper Towel is an expandable category with more in the pantry equalling increased usage and higher instore sales.

Since launching in New Zealand in 1996, Tuffy has built a 25+ year heritage and has become an iconic brand in Kiwi homes. Paper towel production continues to increase at both our Auckland and Dunedin sites.

Tuffy is well known for tackling the tough jobs and the new seasons range is a natural fit. Tuffy paper towel is proudly made and designed in New Zealand*.

As with all Cottonsoft products, Tuffy packaging is soft plastic recyclable and our paper towel is biodegradable, home compostable, food and microwave safe. As part of our ongoing drive for a sustainable future, Tuffy paper towel is PEFC certified and carries the ECNZ accreditation.

Partner with Tuffy XL wipes – the super cleaning combo!

As part of our journey to help make New Zealand cleaner and greener we ditched the plastic from our wipes and replaced it with 100% plantbased viscose.

Tuffy XL 20x30cm sheets are up to 50% bigger than standard cleaning wipes** and are the only dedicated kitchen wipe on the market with multiple usage occasions that also extend outside the kitchen.

The Tuffy seasons range is sold through New World and PAK’nSAVE stores.

“TUFFY PAPER TOWEL IS PROUDLY MADE AND DESIGNED IN NEW ZEALAND”

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FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

*From imported and local materials **More than 50% bigger sheets than most leading supermarket plant-based cleaning wipes. Big 20x30cm sheets vs. most competitor 230×160 (or smaller) sheets.

Your 100% natural certified skincare solution A lightweight blend of premium natural ingredients with powerful anti-aging qualities.

Solimara selects and blends only the essential ingredients needed to achieve the effect of restoration, rejuvenation and repair of the skin.

Say hello to healthy glowing skin with Skin Rebel Active Serums! https://solimara.com/shop mail@solimara.com 021 169 3594

Snacking just got a whole lot more Interesting!

Restore your Happy!

Restore have launched a Happy Tummy variety of their bone broth tonic, and it’s the most delicious yet! Working with their friends at First Light Wagyu, they have produced New Zealand’s first Wagyu bone broth, combining the rich flavour of Wagyu beef with chaga mushroom, umeboshi paste and seaweed. www.restore.co.nz restore@greenlea.co.nz phone: 07 957 8125

We are excited to introduce our latest and greatest creation, the deliciously moreish Cranberry Bar and Cranberry Choc Bar! These two new snack bars are handcrafted to perfection and packed full of nuts, seeds and tangy cranberries!

The perfect on-the-go snack for the whole family. Available singly or in a 4 bar multipack!

For more information contact info@puredelish.co.nz or phone: 09 574 5701.

New dairy from a timeless tradition Ísey Skyr is a remarkable new dairy product that is rich in protein, naturally low in fat and deliciously smooth & creamy. It’s the only skyr sold in NZ that contains original Icelandic skyr cultures.

Made in NZ using the original Icelandic recipe, Ísey Skyr is available in six delicious and unique flavours.

For more information visit www.iseyskyr.co.nz or contact Surge SMC on 0800 949 333.

The Brain Shot NZ’s leading Brainfood company have just launched their new 90ml Brain Shot. With all the benefits of their 300ml Performance Brain Drink - but now in a concentrated 90ml format so you can grab some mental clarity on the go. 100% Natural. Caffeine free.

Effects you can feel.

Available online at drinkarepa.com and stocked in all good supermarkets, health food stores, cafes and petrol stations nationwide.

FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

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[ health & beauty ]

NATURALLY YOUTHFUL New products designed to keep us looking and feeling our very best.

Glow Lab Pro-Collagen Glow Lab have done it again, the New Zealand owned and operated brand created and inspired by you are adding another innovative range to their extensive offering.

Did you know that from the age of 20 you lose 1% of your skin’s collagen per year? Enter Glow Lab’s new Pro-Collagen range consisting of four powerhouse natural skincare products; Pro-Collagen Plumping Moisturiser 50g, Pro-Collagen Plumping Night Cream 50g, ProCollagen Plumping Booster Serum and Pro-Collagen Plumping Face Mask. This range is packed with active skincare ingredients that stimulate the skin’s production of collagen – naturally!

Developed to help hydrate, smooth and plump skin, Glow Lab ProCollagen natural formulations are boosted with scientifically effective ingredients that work to promote skin’s natural collagen production for a more youthful, glowing complexion.

Dr. Gillian Worth, Head Chemist at Glow Lab NZ shares: “Our new Pro-Collagen range has been developed here in Auckland leveraging the latest skincare science. The formulas are enriched with peptides, hyaluronic and amino acids to maintain optimal skin health, encouraging the skin’s natural collagen production. Boosted with active ingredients such as Collalift®18 that boasts impressive hard claims such as a 54% boost in Collagen XVIII.” Created for Glow-Getters aged 20-35 who are wanting results-driven skincare, with preventative anti-age benefits and active ingredients to help achieve healthy, supple skin, the new range is beautiful to use, affordable and most importantly works.

Glow Lab Age Renew™ Glow Lab Age Renew™ was the first natural anti-ageing skincare range to hit supermarkets back in 2019. It is now the largest anti-aging range in natural skincare, making up 34% of sales in the natural anti-aging category, says the Glow Lab team.

It’s no secret that as women age, their skin changes too. Born out of extensive consumer research in New Zealand with women aged 35+ years, Glow Lab Age Renew™ was developed to specifically meet their skincare needs. Research highlighted hydration, skin firmness, reducing fine lines and protection against UV damage were key concerns, with many looking for more natural skincare alternatives free of nasties.

“My team and I carefully selected only the best trademarked, active ingredients that had been proven to scientifically work, such as Lumicease™ and Bel-Even™,” says Lead Chemist Dr Gillian Worth.

“Lumicease™, is found in the Total Defence SPF15 Moisturiser, this naturally derived ingredient has been scientifically shown to protect and strengthen skin cells against light damage by up to 61% after three months.”

“Bel-Even™ is found in the Age Renew Recovery Night Cream – an active ingredient scientifically-shown to improve skin density by up to 70% after four weeks, leading to improved skin elasticity.”

Glow Lab Age Renew™ empowers women to glow at any age, naturally.

Following Glow Lab’s core philosophy “nature + science”, with natural formulations enhanced with scientifically effective ingredients, the range of affordable yet luxurious products help skin look its best at any age.

Source: IRI Latest Qtr 26/6/22

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FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

“GLOW LAB AGE RENEW™ EMPOWERS WOMEN TO GLOW AT ANY AGE, NATURALLY.”

[ health & wellness ]

STAY WELL THIS WINTER To protect you and your staff from winter illnesses and COVID-19 consider following these infection prevention measures: • Stay home when unwell and test if showing COVID-19 symptoms • Wear masks at your workplace when around other people • Encourage hand washing • Recommend physical distancing.

The more layers of protection you put in place the harder it will be for infections to spread.

Our experience with COVID-19 has taught us a lot about how effective public health measures are at protecting us from all airborne viruses, such as the flu. Let’s keep practising these throughout winter to keep ourselves and our communities safe.

Wear a face mask when on public transport, in indoor settings like retail stores and supermarkets, when in poorly ventilated spaces or when it is hard to physically distance from other people.

Maintain good hand hygiene by washing and drying your hands thoroughly or using alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

Sneeze or cough into your elbow or a tissue. Avoid touching your face, dispose of tissues in a waste bin immediately and wash or sanitise your hands. This will prevent the risk of spreading COVID-19 and other viruses such as colds or flu.

Government expands free access to rat test kits The government is expanding access to free rapid antigen tests (RAT) kits. It’s a good opportunity to encourage your staff to request and collect a supply of test kits.

• You don’t need COVID-19 symptoms to get free test kits • Test kits can be picked up from testing centres, local pharmacies, current community providers, including marae.

COVID-19 reinfection advice has changed The Ministry of Health says if a person develops new COVID-19 symptoms, and it has been 29 days or more since their previous infection, it is possible it is a re-infection with COVID-19, and they should take a rapid antigen test.

Better ventilation, safer workplace Good ventilation makes your workplace safer for your staff and customers by reducing the chances of colds, flu and other illnesses being spread.

• If you don’t have a ventilation system open all your windows for five minutes several times a day • If you have a ventilation system make sure it’s well maintained • If you’re a tenant, contact the building owner to check the system is in good working order.

FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

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[ fresh produce ]

BEST IN SEASON August is often the coolest and darkest month despite the promise of Spring around the corner.

Winter produce is generally in good supply at this time of year and shoppers will be actively seeking out nutrient dense fruit and vegetables to boost immunity.

Vegetables are the star of the show this month, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and broccoli are in good supply, while root crops such as parsnips, yams, swedes and carrots will be popular for roasts and slow cooker recipes.

New season avocados are also available and should be featured.

Winter fruit displays should focus on Navel oranges, and green and gold kiwifruit, which are in good supply, while lemons, limes, grapefruit, tamarillos, and mangoes are colourful additions to your fruit shelves.

Kūmara

“RED KŪMARA CONTAIN A GOOD SOURCE OF NIACIN, ESSENTIAL FOR ENERGY RELEASE.”

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Supplies of kūmara are slightly down this year, around 5-10% lower than in 2021, but the quality and flavour is excellent due to favourable weather conditions throughout the growing and picking season.

Comparatively low demand means affordable pricing and this Kiwi favourite should be featured prominently, highlighting the reasonable kilo price points.

There are four main types of kūmara - Orange (Beauregard), Red (Owairaka) and Gold (Toka Toka).

A new variety - Purple Dawn, is available in small quantities and will add interest to your display due to their vibrant purple skin and flesh.

What to look for: Select firm, well-shaped kūmara with clean and smooth skin. Avoid ones with any spots, bruises or signs of decay.

Storage/handling: Kūmara can become bitter when refrigerated. Store them in a cool, dry place for up to two weeks.

Nutrition: Kūmara provides a source of dietary fibre to help aid healthy digestion and thiamin, which is vital for use of carbohydrates by the body. Red kūmara contain a good source of niacin, essential for

FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

energy release. Gold and Orange kūmara contain a good source of vitamin A, which is vital for healthy new cells.

Fresh herbs Increasingly popular with shoppers expanding their cooking repertoire and experimenting with plantbased recipes, fresh herbs are a great alternative to salt and sugar for adding flavour to meals.

