FMCG June 2020

fmcgbusiness.co.nz

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PLUS! HOT DRINKS n AWARD-WINNING PRODUCTS n HEALTH & WELLNESS n NEW ROCKSTAR CATEGORY NEW ZEALAND’S LARGEST FMCG AUDIENCE

Local supporting local since the summer of ‘99

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contents JUNE 2020

UP FRONT 6

EDITOR’S NOTE

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INDUSTRY NEWS

SPECIAL FEATURES 12 PLANT POWER

Demand for vegetarian and vegan products is increasing

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16 ALLERGY-FRIENDLY FOOD 20 HOT DRINKS 24 NZ’S NEW ROCKSTAR CATEGORY: BAKING

REGULARS

29 STORETASTE

Are you paying for merchandising twice?

29 T&G PACKAGING DELIVERS VALUE 30 REFORM

Supplying NZ businesses with essential personal protective equipment (PPE) 31 AORAKI SALMON’S FRESH NEW LOOK

EVENTS

15 WHAT’S HOT

New products in store

34 OUTSTANDING NZ FOOD PRODUCERS AWARDS NZ’s finest products

19 WIN AN EARTHWISE PRIZE PACK

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28 FARRAH’S - HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS YOU CAN TRUST

10 Q&A

T&G Fresh Managing Director Andrew Keaney talks about transforming NZ’s fresh produce sector

18 HEALTH & WELLNESS

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28 INDUSTRY NEWS AND INSIGHTS

32 BEST IN SEASON

Fresh produce update

GOOD BUSINESS 26 LEGAL ADVICE

Selling goods online – are you complying with the law?

33 FMCG BUSINESS NEW PRODUCT CHAMPION AWARD FOR PORRIDGE WITH ATTITUDE

36 EVENTS NEWS

DRINKS 38 STABLES INVESTS SIGNIFICANTLY IN FUTURE GROWTH 40 VILLA MARIA HELPS TO BRING MORE BEES TO KIWI GARDENS 41 DRINKS NEWS

27 FGC

Shopping in a post-COVID-19 world

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[ editorial ]

EXPERT TIPS, NEWS AND INSIGHTS Shopping patterns have changed since the start of the year. Stockpiling, buying for inhome meals, baking at home and online shopping are likely to continue for the rest of the year as financial uncertainties and pandemic pressures remain. FGC Chief Executive Katherine Rich shares her thoughts and insights on pg 27.

How do you complete a big business acquisition in the midst of COVID-19 restrictions? We caught up with T&G Fresh Managing Director Andrew Keaney to talk about the new ownership of Freshmax New Zealand’s domestic fruit and vegetable business – a move that will transform our fresh produce sector.

New Zealand’s reputation for having managed the COVID-19 pandemic reasonably well will add to the global perception that our country is a trusted supplier of premium, safe food. Consumers all over the world are looking for products that will support their health and wellness, favouring producers that care for their people and care for the environment.

As we navigate through this new pandemic reality, sanitation and hygiene will take centre stage in the foreseeable future. We expect to see more innovations in disinfectants, PPE, robots and contactless shopping.

If you are selling goods online and want to ensure you are complying with the law, turn to pg 26 for expert tips from Megan Williams, Director of Steindle Williams Legal Limited.

Did you attend our FMCG Business Marketing Summit last year? Mark your diaries please – the Summit is returning to Auckland on 29th September 2020, at the Ellerslie Events Centre.

The 2020 Summit promises to be jam-packed with education, stimulation and curated sessions that will help your team stay ahead of the game in our fast-moving grocery and retail sectors. Register now to attend and/or sponsor the Summit – an excellent opportunity for networking with marketing professionals, brand managers and business owners in the industry. We hope to see you there!

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

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 NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Vicky Bennett vbennett@intermedianz.co.nz ph: 021 626 115 SALES DIRECTOR Wendy Steele wsteele@intermedianz.co.nz ph: 021 300 473 ART DIRECTOR Ryan Vizcarra ryanv@intermedia.com.au PRODUCTION MANAGER Jacqui Cooper jacqui@intermedia.com.au PUBLISHING ASSISTANT Eclypse Lee elee@intermedianz.co.nz SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES Eclypse Lee elee@intermedianz.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.