Now available year-round due to hydroponic growing, fresh herbs provide an important addition to diets through the colder months.

Three of the most common herbs to keep in stock are mint, coriander and parsley, but don’t forget about other versatile varieties such as basil, chives, thyme, tarragon, sage and oregano.

What to look for: Look for bright, fresh, green leaves with no wilting and a strong pleasant aroma.

Order small quantities regularly to make sure your stock is as fresh as possible and offer a good range of different varieties to shoppers to keep your stand interesting.

Storage/handling: Herbs are highly perishable.

A large selection of fresh herbs now come pre-cut and packaged for convenience - be sure to keep these refrigerated between 2-7°C. Potted herbs will have been well-watered before being dispatched to you, so you shouldn’t need to water them if you are ordering small quantities often and turning your stock over.

Join us on

www.unitedfresh.co.nz

[ innovation ]

UNIQUE FORMULA WITH A DOUBLE DOSE OF BENEFITS This month’s finalist in the FMCG Business Product of the Year Award is Ārepa’s The Brain Drink, designed and tested by neuroscientists to increase mental performance under stress and fatigue.

The drink is caffeine free, plant based and has published evidence in multiple human clinical studies to increase cognitive performance.

The Ārepa team says: “We have a completely unique formula (protected by two patents) that includes blackcurrant, L-theanine and pine bark extract. In our most recent clinical study, a single acute dose of Ārepa’s The Brain Drink was found to significantly improve working memory in stressed university students. Ārepa has six new clinical studies underway investigating effects on neuroprotection, mood and immunity at leading universities across Australia and New Zealand.

Ārepa’s The Brain Drink is sold as a food not as a supplement, so it’s accessible in supermarkets. It offers a double dose of benefits, cognition as the primary and immunity as the secondary (since blackcurrant has a lot of immunity benefits), explains the team.

“We’re building out a completely new F&B category of Brain Health.

We want to be the global leaders in this space through the science we are undertaking and the impact we can have in people and reducing the economic burden of neurological decline later on in life. We are most proud of the impact we are having on our consumers’ lives. Our social

media inbox is constantly filled with positive reviews from people using it to help with study, tired mums looking for that caffeine-free alternative, all the way to customers who have suffered neurological issues such as concussions or chronic fatigue who have added Ārepa to their daily diet and it has completely changed their life.”

G

UCT OF THE OD YE PR A

Do you have a Hero product that stands out from the crowd?

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•F M C

FMCG BUSINESS PRODUCT OF THE YEAR If there’s a tasty tastebud teaser, NPD rockstar, or best seller

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‘Product Of The Year’ - we’d love to hear from you!

PRODUCT OF THE YEAR

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in your portfolio that deserves to be crowned We’ll showcase some of the finalists in upcoming issues and reveal the FMCG Business Product of the Year later in 2022.

UCT OF THE OD YE PR A

To find out more on how to enter please email: trubanowski@intermedianz.co.nz FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

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[ frozen food ]

FROZEN INNOVATION The popularity of frozen foods has been on a steady rise.

“With the increase in the cost of living, our customers are looking to the freezer to save on their shop, with frozen fruits and vegetables, fish and meat options providing great value for money - with little or no waste,” comments Emma Wooster, Head of Public Relations at Foodstuffs NZ. “With a trend for wellness in full swing, customers are also looking for ‘better for you’ options everywhere in the supermarket aisles - and the freezer section is no exception. To cater to this, our category teams have been extending our ranges of frozen fruits - for example, frozen pink dragonfruit and coconut cubes under FSL’s Goodness Kitchen brand, which make great ingredients for a healthy and nutritious smoothie.

“In the early days of Covid when Kiwis couldn’t make it to the local takeaways, customers were looking to the supermarket freezer to give them the ‘fakeaway’ and restaurant inspiration with convenience. They found this in ranges like Tegel’s Take Outs, Rangitikei’s Buttermilk Tenderloins and Karaage Chicken. Our category managers tell us this trend has stuck and we’re continuously extending the takeaway options in the freezer.

“Even with winter upon us, frozen dessert selections are holding their spot and we’ve been wondering if it’s because Kiwis are keeping them on hand to soothe sore throats!

“We’re also seeing new snackable dessert formats coming through, providing convenience and taking away the ‘guilty factor’ of eating the whole tub. Ben & Jerries Cookie Dough Pieces Ice Cream, Magnum Minis and Tip Top Popsicle Minis are all proving to be popular,” says Wooster.

Birds Eye Deli Frozen Foods - the Ultimate Fakeaway solution When you’re looking for something quick and easy that will also excite your taste buds, look no further than the Birds Eye Deli range of frozen foods, suggests Jayna Sukha, Category Development Executive for Simplot NZ.

“Birds Eye Deli offers consumers premium products across the freezer, which are more akin to what you would enjoy when dining out in a nice restaurant. From our deliciously seasoned and crunchy potato chips and roast potatoes; to the delicately hand battered fish fillet strips; and perfectly seasoned seafood snacks range, Birds Eye Deli should be your first choice to creating your own fakeaways at home.

“The Birds Eye Deli brand has been in market for eight years and in that time has successfully grown and premiumised the categories around the freezer, achieved by attracting new consumers into the category, as well as trading up existing frozen consumers,” says Sukha.

“And there are no signs of this trend slowing down as the brand continues to grow with over 70% growth in the latest year*.”

“The secret to the Birds Eye Deli Seasoned Chips range is the unique diamond cut shape and our proprietary batter and seasoning, which delivers the perfect crunch from the oven, or air fryer, every time,” says Sukha. “Every product in our Birds Eye Deli range offers consumers something a little bit special - for example our Deli Fish Fillets are carefully hand cut and then hand dipped in a crispy light batter, to deliver the perfect battered fish experience at home without the mess and fuss.”

“If you are looking to extend your premium frozen range in the freezer to deliver on consumer demand for tasty convenient products, then make sure you contact your Simplot sales representative about the full Birds Eye Deli range,” says Sukha. *NielsenIQ ScanTrack Total Supermarkets MAT to 05/06/2022

For more info see Birdseye.co.nz

“THE BRAND CONTINUES TO GROW WITH OVER 70% GROWTH IN THE LATEST YEAR*” 16

FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

[ frozen food ]

MSC

YOUR TRUSTED PARTNER FOR TRANSPORTING FROZEN MEAT Frozen and chilled meats require close attention and rapid transportation.

“PARTNERING WITH MSC HELPS YOU ACHIEVE YOUR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS VIA OUR ENERGY EFFICIENT FLEET” MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company is a recognized leader in container shipping and worldwide logistics, providing solutions which power the global economy. Operating one of the largest fleets of containers for frozen and refrigerated goods, you can count on MSC to ensure premium freshness for your frozen meat.

The MSC team explains: “Frozen and chilled meats require close attention and rapid transportation to maintain freshness, aroma, and taste. Each day, MSC delivers solutions for our customers in the meat industry by ensuring end-to-end transportation through our refrigerated container fleet. When you partner with MSC, you get access to not only our state-of-the-art equipment but also a team of experts in fresh and frozen cargo handling that will guarantee exceptional service from beginning to end.”

In nearly every region of the world MSC maintains millions of square meters of storage space equipped with temperature control technology to guarantee freshness and preservation for all types of frozen meats and food. “In many markets we go “the extra mile”, expanding beyond ships and ports to ensure door-to-door coverage through land and rail support as well,” says the team.

Digital solutions to power your supply chain However, it’s not only about physical infrastructure, MSC is also focused on the digital future of the cold supply chain. MSC provides

unique and cutting-edge electronic digital solutions to streamline your cargo’s processing and ensure prompt delivery. MSC’s electronic Bill of Lading (eBL) allows all parties to manage, endorse, and issue the bill of lading document electronically via independent block chain platforms, minimizing business disruptions.

Digitalization simplifies the process compared to the use of paper documents. MSC’s eBL provides a faster and more secure management system while ensuring that the data is secure.

“As a leader in digitalization in our sector, MSC recognizes that going digital can cut back on days or weeks of wait time – meaning that your frozen meat will reach its destination faster,” says the MSC team.

Focus on sustainability Sustainability is a strategic imperative for MSC and, above all, a business priority.

“We believe that sustainable ocean shipping requires modern and innovative solutions to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Partnering with MSC helps you achieve your sustainability goals via our energy efficient fleet and solutions designed to enable logistics chain decarbonisation. In addition, modern and reliable refrigerated containers help to keep meat fresher for longer and as a result substantially minimize food waste.”

For more information visit www.msc.com FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

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INTERNATIONAL FLAVOURS

Shoppers love new culinary experiences and exploring exotic flavours.

International foods are super popular and thanks to our increasingly diverse demographic, inspiration from social media, TV shows, ethnic restaurants and holiday memories, you will now find Mexican Fiesta nights, aromatic Indian curries and Italian or Moroccan-inspired meals in many Kiwi homes.

Mediterranean flavours from Alexandra Fine Foods “If you love Mediterranean flavours, then you’ll love our Rose Harissa paste,” says Raelé Kinsella, Director at Alexandra Fine Foods.

“Rose Harissa makes a spicy marinade - a staple in Ottolenghi’s pantry. We’ve added rose petals to add flavour and depth of colour to this versatile and delicious paste.

“We are now also offering new Chermoula and Tajine!

Our Mediterranean pastes are a must in every kitchen.

Our new Chermoula Paste can be used for fish, chicken and vegetables and adds a rich lemon and herb flavour, or try it with lamb in a stew. Our wonderful Tajine Paste with bold and complex flavours will enhance slow cooking of any lamb or vegetarian dish.

“Shoppers can add flavour and depth to their cooking with these authentic recipes from New Zealand’s premium spice blend manufacturer,” says Kinsella.

“OUR WONDERFUL TAJINE PASTE WITH BOLD AND COMPLEX FLAVOURS WILL ENHANCE SLOW COOKING OF ANY LAMB OR VEGETARIAN DISH” – RAELÉ KINSELLA, DIRECTOR AT ALEXANDRA FINE FOODS

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The Rose Harissa, Chermoula and Tajine are available at Farro Fresh, Moore Wilson, New World and all good specialty food stores.

To order the range contact Alexandra Fine Foods (2009) Limited P: (09) 570 4739 E: sales@alexandras.co.nz

[ category insights ] INTERNATIONAL FOOD AND HERBS & SPICES Dollars (000s)

Dollars Growth % YA

Total International Food+

$447,644

12.4

Italian Foods*

$265,203

11.7

Asian Foods*

$106,441

15.4

Mexican Foods*

$51,745

9.3

Indian Foods*

$24,256

15.3

Total Herbs & Spices

$125,899

8.5

Fresh Herbs

$50,321

9.7

New Italian Hot Sauce

Dry Herbs & Spices*

$47,050

7.9

Firelli is a hot sauce from Italy – a land famous for its food and delicious fresh and natural ingredients.

The range is handcrafted in Parma from Italian ingredients including Calabrian chilis, roasted red peppers, balsamic vinegar, porcini mushrooms and Italian sea salt.

The sauces are all natural, gluten free, low cholesterol and vegan friendly.

Imported and distributed exclusively in New Zealand by Padrino info@padrino.co.nz 021 029 54171

Pepper*

$12,657

5.4

Salt*

$12,402

4.4

Dry Blends*

$3,367

29.3

Wet Blends*

$102

97.5

* denotes value AND unit growth <2% + shelf-stable meal and ingredient categories segmented by flavour Source : IRI Market Edge Grocery MAT to 26/06/22 (Selected segments)

The FMCG Business team endeavours to produce a monthly snapshot of category news and highlights, based on information from participating clients, plus a table of the freshest data available at time of print. If you wish to contribute news for upcoming category reports, please contact trubanowski@intermedianz.co.nz

Mediterranean Secrets!

The essential ingredients for authentic Mediterranean cooking are here in Alexandra’s Rose Harissa, Tajine and Chermoula pastes.

Use as a marinade, rub, dressing or in slow cooking to add a new complexity and depth of flavour to your meals.

email: sales@alexandras.co.nz

Our pastes bring a new dimension to cooking for everyone from home cooks to seasoned chefs.

call: +64 9 570 4739

Genuine pastes made using Alexandra’s own spice blends.

www.alexandras.co.nz

Available in retail and food service packs.

PASTA & RICE A quick snapshot of new and best-selling products.

Affordable pantry staples like rice and pasta are top of the shopping list right now. Look out for Supergrain Risotto and other exciting new variants arriving in store!

Wilson Consumer Products markets the Diamond brand of Pasta and Rice Risotto and is the sales agent for Kings Choice Rice, which are all iconic Kiwi favourites that have a long history in the New Zealand market.

Marketing and Business Development Manager Susan Harvey says: “Wilson Consumer Products is delighted to have such well-known and trusted brands as part of its product portfolio, which Kiwis have always counted upon, especially during tough times. With the current global supply chain challenges, we have continued to work hard on building our stock levels to ensure that we can make these products available to all New Zealanders.

Consumers are always looking for great value, so pantry staples such as Diamond Pasta, 20

FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

“DIAMOND PASTA IS MADE IN ITALY FROM ONLY THE BEST DURUM WHEAT.” Diamond Rice Risotto and Kings Choice Rice are all easy to cook meal options for all Kiwi families.

“Diamond was established as New Zealand’s first pasta brand around the time of World War II and is still Kiwi owned today. Generations of Kiwis continue to love the Diamond brand, which aims to be a cook’s best friend,” says Harvey.

Diamond Pasta is made in Italy from only the best durum wheat. Durum has a lower starch and higher protein content than other types of wheat and this produces a high-quality pasta that holds together well when cooked.

Harvey adds: “Kings Choice Rice has been selling

[ category insights ] PASTA, RICE AND NOODLES Dollars (000s)

Dollars Growth % YA

Total Pasta, Rice & Noodles

$271,468

15.8

Noodles*

$96,282

21.6

Rice*

$82,538

10.0

Dried Pasta*

$47,212

15.5

Fresh Pasta*

$37,147

15.8

Dried Pasta - Gluten Free*

$8,290

12.6

* denotes value AND unit growth <2%

“SUNRICE LOW GI RICE IS ALSO A DIABETES NEW ZEALAND CHOICE PRODUCT”

Source : IRI Market Edge Grocery MAT to 26/06/22 (Selected segments)

in New Zealand for more than 30 years and is still the preferred rice brand of many Kiwis. The Kings Choice Rice range includes popular as well as specialty varieties, including Jasmine, Long Grain, and Basmati.

“With Kiwi budgets being stretched at this time, rice and pasta both offer ideal meal bases for a wholesome family dinner that can be easily whipped up with the addition of a few simple ingredients. You can incorporate home grown produce or make a meal out of other leftovers to stretch the family budget.

Diamond pasta also features handy portion markings on each pack guiding how much to cook for each person, minimising food wastage.”

For those who are in a hurry or who are less confident in the kitchen, the Diamond Rice Risotto range of flavoured rice mixes also provides an easy-to-cook family meal solution. These take only 20 minutes to prepare and simply require the addition of oil and water to cook up from scratch. You can eat any of the wholesome flavours of Diamond Rice Risotto on their own or just add any meat or vegetables, making them an ideal flexible product to have in the pantry. The range now also has handy little icons to help consumers to shop according to their dietary needs, from plant based to vegan, to vegetarian and gluten free; there is something for everyone.

An exciting new addition to the Diamond meals range is Diamond Supergrain Risotto, which is not only easy to cook up but is also a nutritious meal option.

This range is available in three exotic flavours of the world: Vietnamese, Spanish Salsa and Red Malay Curry.

Harvey says: “Overall, Diamond pasta continues to grow strongly and was the fastest growing brand in the last year with sales up 54%*. Diamond Rice Risotto grew by 4.9%* over the past 12 months whilst Kings Choice Rice is also showing good growth of 12.4%**.” *IRI Data Diamond Pasta/Rice Risotto MAT $ growth to 1/5/22 versus YA. **IRI Data Kings Choice Rice MAT $ growth to 27/3/22 versus YA.

For orders contact Ed Dabrowski, Business Manager – WFL Brands. edwardd@wilson.co.nz www.wilson.co.nz

SunRice Low GI rice is back!

SunRice Low GI Rice is now available in 1kg bags in supermarkets nationwide, combining everything consumers love about rice with the bonus of being low GI. Low GI foods are a great option for people living with diabetes, and for those that are looking to eat to feel well.

Being a low GI food, SunRice Low GI Rice provides sustained energy release and, like other rice varieties, is naturally gluten free.

SunRice Low GI White Rice is an excellent substitute for any other rice varieties with fluffy, firm grains when cooked and a clean taste.

SunRice Low GI Brown Rice combines the benefits of wholegrain rice for a healthy boost to your favourite meal.

SunRice Low GI Rice is also a Diabetes New Zealand Choice product, meaning Diabetes NZ has approved it as a food that helps people with diabetes improve their glycaemic control.

SunRice Low GI White Rice and SunRice Low GI Brown Rice is available in supermarkets nationwide.

The FMCG Business team endeavours to produce a monthly snapshot of category news and highlights, based on information from participating clients, plus a table of the freshest data available at time of print. If you wish to contribute news for upcoming category reports, please contact trubanowski@intermedianz.co.nz FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

21

NEW ZEALAND’S FINEST

We celebrate some of the amazing, medal-winning products from the Outstanding New Zealand Food Producers Awards 2022.

Gold medal for Makikihi Jacket Fries

Award-winning products from Middlehurst Delivered Middlehurst Delivered had several Gold Medal winning products in this year’s Awards, offering high quality and product consistency as their lamb is from a single source – their High Country station Middlehurst, then finished in Cheviot (North Canterbury).

Middlehurst Delivered Lamb Rack has a delicious flavour and fine texture - one of the nicest lamb racks the judges had ever tasted.

Middlehurst Delivered Oyster Shoulder is Roast perfection and Middlehurst Delivered Lamb Ribs are meaty and melt in the mouth. Exceptional, said the judges.

Middlehurst Delivered Lamb Ribeye melts in the mouth, with a delicate texture.

Sensational meat with characteristics of grass-fed flavours.

Middlehurst Delivered Lamb Backstrap has a subtle, mild mellowed flavour with some robustness. Pure meat flavour. Great texture with some ‘chew’. Well butchered by craft butchers.

Middlehurst Delivered Lamb Rump – Cap On has a gorgeous outside colour. Tender juicy meat with subtle organic mineral notes, sweet, golden and scrumptious. Meat with its own flavour.

Packaging meets consumer requests (home compostable where possible) and user-friendly cuts for quick cooking times with recipes and cooking suggestions are also offered.

Animal welfare is hugely important at Middlehurst (ZQRX accredited) and environmental impacts are closely monitored. info@middlehurstdelivered.com Middlehurstdelivered.com

Award-winning Makikihi Jacket Fries are made from Agria potatoes grown locally in South Canterbury, which are renowned for their golden flesh and great taste.

After selecting only the best potatoes, Makikihi Jacket Fries are par-fried in pure beef tallow. Nothing more is added, making our fries gluten-free, additivefree and full of tasty potato flavour.

Jacket fries are best enjoyed cooked from frozen in the oven, air fryer and deep fryer any time and served with anything or nothing.

Makikihi Fries was established in 1983 and is now in its third generation of family ownership. At Makikihi Fries, we have a Toitu accredited carbon zero manufacturing process and will continue innovating to make quality French fries sustainably so that many generations can enjoy Makikihi Fries. www.makikihifries.co.nz

Two Gold medals for Raptor Herb & Spice Rubs Loved by foodies for our freshly-ground spices and innovative ingredients such as freeze-dried kimchi, juniper berries, kawakawa and horopito. Raptor Rubs are a staple in thousands of Kiwi kitchens thanks to our easy-to-use, extraordinary flavours for everyday meals. We’ve crafted 12 deliciously unique gluten free and plant-based blends for all meat, seafood and vegetables. www.raptornaturals.co.nz

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FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

[ made in NZ ] Matangi Angus Beef Matangi Angus Beef produces award-winning beef in the heart of the Hawkes Bay, exclusively for New Zealand. Bred with purpose to achieve the finest eating quality, it’s Gold Medal Tomahawk Steak – described as ‘grass-fed pure beef… juicy, and moist thanks to incredible marbling’ – is available seasonally, with overnight delivery through their online store. www.matangi.co.nz

PURE New Zealand Ice Cream

The Remarkable Chocolate Co The Remarkable Chocolate Co is a local, multi-award-winning artisan chocolate company created for customers that love good food and curate a modern pantry. They match high-quality mostly organic, fairly traded chocolate goodies that always delivers on taste and design. Their sustainability values are reflected in the ingredients and packaging they source.