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ISSN 2382-1663

fmcgbusiness.co.nz

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JUNE 2020 – Volume 7 – No 5

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ON THE COVER Maggio’s is a unique blend of handcrafted Colombian, Brazilian and Indian coffee, the most environmentally friendly and planet-sustainable pod, now available in New Zealand. Find out more on pg 20-21.

PLUS! HOT DRINKS n AWARD-WINNING PRODUCTS n HEALTH & WELLNESS n NEW ROCKSTAR CATEGORY NEW ZEALAND’S LARGEST FMCG AUDIENCE

FMCG BUSINESS IS PROUDLY ASSOCIATED WITH

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FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

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.

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MARKETING SUMMIT Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland

Save the date TUESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2020 The one-day marketing masterclass for every FMCG professional FOR MORE INFORMATION M: +61 415 404 264 E: bcurtis@intermedia.com.au www.fmcgsummit.co.nz #FMCGmarketingsummit

Brought to you by the team behind FMCG Business

[ news ]

COVID-19: HELPFUL TIPS AND RESOURCES FOR YOUR BUSINESS As this issue goes to print, New Zealand is still at Alert Level 2 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What does this mean for your business?

Do everything you can to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission at work — we all have a part to play in keeping each other safe.

COVID-19 is still out there.

All businesses can operate if they can do so safely, but alternative ways of working are still encouraged where possible. Talk with your workers to identify risks and ways to manage them.

Ask everyone, workers, contractors and customers, with cold or flulike symptoms to stay away from your premises.

Keep groups of customers at least 1 metre apart, or 2 metres for retail businesses.

Keep contact tracing records of anyone who will have close interaction, for example workers, contractors or customers. Retail businesses are not required to keep contact tracing records.

Reduce the number of shared surfaces, and regularly disinfect them.

Wash your hands!

At Alert Level 2 businesses can have customers on their premises.

Retail businesses need to keep customers 2 metres apart, but do not need to keep records of customers to enable contact tracing.

There is no maximum number of customers allowed in a store, as long as they can keep 2 metres apart at all times.

Services such as cleaning can also be provided on customers’ premises.

Here are some helpful resources the New Zealand Food & Grocery Council have been sharing in the last few weeks: Exporters (NZ Trade & Enterprise): Information and advice for exporters, including on freight and logistics, managing risk, cash flow, insurance and supply chain management. Also contains a marketplace to help companies find offers and requests for resource, updates from key markets, webinars. https://covid19.nzte.govt.nz/ Border clearance (NZ Customs): Updates on issues that ensure the border is clear for the passage of imports and exports, including movement of goods, customs duties, payments, lodging of import declarations, tariff concessions, permits and carnets. https://www.customs.govt.nz/ Impacts on trade (MPI): Information on the general impacts on trade, including what foreign ports have been impacted by reduced storage and inspection facilities, and disrupted courier services where consignments are diverted to other ports. Also access to an advisory panel for businesses requiring specialist advice or facing severe disruption. https://www.mpi.govt.nz/exporting/coronavirus-and-the-effects-on-trade/ Food Safety (MPI): Guidance for food handlers and food businesses in Alert Level 3, including re-opening or making changes to a food business. https://www.mpi.govt.nz/protection-and-response/coronavirus/ coronavirus-and-food-safety/ Food Safety (Food Standards Australia New Zealand): Advice on virus transmission by food or packaging, washing fresh fruit and vegetables, meat safety, take-away, donated and food delivery. https://www.foodstandards.govt.nz/consumer/safety/Pages/NOVELCORONAVIRUS-AND-FOOD-SAFETY.aspx