Contact Tracey or Nadeen on hello@remarkablechocolate.com www.remarkablechocolate.com

This Wānaka-based producer believes in purity, provenance and sustainability — meaning all their flavours are intense and original. Natural ingredients are carefully selected, ranging from Hawkes Bay Damson Plums and Limes to 72% Belgian Callebaut Chocolate. So you can be sure that only the finest produce available is used to handcraft your serve of PURE deliciousness. purenzicecream.com

Momojo Real Kefir

Gold for J. Friend and Co raw comb honey J. Friend and Co was founded in Christchurch in 2008 by Sharyn Woodnorth and Jeremy Friend out of a desire to lead the honey industry in making innovative, raw, traceable honey products in an ethical and sustainable way. Their latest venture, winner of the earth category in the Outstanding Food Producer Awards is an uncut raw comb honey, presented for sale just as it’s harvested from the wild in its traditional wooden frame, beautiful, gooey, crystal clear and floral! www.jfriend.co.nz

Hand-crafted delicious, highly nutritious and probiotic-rich, Momojo Real Kefir is a modern incarnation of a 4000 year old functional dairy beverage. Associated benefits range from improved gut health to longevity, underpinned by the biofilm “kefiran”, facilitated in Momojo through a unique culture, technical innovation and gentle fermentation. hello@momojo.co.nz www.momojo.co.nz

FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

23

[ made in NZ ] Oh hello, we’re Little ‘Lato!

Handcrafted in Auckland using traditional Italian gelato techniques, every small batch of gelato we make is churned to velvety perfection, making use of extraordinary flavours and real ingredients. You can find Little ‘Lato scooping up throughout Auckland, Rotorua and Hahei and also stocked in pints over the North Island. www.littlelato.nz @littlelato hannah@littlelato.nz

Raglan Food Co - Vegan Mayo & Vegan Aioli Spread the news, Raglan Food Co’s condiments won bronze at this year’s Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards! They’ve produced the best tasting, 100% plant-based (and 100% delicious) alternatives you can find and aren’t the only ones to think so. Thick and creamy, they’ll be the perfect addition to your sandwich and the ultimate sidekick to your hot chips!

Email orders@raglanfoodco.com to get them on shelf.

West Coast Cocoa

Wild Delicious Wild Delicious have created a range of probiotic sparkling drinks, shots, krauts and kimchi. Each product range is small batch brewed and wild fermented for optimum flavour and health benefits, designed to specifically support gut health.

The Kimchi has a cult following, and the sparkling delicate water kefirs are refreshing, delicious and unique within NZ. www.wilddelicious.co.nz

West Coast Cocoa hot chocolate has one of the highest cocoa percentages of hot chocolates in New Zealand.

Our premium West African dutched cocoa is sustainably sourced and blended with sugar, vanilla and other ingredients to enhance the flavours. The range is gluten free and dairy free. westcoastcocoa.com

Daily Good and Good Cocktail Co. Daily Good Immunity shots are packed full of organic superfoods to naturally boost your immunity and give you a well-rounded health kick. Good Cocktail Co.’s non-alcoholic margarita mix gives a fresh spin on the ‘classic marg’, with hibiscus blossom and sweet orange. Enjoy mixed with or without alcohol.

See more at goodcocktailco.co.nz and dailygood.co.nz 24

FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

[ profile ]

CELEBRATING OUTSTANDING NZ FOOD PRODUCER AWARDS FMCG Business New Product Champion – Nut Brothers From a chat at their local pub in 2014, three mates of 35 years have created the Nut Brothers, an award-winning business championing natural nut butters, free from preservatives and additives.

Multi-year medal winners in the annual Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards, the business reached a new high with Nut Brothers, Peanut Butter Probiotic Cranberry, which this year received a Gold Medal before being awarded FMCG Business New Product Champion.

Nut Brothers, Peanut Butter Probiotic Cranberry (L to R) Jono Woods and Karl Blakie with their FMCG Business New Product Champion award. is the company’s newest product, which taps into growing demand from consumers for food that provides health benefits.

Nut Brothers co-founder Jono Wood says peanut butter is a neat way for families to add healthy food into their kids’ diets. “Probiotics is a good thing and it’s an easy way to get it into your family,” he says.

“You are what you eat, so everyone needs to supplement all the good stuff somehow.”

When assessing products, the judges of the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards consider taste, flavour and texture, the businesses sustainability practice and brand story. Health isn’t one of the factors and it was the flavour the judges appreciated and the addition of cranberry. They said: ‘‘Great peanut flavour and crunchy texture. Fruit element marries nicely with the crunch adding softness and a touch of sweetness.”

Nut Brothers is nut-loving friends Badey, Grom and Woody – all dads of three nut-butter-mad kiddos. Most recently, Karl Blakie also joined the team.

Their point of difference is a clean nut butter made using the best high oleic Argentinean peanuts. High oleic peanuts contain a higher amount of oleic acid compared to standard peanuts. Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid – it is known as a good fat, which is proven to reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) whilst boosting levels of HDL (good cholesterol).

These high quality nuts are imported from

Argentina and are small batch processed in Auckland ensuring a fresher, flavour filled taste. All Nut Brothers products are free of emulsifiers, preservatives or additives and with only half a percent of salt for flavour. According to the team, a jar of Nut Brothers “pretty much comes with its own halo”.

The team has also considered recycling and its glass jars and metal caps are recyclable. It also offers catering packs in pouches which are soft plastic and can be recycled into fence posts through New Zealand’s soft plastic recycling scheme.

Over recent times Nut Brothers has expanded its range and its products now include Chocolate Peanut Milk and Unsweetened Peanut Milk as well as a vegan honey, Vegan Hunny, made using coconut nectar from the coconut flower.

This wasn’t the first time Nut Brothers has been recognised in the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards, Nut Brothers Super Crunch Peanut Butter was awarded a Gold Medal in 2019.

In addition to their FMCG Business Champion Peanut Butter Probiotic Cranberry, the Nut Brothers range includes another new products - Peanut Butter Super 7 Seeds and Super Crunch Peanut Butter; Super Crunch Peanut Butter No Added Salt; Super Smooth Peanut Butter; Almond Butter Crunchy and Slightly Salty; Peanut Butter Salted Caramel; Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate; Peanut Butter Smokin’ Chipotle; Almond Butter Smooth and Slightly Salted; Almond and Sunflower Seed and Chia Fibre.

Nut Brothers peanut butters are widely available throughout New Zealand with distribution through selected Countdown and New World supermarkets and also available online through the Nut Brothers website https://www.nutbrothers.co.nz/ For supermarket inquiries or to order, please contact College Hill Agencies, Hamish Spear (Key Account Manager) ph +64 27 222 4883 or email hamish@cha.co.nz .

FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

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Need breakthrough innovation ideas?

We guide and inspire you through all your innovation challenges, from identifying the crucial moments of opportunity and where to play, to when and how to deliver the ultimate experience.

www.kantarnewzealand.com infonz@kantar.com

[ sponsored ] There is no debate that innovation is the cornerstone of brand growth. Brands must evolve or they risk shortening their life cycle.

However, in today’s disrupted world, brands must innovate differently.

INNOVATION TO GROW YOUR BRAND Taking advantage of challenging times Historically, times of great disruption often offer the greatest opportunities for innovating. At Kantar, we know from our Brand Z expertise, brands that innovate typically achieve higher returns and recover faster from economic challenges. New tensions, accelerating trends and even New Zealanders’ values shifting, mean that whilst businesses have had to adapt and evolve their approaches, new opportunities have emerged. However, in uncharted territories innovation need not be completely new – it can be just better, more convenient, or more affordable than existing products. Though the consumer landscape is constantly evolving, Kantar can help you understand these changes, identify, size and leverage emerging opportunities.

Innovation insights at the speed of business Kantar Marketplace offers a solution that keeps pace with the most agile of approaches, while accounting for the interplay between both intuitive and considered responses. You can now test your early stage innovation ideas, test concepts or screen potential packaging options within 48-72 hours. Based on our renowned and validated methodologies, you can ensure your innovation insights are always at the speed of your business.

Insight across the entire innovation journey Kantar offers expert guidance no matter what stage of the innovation pipeline you are at, whether that be early-stage blue sky opportunity identification, idea generating and testing, concept screening and optimisation, packaging and claim testing, optimising product pricing or portfolio planning. For our food and beverage clients, we integrate best practice Sensory approaches that ensure your final product will be as successful as the concept you envisioned.

The increasing role of sustainability New Zealanders are more committed to living sustainably than ever before. However the increase in everyday prices and the perceived onus of sustainability on businesses, puts increasing pressure to create innovation that is mutually beneficial. Businesses must identify behavioural influences on decision making and understand the contextual challenges to create lasting and profitable, sustainable innovation. Knowing where and how to innovate sustainably will become increasingly important. Kantar can help your business innovate in the right areas and overcome the value-action gap.

Meaningfully different innovation To build strong brands, and for innovation to create long term sustained growth, we must follow the brand principles of being meaningful and different. Meaningfully different innovation is the lifeblood of brands because it helps support brand growth through incremental sales, both now and into the future. Ensuring innovation is different will help your brands stand out from the competition. Kantar’s innovation approach will not only help you understand if your new ideas are transformational or incremental, but if they are meaningful and different.

Measuring the impact of CPI The cost of living has become New Zealanders’ biggest concern and is the number one barrier to choosing more sustainable product messages. Many businesses have been forced to adjust prices over recent months – with the impact of this being a hot topic of conversation with our clients. Kantar has helped many businesses, both locally and internationally, understand the impact on market performance of pricing adjustments or SKU changes or even product formulation changes.

FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

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[ good business ]

20 COUNTDOWN STORES SAY “NO” TO SINGLE-USE PLASTIC PRODUCE BAGS Customers in 19 Countdown “Our pilot store customers will stores across Aotearoa will be play an instrumental role in helping adjusting to a life with less plastic, us understand how to make the as a pilot to remove single-use shift to more reusable options as plastic produce bags begins. The easy as possible for all Kiwis. We’re 19 stores join the Metro Herne Bay incredibly grateful to them for store, which opened without the taking this leap with us, ahead of bags in late June. the expected government phaseSince the pilot was announced out of these bags next year. on 1 July, teams at each of the Pilot store customers will have a 19 stores have been working number of options available instead with their customers to ensure of the single-use plastic produce Customers have a number of options, including they are well prepared for bags. These include bringing their bringing their own reusable produce bags. the change and Countdown’s own reusable produce bags or Commercial Director of Fresh, Pieter De Wet, says it’s exciting to have regular reusable shopping bags (or box, bucket or basket) and taking items the pilot now underway. out for weighing at the checkout, putting produce directly into their basket “Phasing out single-use plastic produce bags has been on our or trolley, or purchasing a two-pack of reusable bags in store for $1. agenda for some time now, so to be kicking off this pilot in a further “With our customers using around 50 million single-use plastic 19 of our stores is incredibly exciting. Our Metro Herne Bay customers produce bags each year, this 20-store pilot alone will see around have already adapted really well already and we’re looking forward to 5.4 million of these bags removed from the waste stream annually. seeing how customers in the other pilot stores respond to this We’re looking forward to adding more stores to this phase-out over the important change. coming months,” Pieter says.

[ profile ]

FINERY COCKTAILS FOUNDER IS A FINALIST IN RISE UP COMPETITION Jane Allan of Finery Cocktails is a finalist in Soda’s Rise Up competition, created to encourage and support globally ambitious female founders. Selected from over 70 finalists, Allan will participate in Soda’s programme before pitching her business to the likes of Anna Mowbray and Maree Glading on 17th August 2022.

Allan launched Finery in 2019 to challenge the perception of pre-mixed alcohol beverages, crafting a premium range for the discerning, mature market and answering key consumer wants with a “better for you” natural, sugar and preservative free, locally made option.

As a first-to-market 0% founder for New Zealand, Jane Allan of Finery Cocktails Finery has experienced significant growth here and attracted the attention of international markets very quickly. Finery has honest flavours with no added sugar and, except for the ginger and since entered the Australian and Asian markets, with a further two in the green tea, are vegan-friendly. The range consists of thirst-quenching pipeline for 2022. flavours: grapefruit, cucumber and mint; vanilla and elderflower; lemon Allan says: “Finery was conceived using our thoughts and values around myrtle, lime and black tea; and ginger, green tea, honey, mint and lemon. clean eating and drinking, being consumption conscious, staying focused on Allan is delighted to share the finalist spotlight with five other female our core values around premium ingredients, quality production and being founded businesses with global potential. Finery is the only beverage environmentally conscious. This led us to develop our successful 0% range.” brand in the finals.

What sets Finery’s drinks apart are the considered blends of fruits, For trade or investment enquiries contact Jane Allan on 021 752 356, teas and botanicals, creating a unique taste sensation. These are natural or jane@finepeople.co.nz. www.finerycocktails.co.nz 28

FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

[ good business ]

RAGLAN FOOD CO’S CULTURE REIGNS ‘SUPREME’ AT GOOD EMPLOYER AWARDS Raglan Food Co entered the Ministry Manager, Operations Manager, for Primary Industries’ Good Employer Quality Manager, Dispatch Manager Awards for the first time this year, in and Warehouse Manager. Unique the Employee Development category. company-wide benefits also helped Although proud of their efforts them stand out, such as a team health towards creating a positive workplace & wellbeing fund, profit share program, culture, they knew as a relatively fair wage policy, flexibility to work a small company there would be tough 4-day week, engaging team events, competition – and they were delighted paid volunteering opportunities, regular to be named as one of the finalists. training and workshops, personality Co-founder Tesh Randall was beyond coaching sessions, weekly deliveries of (L to R) Tom Doig (Raglan Food Co’s Operations Manager), thrilled and surprised to hear at the healthy juices, cakes provided for team Tesh Randall (Co-founder), the Acting Minister of Agriculture, Meka Whaitiri and Lauren Wells (General Manager).

Awards night that not only had they birthdays, and even a paid day off on won the Employee Development their ‘work anniversary’. category, but they also took out the Supreme Award as the night’s “Raglan Food Co is committed to the Raglan community. We took on overall winner – with the judges saying that they stood out from the rest considerable risk building a 800sqm factory here in 2020 after making in their commitment to being an exemplary employer! the decision that we didn’t want to move operations to a larger city – it MPI credited Raglan Food Co’s win to how they go above and beyond was important that we continued providing work opportunities to the for their team of 30 employees. Their implementation of a clear career people living here,” says Randall. growth framework with transparent pay levels was recognised, with many Raglan Food Co also donate product to their local Food Bank weekly, team members having gone from entry-level roles packing boxes to taking and last year introduced the RFC Community Fund giving $5,000 worth on key positions within the company over time like their Production of grants yearly to worthy causes and organisations in the community.

[ profile ]

HEILALA VANILLA WORLD’S FIRST VANILLA COMPANY TO BE AWARDED B CORP CERTIFICATION Tauranga-based Heilala Vanilla has continued to demonstrate its purpose-led mission by becoming the latest Kiwi company to be recognised with B Corp Certification.

Heilala is the first vanilla company in the world to receive this certification, demonstrating its commitment to making the world a better place. Heilala’s bean to bottle philosophy continues to resonate with conscious consumers as they are involved in every process of its production - from planting, growing and harvesting to processing and marketing.

“Heilala was founded on the principle of giving back to the community, making B Corp certification a natural progression for us,” says Jennifer Boggiss, Heilala Vanilla CEO. “We are immensely proud to have achieved this certification, however, we see this as the beginning

of our journey to achieving our goals across our team, our Tongan community and the environment.”

B Corp is a global movement of companies that have made it their mission to do business responsibly, balancing the interest of people, profit and purpose. It ensures all company decisions create a positive impact on its teams, clients, suppliers, community and the environment.

The company’s premium vanilla range, which includes pure vanilla extract and pure vanilla bean paste already had in place several measures required for B Corp certification such as independent governance, a shareholder’s agreement that is aligned around purpose, a unique zero-waste process that has recently been registered as a patent, living wage employer with a very diverse team, and impact projects in Tonga spanning over the last decade.

For more information or to order Heilala Vanilla, contact your Selling Solutions representative. Ph 0800 735 542 or email info@sellingsolutions.co.nz FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

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[ FGC ]

GETTING SERIOUS IN A PIVOTAL YEAR

Katherine Rich Chief Executive NZ Food & Grocery Council www.fgc.org.nz

food& grocery COUNCIL NEW ZEALAND

If anyone had any doubts about how serious the Government is on reform in the grocery industry they only need look at the budget for setting up the new grocery sector regulator inside the Commerce Commission – a cool $4.8 million.

And that’s just for the set-up over the next year to enable the Commission to prepare for the new role. There’s no word on annual budget, but if the regulator is to do its job you can imagine it will be sizeable, assuming it will consist of a dedicated team as opposed to one “regulator”. The Commission has already said it’s recruiting a market performance team to support responses to the grocery market study (as well as future market studies), and that international expertise could be sought.

The Commissioner is being established to keep an eye on how the Government’s reforms are being implemented and will provide annual state-ofcompetition reviews, ensuring changes such as the introduction of unit pricing are implemented. They will also mediate disputes between suppliers and retailers, and shoppers and retailers, and will be able to issue warnings and fine supermarkets.

Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark described it simply as “a referee of the sector, keeping the supermarket duopoly honest and blowing the whistle where it suspects there is a problem.”

“THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION ESTABLISHING THE COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE LATER THIS YEAR” 30

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Basing it inside the Commerce Commission, who recommended it in its grocery market study report, will certainly give it more grunt. It will, for example, be able to call on the Commission’s expertise around economic and competition regulation, fair trading, and consumer protection, as well as what it learnt during the study about the grocery industry.

The Government wants to introduce legislation establishing the Commissioner’s office later this year, with appointments early next year. The Food & Grocery Council wants it to be a matter of priority.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, which will be doing the hiring, says though the market in New Zealand for people with the right skills and experience is small, it’s confident of finding the right person, and I’m sure they will.

The announcement of the Commissioner was made alongside the release of a draft document on the new mandatory Code of Conduct for supermarkets.

This is something dear to the hearts of suppliers, who have been pushing for it since 2010 to protect them from the market power of the supermarket duopoly that has resulted in a lack of competition, a lack of dispute resolution processes, and a lack of choice and competitive prices for consumers due to uncompetitive behaviour, as well as restrictive practices (especially in retailer/supplier relationships), and unclear obligations of good faith.

The lack of competition has enabled the duopoly to push excess costs, risks, and uncertainty onto suppliers, with fears of delisting if they do not agree to their terms.

The document is a step closer to safeguards to protect suppliers from that power. For example, it canvasses a range of options to reduce the risk of supermarkets using the threat of “delisting” products in an underhand way to squeeze suppliers, or from leaning on their suppliers to pay for the cost of promotions that may not be worthwhile for the supplier.

The document was developed with input from the major retailers, FGC, and consumer groups.

The deadline for submissions is August 10 and I encourage everyone in the industry to have their say.

These announcements follow great progress on other recommendations of the Commission.

The Government has already banned restrictive land covenants and lease agreements imposed by supermarkets, and expects to finalise new wholesale regulation rules in October, when Minister Clark also expects to report on options for forcing Countdown and Foodstuffs to sell some of their stores to make way for a third operator, if needed.

This is a pivotal year in food and grocery.

[ James & Wells ]

GETTING MORE VALUE OUT OF YOUR IP While many FMCG businesses are pretty savvy around protecting their Intellectual Property (IP), they often overlook the potential value of it. Good IP portfolio management can help businesses to better realise the economic benefits of their intangible assets.