Food Safety (NZ Food Safety Science & Research Centre): potential for foodborne transmission the virus, usefulness of PPE in food production and processing, effectiveness of ozone gas in inactivating the virus, Q&A on potential for testing by the industry, and risk management, and a confidential interactive Q&A facility. https://www.nzfssrc.org.nz/covid19 ShopCare Safety App (NZFGC): a quick and touchless way for employees to declare their current health status before arriving at an essential work site. Download here: https://www.shopcare.org.nz/ safe365-app Essential services, sectors (MBIE): A collection of government information, including essential services and sectors, transport, workplace preparedness, wage subsidy scheme, small business tax obligations, landlords and tenants, health & safety, building & construction. https://www.business.govt.nz/covid-19/ Personal Protective Equipment (ManufacturingNZ): A list of manufacturers producing PPE for COVID-19. https://www.manufacturingnz.org.nz/ Dealing with COVID-19 (Ministry of Health): Guidance for workplaces that have a case of the virus, including first steps, contact tracing, and communication with employees and customers. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19novel-coronavirus/covid-19-information-specific-audiences/covid-19advice-workplaces

FOR MORE INDUSTRY NEWS FOLLOW US ON

CHECK OUT WWW.FMCGBUSINESS.CO.NZ

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FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

[ news ]

A SWEET SURPRISE – CHUPA CHUPS SURPRISE LAUNCHES NEW SPONGEBOB LIMITED EDITION Our favourite brand Chupa Chups has teamed up with Nickelodeon to bring you a sweet surprise, the New Chupa Chups Surprise 12g lollipop.

Each lollipop comes with a Surprise of one of 10 limited edition collectables. Collect all your favourite SpongeBob characters to get the whole team together. Collectables include SpongeBob, Patrick, Gary and some new faces.

The launch ties up with the release of the Nickelodeon SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, where SpongeBob is on the search for his best friend Gary.

Get running to find your favourite Chupa Chups SpongeBob Surprise, in all leading New Zealand outlets, launching instore from 15th June 2020.

Market Expansion Services by www.dksh.com

Market Expansion Services by www.dksh.com

Market Expansion Services by www.dksh.com

DKSH New Zealand Limited 279 Railway Road, Milson, Palmerston North 4470 Private Bag 11047, Palmerston North 4442 Phone +64 6 356 5323, Fax +64 6 356 4726 customerservice.nz@dksh.com, www.dksh.co.nz

DKSH New Zealand Limited 279 Railway Road, Milson, Palmerston North 4470 Private Bag 11047, Palmerston North 4442 Phone +64 6 356 5323, Fax +64 6 356 4726 customerservice.nz@dksh.com, www.dksh.co.nz

10 limited edition collectables to collect

DKSH New Zealand Limited 279 Railway Road, Milson, Palmerston North 4470 Private Bag 11047, Palmerston North 4442 Phone +64 6 356 5323, Fax +64 6 356 4726 customerservice.nz@dksh.com, www.dksh.co.nz

Look out for the new SpongeBob SquarePants movie : Sponge on the Run, in cinemas 2020

Market Expansion Services by www.dksh.com

DKSH New Zealand Limited 279 Railway Road, Milson, Palmerston North 4470 Private Bag 11047, Palmerston North 4442 Phone +64 6 356 5323, Fax +64 6 356 4726 customerservice.nz@dksh.com, www.dksh.co.nz

NEW CHUPA CHUPS SURPRISE SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS Contact your DKSH New Zealand Limited representative for more information 2019 Viacom International Inc All Rights Reserved. Nickelodeon SpongeBob SquarePants and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. Created by

TRANSFORMING NZ’S FRESH PRODUCE SECTOR How do you complete a big business acquisition in the midst of COVID-19 restrictions? FMCG Business caught up with T&G Fresh Managing Director Andrew Keaney.

T&G Global has recently taken ownership of Freshmax New Zealand’s domestic fruit and vegetable business, in a move that will transform New Zealand’s fresh produce sector. The new combined business, T&G Fresh, now provides the backbone of New Zealand’s fresh fruit and vegetable infrastructure.