The value of a registered IP right can be linked to the exclusivity it confers on the owner. Those who hold registered IP rights such as Patents and Designs, can exclude others from using, manufacturing, or selling similar products/services without their permission. The owners of registered Trade Marks, are able to prevent others from using any identical or confusingly similar mark in the category of good/services it is registered in. This exclusivity confers a significant competitive advantage to the owner of the IP. This is where licensing based revenue streams can be considered. Often licensing is put in the too hard basket for businesses, when in fact it can be a very simple and straight forward process. An IP licence is essentially a contractual agreement between the IP owner (licensor) and the other person or business (the licensee), where the licensor permits the licensee to use, but not own, certain IP assets under agreed terms and conditions. By licensing out your brand names, patented products/designs/services, or even backend technologies, to the appropriate licensees, you can obtain a steady revenue stream in terms of royalties. This can allow you to access different geographic areas or markets without forking out huge capital investment, and the licensee bears most risk. The stronger the IP protection, the better from a licensing perspective. It is also possible to licence know-how and trade secrets, which have little if any formal protection. These licenses can be extremely lucrative although the weaker the IP, the more difficult it will be to require higher royalty rates and/ or attract licensees.

If there is a significant number of competitors in the market, then there are numerous potential licensees.

The determining factor will be the degree to which the new product/service or innovation will provide an advantage to one of these operators over their competition, without cannibalising its existing business.

Enforcing your IP is just as important as protecting it in the first place. This becomes even more relevant if you are considering licensing your IP as you will need to be proactive in defending any infringement of your IP rights to be able to confer the full benefits to licensees.

For example, brand equity refers to the value of a brand name that a company has. A company’s

brand can often transform into one of its most important assets as it inexorably becomes associated with its products and services. However, a company’s brand equity can be greatly affected if the company is not enforcing its Trade Mark rights in the brand and preventing misappropriation or dilution of its brand.

If you have no current or future plans to use your IP, you could potentially sell it. Often in the FMCG sector companies are innovating and coming up with new products and brand names left right and centre, whereas older products and their accompanying brands or sub-brand fall by the wayside. When not using it, you can sell your IP just like any other physical asset. An assignment of IP transfers legal ownership and title and is required to effect this permanent change.

Good IP portfolio management takes a holistic view and not only aligns the IP strategy with the business strategy, but also maximises the economic potential of these intangible assets. Much will also depend on the current competitive landscape as to whether licensing, assignment or litigation could be appropriate in adding value to your IP portfolio.

Stephanie Hadley Associate, James & Wells Since 1979, James & Wells has been at the forefront of innovation in Australasia. We are here to help you grow, leverage and protect your intellectual property. www.jamesandwells.com

“IF YOU HAVE NO CURRENT OR FUTURE PLANS TO USE YOUR IP, YOU COULD POTENTIALLY SELL IT.” FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

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[ marketing ]

THE MAGIC OF CHOCOLATE

Lew Bentley Head of Strategy Shopper Marketing Agency Energi lew.bentley@energi.co.nz

“CHOCOLATE IS THE PERFECT IMPULSE BUY FOR SHOPPERS TO REWARD THEMSELVES WITH”

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Most food is just food. But chocolate is something else altogether.

It has a magical quality that touches our lives in many wonderful ways.

It was first brewed as a drink 5,000 years ago and used in Central and South America to celebrate weddings. Cacao beans were also used as a currency by the Aztecs. The Spanish conquistadors introduced it to Europe where it became a favourite with Marie Antoinette in the court of Versailles.

Chocolate quickly spread across the globe, evolving in its uses and forms. The first eating chocolate was made in the UK in 1847 by J.S Fry & Sons, the Swiss invented milk chocolate, and Hershey provided the US Army in WW2 with chocolate rations that had to “weigh about four ounces, withstand high temperatures, be high in calories, and taste a little better than a boiled potato”, according to company specifications (seriously).

In its different forms chocolate provides a symphony of taste pleasure. It is sweet and bitter. It’s mouthfeel is velvety with melting gooeyness. And chocolate is a heavenly companion with other flavours and textures whether they be blended, or alongside.

There are few rivals that pack the emotional punch that chocolate does. It is an incredibly powerful trigger for happiness, comfort and pleasure. It channels the child in us. It is a reward and a lift if we’re feeling down. It is a recognised symbol for love

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and romance. It is a hedonistic indulgence that can get away with being naughty but nice.

But the goodness doesn’t stop there. According to Dr Google dark chocolate also has some wonderful health properties too. It is full of antioxidants and flavanols that help improve circulation, heart health, blood pressure, stress management and energy levels.

Chocolate is also a grocer’s dream product. It provides a highly valued category position in itself and layers beautifully in terms of good, better and best offerings.

Chocolate separates neatly into family economy blocks, added value packs and single serves. It can be for everyday and high priced gifting. Chocolate is the perfect impulse buy for shoppers to reward themselves with, it is a star performer at Christmas for both feasting and gifting, and it even has its own festival of indulgence at Easter. Unlike most products in grocery chocolate is also a winner with its ability to help drive other categories as an ingredient. Whether it is ice cream, milk, biscuits, frozen desserts or spreads chocolate weaves its way through the aisles adding flavour appeal and value.

Our market is a great mix of big international brands and local options. We are blessed with exceptional quality from New Zealand brands.

Whittaker’s is one of the few local brands to upset the global dominance of brands like Cadbury, Nestlé, and Lindt. They have established a fabulous track record of quality, innovation and down-right deliciousness.

In addition, we have some fabulous artisan brands like The Remarkable Chocolate Company, Devonport Chocolates, Bennett’s of Mangawhai and the Wellington Chocolate Factory, just to name a few.

However, no matter how much chocolate we think we eat, New Zealanders pale in comparison to others. At five kilos of chocolate per capita (Statista, 2017), our annual consumption is well behind world leaders Switzerland (8.8 kg), Austria (8.1 kg), Germany (7.9kg), Ireland (7.9kg) or the UK (7.6kg).

The message is clear: we are not making the best use of the embarrassment of chocolatey riches that we have at our disposal. As we try to cope with the pressures of Covid, climate change, inflation, staff shortages, escalating mortgage rates, and the poor performance of the All Blacks – we are not eating enough chocolate!

The magic of chocolate can soothe our nerves, comfort our worried brows and give us the boost of energy we need to thrive.

Come on New Zealand…eat more chocolate!

[ legal advice ]

THE COURT’S POWER TO GRANT RELIEF – RENEWAL OF LEASE Generally, a right of renewal under a lease does not may grant relief in favour of the tenant (although occur automatically. In most leases, including the potentially subject to a number of conditions). often-used ADLS Deed of Lease, the tenant must However, tenants should be wary that they exercise this right by a certain time and must not be should not rely on the rights against refusal of in breach of any other covenant. However, failure to renewal to assume that it is an automatic right of comply with these requirements does not necessarily relief. While it is a useful remedy, no single factor mean that the right of renewal is lost. Under the is determinative of the issue and the Court will Property Law Act 2007, the Court has power to make a judgment on a case-by-case basis. Further, grant relief to a tenant whose landlord is refusing even where renewal is granted, it may be subject to to enter into a renewal. Whether you are a landlord conditions including an order to immediately pay looking to move on, or a tenant looking to stay on, compensation to the landlord. understanding the Court’s right to grant relief against Conversely, landlords should also be mindful that a landlord’s refusal to renew will be relevant. they cannot necessarily avoid a lease because of a The Courts generally tend to find in favour of the strict failure to comply with the terms of the renewal. tenant and grant relief, unless there is some subsisting Particularly where the only failure is to give notice and substantial breach on the tenant’s part. Minor within the specified time period. timing issues with the serving of notices of renewal Whether you are a tenant or a landlord in this generally will usually, all things being equal, lead to situation, where a right of renewal is not clearly the granting of relief. So how significant does a breach exercised, we suggest you obtain timely legal advice need to be for the court to grant relief to a tenant? as there may be complex legal issues to navigate.

The Court may, without limitation, make an Certainty will be paramount to both parties. assessment of the following factors: • the reason for failure to give notice, for example, whether it was unintentional or accidental; • whether the cause of the default was due to any action of the landlord; • the tenant’s conduct, in particular, whether they have complied with all conditions and covenants and have been a good tenant; • the prejudice to the tenant if the relief is not granted; • the prejudice to the landlord if relief is granted; • the landlord’s motivation for the refusal to renew and understanding of the tenant’s intentions; and • whether the interests of third parties are affected.

In a number of cases brought to the Courts, a landlord has rejected a tenant’s exercise of a renewal on the basis that it is in breach for non-payment of rent for a considerable amount of time. The Courts have indicated that provided that a We suggest you obtain timely legal advice as tenant’s breach is not persisting and is able there may be complex legal issues to navigate. to be remedied quickly, then the Court

Flory Park Solicitor Steindle Williams Legal Limited www.swlegal.co.nz

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NZ CHAMPIONS OF CHEESE AWARDS

2022

This year’s New Zealand Champions of Cheese Awards were awarded at a Gala Dinner in Hamilton, following judging of more than 380 cheeses from across Aotearoa in February.

Master Judge Jason Tarrant led a panel of 36 judges to assess the cheeses. The four Supreme Champions are: • Open Country Dairy Ltd, Open Country Young Cheddar (Aged less than 6 months); Countdown Champion of Champion Cheese Award – Commercial.

• Little River Estate, Little River Mt Richmond; New World Champion of Champion Cheese Award - Mid-sized. Little River Estate cheese is made in a dedicated factory on Neudorf Rd, Upper Moutere using Oaklands whole A2 milk. Little River does not use preservatives, fillers, thickeners, stabilizers, sweeteners or other unnecessary additives in any of their products. All products are hand-made using traditional methods with no compromise.

• Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Maraetotara Manchego; Puhoi Valley Cheese Champion of Champions Cheese Award – Boutique. James and Kate Clairmont of Craggy Range Sheep Dairy at Tuki Valley out of Napier follow pasture-fed, ethical farming practices to create sheep milk products. This Spanish-style NZ Manchego sheep cheese is made at Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay and aged at least 12 months to develop its balanced flavour.

• Cathy Lang, Fonterra Co-operative Group; MilkTestNZ Champion Cheesemaker. Cathy, who has been a cheesemaker since 2005, is Lead Cheesemaker at Fonterra’s Bridge Street site in Eltham, Taranaki.

Cathy is fascinated by cheesemaking which she describes as the perfect blend of science and creativity.

For the first time The NZ Champions of Cheese Awards included the Countdown Sustainability Trophy, which was awarded to Hōhepa Hawkes 34

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Bay. The Hōhepa Homes Trust was founded 65 years ago to provide intellectually disabled people with opportunities and now employs 180 people. Presenting the sustainability award the judges noted that not only did Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay have a positive impact on the environment by reducing emissions by downsizing its petrol and diesel fleet and moving to an electric quad bike, they also have a positive impact on people through work with the disability community and provide training, education and livelihood. Hōhepa Hawkes Bay won six medals at this year’s NZ Champions of Cheese Awards.

The Rutherford & Meyer Chefs’ Choice Trophy winner 2022 is Mount Eliza Cheese, Blue Monkey. Made by Chris and Jill Whalley at Mount Eliza Cheese, Kati Kati, Bay of Plenty this blue cheese is crafted from pasteurised cow’s milk and vegetarian rennet.

NZ CHAMPIONS OF CHEESE AWARDS 2022 TROPHIES NZ Champions of Cheese 2022 Supreme Awards • Countdown Champion of Champion Cheese Award - Commercial; Open Country Dairy Young Cheddar (Aged less than 6 months) • New World Champion of Champion Cheese Award - Mid-sized; Little River Estate, Little River Mt Richmond • Puhoi Valley Cheese Champion of Champions Cheese Award Boutique; Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Maraetotara Manchego • MilkTestNZ Champion Cheesemaker; Cathy Lang, Fonterra Co-operative Group NZ Champions of Cheese 2022 Category Trophies • Ecolab Champion Blue Cheese Award; Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kahurangi Creamy Blue

[ events ] • Tetra Pak Champion Retail Cheddar Cheese Award; Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Mainland Tasty Light - Noble • Sealed Air Champion Bulk Cheddar Cheese Award; Open Country Dairy Young Cheddar (Aged less than 6 months) • AsureQuality Champion Dutch Style Cheese Award; Karikaas Natural Dairy Products, Vintage Gouda • IXOM Champion European Style Cheese Award; Little River Estate, Little River Mt Richmond • dish magazine Champion Sheep Cheese Award; Geraldine Cheese Company, Sheep Feta • Dominion Salt New Zealand Champion Export Cheese Award; Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kikorangi Triple Cream Blue • Sabato Champion Farmhouse Cheese Award; Meyer Cheese, Fenugreek • Big Chill Distribution Champion Fresh Flavour Added Cheese Award; Over the Moon Dairy, Black Truffle Brie • Sansmart Champion Aged Flavour Added Cheese Award; Meyer Cheese, Smoked Gouda • IFF Champion Fresh Unripened Cheese Award; Zany Zeus Crème Fraiche • Cheeselinks Champion Fresh Italian Style Cheese Award; Massimo’s Italian Cheeses, Burrata • OJI Fibre Solutions Champion Goat Cheese Award; Meyer Cheese, Goats Milk Gouda • Kiwi Labels Champion Greek/Cypriot Cheese Award; Waimata Cheese, Waimata Chilli Haloumi • Wintec Champion New Cheese Award; Craggy Range Sheep Dairy, Maraetotara Manchego • Fonterra Co-operative Group Champion Original Cheese Award; Whitestone Cheese Co, Vintage Five Forks • CHR Hansen Champion Soft White Rind Cheese Award; Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Akatea Traditional Brie (small) • Thermaflo Champion Washed Rind Cheese Award; Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Rarama Washed Rind

Hōhepa Hawkes Bay won six medals at this year’s NZ Champions of Cheese Awards.

• Curds & Whey Champion Amateur Cheesemaker & Cheese; St Peter’s College, SPC Blue • NZSCA Champion Butter; Fonterra Co-operative Group, Fonterra Cultured Butter Edgecumbe • Countdown Champion Yoghurt Award; Clevedon Buffalo Vanilla Bean Yoghurt Little River Estate’s Little River Mt Richmond; New World Champion of Champion Cheese Award

The NZ Champions of Cheese 2022 Special Awards • Countdown Sustainability Award; Hōhepa Hawke’s Bay • Good George Brewery Innovation Award; Belle Chèvre Creamery Raspberry Bonbons • New World Cheese Lovers’ Choice; Puhoi Valley Camembert • Rutherford & Meyer Chefs’ Choice Award; Mount Eliza Cheese, Blue Monkey FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

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[ events ]

CHOCOLATE AND COFFEE AT THE CLOUD

Kalondigor’s Kouign Amann – the ultimate pastries from Brittany

The Havana team

“THERE IS NO BETTER TIME TO CELEBRATE SOME OF NEW ZEALAND’S FINEST ARTISAN CHOCOLATIERS, COFFEE ROASTERS AND PRODUCERS”

They say money makes the world go round, but if we were to take a closer look, we’d discover chocolate and coffee actually play fairly significant roles too. In fact, when you realise there is an entire festival celebrating both, you know they’ve got to be important!

This year’s Chocolate and Coffee Festival (10 – 11 September 2022 at The Cloud, Auckland) is celebrating 10 years of the perfect combination of flavours and so there is no better time to celebrate some of New Zealand’s finest artisan chocolatiers, coffee roasters and producers of all the incredible treats that go so well with them all under one roof.

Award-winning Foundry chocolates

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Samples, tastings, demonstrations and special show prices will entice those with a taste for the finer things and put some pep into your step.

Annabelle White and her team of chef friends will be showing you some of her most memorable recipes, hints, tips and tricks in the kitchen and the VIP Lounge will be serving up wine, cheese and treats all day for when you need a respite with benefits.

This year, you can expand your knowledge and your taste buds with a unique multi-sensory chocolate pairing experience. The fun and educational one-hour session will guide you through the subtleties and complexities of matching the finest ingredients in the world: chocolate and wine. Wine expert Angelo Minelli has carefully curated a special selection of high-quality wines to accompany your chocolate pairing journey, creating a flavour experience you’ll never forget.

If you love wine and chocolate, this 60-minute experience is not to be missed – limited tickets are available for three sessions on each of the two days.

If you are a chocolate and coffee lover who’s looking for a day of exploration and indulgence, the Chocolate and Coffee Festival is the place to be!

Tickets to the show are available online at https://www.chocolatecoffeeshow.co.nz/ General Entry $24, Seniors and Students $20, Masterclass $50, VIP Lounge $60.

The Chocolate and Coffee Festival is proudly supported by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.

OUT & ABOUT

their Dunk it for Plunket Happy Plunket Mums with uits.

Bell Tea and Arnott’s bisc

aprons, a fundraiser sup

ported by Moccona,

Kiwi icon Rachel Hunter is essano’s new ambassador.

Richard and Moira Haddrell are the Founders of Waikato honey business Haddrell’s, which picked up two coveted awards at the 2022 London International Honey Awards.

SNAP AND

WIN!

Office ief Operating tanker with Ch st electric milk Woods (L). fir n ’s ga nd Me ala Dr Ze s med New and Resource Fonterra welco ter for Energy y (R) and Minis Fraser Whinera

Has your team moved to new premises, or been part of a fun event, great harvest, or promotional activity? Send us your favourite snapshots to be in to win two double passes to the Chocolate & Coffee Festival and Lounge in Auckland, valued at $240! https://chocolatecoffeefestival.nz/

Just email your high res image with a caption to trubanowski@intermedianz.co.nz

FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

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r

[ convenience & impulse retailing ]

THE SLIPPERY SLOPE TO PROHIBITION Dave Hooker, Executive Director, New Zealand Association of Convenience Stores, raises concerns over the New Zealand Government’s Smokefree 2025 Action Plan and how it will impact small businesses.

Following the release of the Government’s Smokefree 2025 Action Plan in December, it has now introduced legislation to Parliament to bring effect to its three key policy objectives: 1. Reduce Retail Availability 2. Reduce Addictiveness of ‘Smoked’ Tobacco Products 3. Prohibit the sale of ‘Smoked’ Tobacco to anyone born after 1 Dave Hooker, Executive Director, NZACS Jan 2009 as they age.

We will share our views on item three, and the current state of the illegal tobacco black market likely to get worse because of these policies, in our next update.

For now, we want to explain the detail behind the retailer reduction and ‘very low nicotine’ policies, the impact on Kiwis, and our proposed alternatives.

Retail Reduction - What we have now • Between 6000-8000 current retailers of tobacco.

• No current licensing or compliance requirements in order to sell tobacco beyond enforcing R18 sales laws.

• Approximately 400,000 Kiwis who smoke spread around the country, a 9.4% daily smoking rate and below 5% smoking rate in young people.

What is the Government proposing?

• A new licensing framework; a proposed ‘competitive’ process; and consultation requirements with Health Authorities, Iwi, and others to determine who can or cannot sell smoked tobacco.

• Requirements such as fit and proper persons tests, compliance, security systems and training.

• While the Bill does not propose a definite number, limit, or method for reduction – and this is meant to be subject to consultation with all of us impacted – unfortunately the Minister, Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall, has told media twice that the limit will be 500 stores.

• With almost 2000 postcodes alone serving up to 10,000 households each, it’s impossible to see how 500 stores could appropriately service New Zealand without devastating consequences for small business operators, while creating voids in communities, which black market operators can fill.

What is our preferred approach?

• Our recommendation to Government is that all existing organised retailers subject to the fit and proper operator tests suggested be eligible to receive a fairly priced license at the introduction of the new regime.

• Non-compliant operators who sell to minors, stock illicit tobacco or breach vaping regulations should lose their license, and that license can be removed from total supply.

• We believe organised banners including fuel and non-fuel chains with trained staff, compliance and security systems are best placed to deliver a safe licensed network in future.

“WE SUPPORT A FAIR LICENSING REGIME AND A FAR LESS PUNITIVE, AGGRESSIVE IMPLEMENTATION.” – DAVE HOOKER

PETROL AND CONVENIENCE NEWS PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY 38

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[ convenience & impulse retailing ] • In slashing numbers from more than 6000 to 500 overnight, those 500 stores would be at increased risk of violent ram-raids and crime now concentrated on so few stores.

• We support a fair licensing regime and a far less punitive, aggressive implementation. Any reduction should be gradual and allow business operators to sustainably transition over time.

“RATHER THAN TAKING A SLEDGEHAMMER TO SMALL BUSINESS AND KIWI SMOKERS ALIKE WITH FLAWED, UNTESTED IDEOLOGY, WHY NOT LOOK TO OTHER COUNTRY EXAMPLES?” – DAVE HOOKER

Nicotine reduction - What does the NZ market look like now?

In broad terms, the NZ market is primarily comprised of your ‘Reds’ around 15mg tar, 1.5mg nicotine per stick; ‘Blues’ at around 12mg tar, 1.2mg nicotine, and menthols around 8-10mg tar and 0.8mg nicotine. Roll your own obviously varies by how consumers roll them but would be in a similar range. ‘Reds and Blues’ comprise around 87% of New Zealand consumption. These measures are based on lab tests of the smoke generated per stick, reported by tobacco companies annually to the Ministry of Health and are widely tried and tested globally.

What is the Government proposing?

Instead of the smoke, the Government intends to set a limit on the actual tobacco content itself with a nicotine limit 95% lower than the average. Mandating something called ‘Very low nicotine cigarettes’ or VLNC – this would remove all currently legal products from the market. The limit would be a cigarette with 0.04mg nicotine smoke rather than 1.5mg – effectively zero.

This will create enormous incentives for illegal black-market activity to flourish as the only source of ‘normal-strength’ cigarettes. It will make the retail licensing regime effectively redundant – as 6000 or 500 stores won’t matter if you can only sell VLNC.

V L N C What’s a better solution?

Rather than taking a sledgehammer to small business and Kiwi smokers alike with flawed, untested ideology, why not look to other country examples?

The entire European Union introduced its own ceilings reducing from 1.5mg nicotine down to 1.0mg nicotine over a period of 10 years.

Dozens more countries have implemented this. While it still led to a black market of more than 24% in the EU – this policy also reduces the harmful tar component, not just nicotine.

We believe this model with a gradual phased approach will best support retailers for a just and sustainable transition, and for smokers to be encouraged to switch to vaping or other tobacco free alternatives.

To recap – the ‘very low nicotine’ mandate would ban all current products and leave only one brand on shelves, which no one would want – undermining the proposed retail license as well as all of the Government’s hard work on switching smokers to vaping and tackling black market tobacco smuggling.

The incentives to trade in black market tobacco will grow as it becomes the only place to get product people want, at a cheaper price, in more places.

These policies would reshape the fabric of NZ community retailing and are just extremely unkind to small business operators and Kiwis who still smoke.

We urge you to make your own voices heard throughout the Select Committee consultation on this legislation once it opens, expected to be around August to September this year.

The New Zealand Association of Convenience Stores is a notfor-profit trade association representing the interests of our retail and supplier members.

NZACS represents more than 1,000 organised fuel and non-fuel convenience operators around New Zealand, supporting members through effective lobbying, comprehensive advice, innovating networking opportunities, and access to industry research which can be used to inform decision making by those in the sector.

FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2022

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[ convenience & impulse retailing ]

MEET…

TRACEY FOOKES, SENIOR KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER OOH, TIP TOP ICE CREAM

Tracey Fookes

Tracey Fookes was delighted to be appointed to the management committee of the New Zealand Association of Convenience Stores.

C&I: Tracey, tell us a little bit about yourself: Fookes: I have been in the industry for a long time, initially in marketing with a lot of multinationals and then I came to Tip Top Ice Cream 14 years ago. I started in the marketing department for about five years, then went into sales activation, from both a grocery and an out of home route perspective, initially on ice cream and then focused on the route with Fonterra with milk, cheese, and ice cream.

About six years ago, I went into key account management, looking after petrol and convenience (P&C), for both Fonterra and Tip Top Ice Cream, but only managing half the banners. Then, when Tip Top Ice Cream was purchased by Froneri a few years ago, I decided to come across and look after just ice cream. In that manner, I became the Senior Key Account Manager across P&C and I look after all of the banners.

I absolutely love my job, and the reason for that is because of the relationships. What I love about route and convenience is that my customers want to work as a partnership and there is a lot of respect on either side of opinions. The relationship feels a little bit more personal to me, and ice cream is a wonderful category because everybody loves it.

You’ve got lovely things to taste and there’s always NPD, so for me, I’m really passionate about that and about doing what’s right for the category.

C&I: What are the biggest challenges facing the P&C channel?

Fookes: The changing offer that’s being demanded by shoppers, particularly during the global pandemic. It was already becoming quite hard to define what convenience was, even two to three years ago, because your grocery store was starting to become the top up shop and people would drop in daily. But throughout the pandemic people started putting different

“NZACS IS A SOURCE OF ONE TRUTH, WHERE SMALLER RETAILERS AS WELL AS THE BIGGER PLAYERS, CAN TURN TO FOR INFORMATION AND SUPPORT.” 40

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demands on the convenience channel and what they wanted their local offer to be. So, no longer is it just about little packets of chips and lollies and things like that, but people are now visiting for their top up shop and in some cases are calling in daily for some of their main items as a shopper.

I think it was a real trust thing, because the local convenience store is small, the retailer knows their customers by name, they’re controlling numbers of who is going in and out, and on top of that they have a very organised offer so shoppers can get in and out very quickly. I think that is the challenge for convenience now – to really match the offer to the new demands of the shopper, because they see us as a different role in their day to day lives now.

C&I: What do you hope to achieve as part of the NZACS Management Committee?

Fookes: I am really proud to be a part of the supplier and retailer representative team, whose purpose is to work together to provide information, events and other important interactions and initiatives, to get communication and other people within the community interested in working together and giving them a neutral ground in which they get information and interact.

We host golfing days and the Peter Jowett scholarship, and it reminds people that we are all here for one purpose; that we all love convenience.

In terms of information, NZACS is a source of one truth, where smaller retailers as well as the bigger players, can turn to for information and support. I am very excited to be able to help provide that support, not just on behalf of Tip Top Ice Cream, which is one of the biggest suppliers, but on behalf of all suppliers.

C&I: Why is NZACS so important to the industry?

Fookes: When you consider that NZACS is a non-profit, you realise that they don’t get anything out of providing information and resources, and so you can trust that they are a solid representative of the channel and industry.

NZACS provides one truth and information, which some might find otherwise quite difficult to source. The internet is a beautiful thing, but sometimes it can also be very confusing because you get information from different resources and you’re just not quite sure which is the most accurate, but you know that the NZACS Committee provides you with that. And obviously NZACS is not just a New Zealand thing, it is international, so we’re part of something much bigger, which gives us insight and access to other things, for example C&I. So, I think it represents the suppliers and manufacturers really well. It’s a great, reliable representative body.

[ convenience & impulse retailing ]

A BRAND-NEW FOUR SQUARE OPENS IN AUCKLAND’S ST HELIERS Owners Troy and Stacey with their children

The store has a fantastic in-house coffee and bakery range

Organic milk refillery

St Heliers locals can now shop a new-generation of Four Square with the opening of Four Square St Heliers.

A new-generation of Four Square has been opened in St Heliers by Stacey and Troy Huston who have been locals to the area for the past 15 years.

The brand-new 390sqm store will be a one-stop shop for locals with fantastic everyday essentials, fresh produce, convenient meal solutions, sushi, croissants, and barista-made Flight coffee.

The store is proudly locally-owned and operated by Stacey and Troy Huston, with Stacey being a fourth-generation grocer who has fond memories of when her grandparents also owned a Four Square store.

General Manager of Retail at Foodstuffs North Island Morgan McCann says it’s exciting to have Stacey and Troy as the co-op’s newest members.

“Stacey and her whanau are a great example of what makes our co-op so special. She’s part of her local community and has a family legacy in grocery. Stacey has a commitment to delivering excellent customer service with significant experience in the industry including training for the past 18 months in several different Four Squares from Rotorua to Waiheke Island.”

With an innate knowledge of the area, the Huston’s know what the locals are after, so they’ll be able to deliver a tailored offering to their community.

Stacey Huston says that becoming a grocer is in her blood and she’s looking forward to making her own mark on the local community.

“We’re really excited to be leading the charge on a new shopping experience for our community, Four Square St Heliers will be the second Four Square store in the country to have electronic tickets, we’re keen to explore ways we can use technology to improve our customer’s experience and help them find great value in our aisles.”

Stacey and Troy have three children and are already a big part of the St Heliers community and are invested in seeing the area thrive.

“We love our St Heliers community and right from the outset we’ve planned some initiatives to help bring us closer to our customers. There’s a big fitness community in St Heliers, which is where we got the idea for our free Four Square water ‘aid’ station to help hydrate and refresh the locals. Having spent many weekends watching our children play sport we’re offering free milo for kids who show up in sports uniform throughout winter.

“It’s the little things like this that we’re able to do for our community that makes being part of the Foodies family so special.

As every store is 100% owner operated, we have this fantastic opportunity to work alongside our communities to offer up service that is just right for the local area,” says Huston.

Four Square St Heliers is open Monday – Sunday, 7am-7:30pm.

“AS EVERY STORE IS 100% OWNER OPERATED, WE HAVE THIS FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ALONGSIDE OUR COMMUNITIES TO OFFER UP SERVICE THAT IS JUST RIGHT FOR THE LOCAL AREA.” – STACEY HUSTON

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Convenience at The Cloud

Spring sees the return of the Convenience & Impulse NZ Expo to Auckland, and it promises to be a significant event for the industry.

C&I NZ Expo 2022 will bring together convenience suppliers and retailers from all banners and brands for two days of education, essential networking and business building. Visitors will taste, touch and see the very latest in NPD and merchandising services to help bring more customers through their doors.

The C&I Industry Symposium will be a major highlight. Held each morning before doors open to the expo and hosted by NZACS, the Symposium features business leaders from across the industry, and across the ditch, who will share insights, strategies and future trends to inspire and motivate. Delegates can also choose to join us at the Convenience Cocktails party on Wednesday evening for drinks, connection and conversation.

Buyers are actively looking for new products, innovation, and inspiration. If you supply goods or services to independent grocery, convenience stores, service stations, dairies, corner stores or mini-marts, C&I NZ Expo is the one trade event you must be at in 2022 if you want your products on retailer shelves.

Attendance for trade visitors is FREE. If you own or work in petrol or stand-alone convenience, supermarket, grocery, hospitality, or convenience and impulse retail outlets REGISTER NOW AT CANDIEXPO.CO.NZ

For an Exhibitor Prospectus or to discuss display stand options, please contact: Safa de Valois |Group Publisher & Commercial Director, C&I Media safa@c-store.com.au | +61 405 517 115 | www.candiexpo.co.nz

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