Congratulations on the acquisition of Freshmax NZ and announcement of T&G Fresh. What does this mean for our supermarkets and retailers?

We’re looking forward to delivering customers a better year-round supply of existing fruit and vegetable categories and brands and expansion into exciting new ones.

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FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

Through a single platform, we’ll be able to invest in technology, in our infrastructure and our people. Through this investment we aim to provide our customers with real-time data to match supply with demand, and we’ll connect our customers closer to growers, providing superior customer service to everyone. We’ll also be building a purpose-built future-fit physical infrastructure, making it easier for us to do business together.

Over the coming weeks and months, we’re looking forward to doing a deeper dive into the needs of our customers and ensure we include their voice in future planning.

T&G Fresh Managing Director Andrew Keaney

[ Q&A ] How did you manage to combine two companies in the midst of a pandemic and nationwide Lockdown?

It was a first for us, and a challenge, but one that we were up for.

We had a solid plan and approach in place to mitigate any risks of combining the businesses during COVID-19 with a strong focus on keeping all our teams safe across multiple New Zealand sites and utilising technology, as much as possible, to communicate with both teams. We made the decision not to physically combine teams to allow people to stay in their work ‘bubbles’ and allow a staggered approach to physical integration.

We relied heavily on technology to communicate messages to employees, including Microsoft Teams, email, video and Intranet. Growers and customers were also communicated with proactively and regularly during the transition to ensure business continuity.

With the support of the Freshmax NZ senior leaders, we feel pleased that the business was able to continue servicing customers and growers during a challenging time and that we are keeping our teams safe.

How do you lead and inspire your team at this challenging time?

I believe it’s better to over-communicate during challenging times, and so that’s what we did. Our level of communication was higher than usual because of the lockdown situation, and it worked for us. The feedback has been excellent.

I also believe it’s important to be open and accessible, so along with my Executive leadership team, we have been in regular contact with our people, made ourselves available to answer any questions or queries our people had, and, where it was possible, visited sites to speak to the teams in person, albeit from a distance of two metres.

Our main focus through the COVID-19 restriction has been the safety of our people and we haven’t compromised on that. While we had the privilege and responsibility of being an Essential Service in Alert Level 4, we continued to service our customers, but for us, the most important thing was to be able to do so safely.

I’m extremely proud of the way all our teams at T&G Fresh responded to the challenges that COVID-19 presented and how we all pulled together to keep the supply chain of fresh fruit and vegetables flowing for our customers and fellow kiwis. For me, I saw our T&G purpose in action - growing heathier futures through fresh fruit and vegetables.

How will this acquisition affect T&G and Freshmax staff?

The acquisition brings together two talented teams, each with their own strengths, and exciting possibilities for the future of the fresh produce

Jazz apples ready for harvest

industry. For now, it’s business as usual and the teams are working with their own customers and growers and in their own locations. However, in the coming weeks and months the integration will progress and by the end of the year, T&G Fresh will be one team.

What is your vision for the future of our fresh produce supply chain?

The launch of T&G Fresh is an exciting milestone and one that will reshape the New Zealand marketplace.

From our strong foundation, we’re looking to invest significantly in technology and in our physical infrastructure to transform New Zealand’s fresh produce supply chain – and it will deliver substantial benefits to everyone in the industry.

In the near future, we’ll be able to provide real-time data to match supply with demand; the movement of products will be optimised, leading to increased efficiencies and reduced costs; and through superior service, customers and growers will be connected closer together, resulting in greater collaboration which ultimately benefits all stakeholders.

And we have the opportunity to create a future-fit physical footprint which will better serve everyone – our people, growers, transport partners and customers, following the sale of our Mt Wellington site in 2019. So, we’re designing a purpose-built hub to support our future growth strategy, which can adapt as technology evolves and comes-to-market, such as autonomous vehicles and automated crate and pallet stackers.

T&G’s Kaitiakitanga sustainability philosophy will guide us on our journey – ensuring our state-of-theart facility is safe, energy-efficient and enables greater productivity.

Our business spans the entire supply chain – from partnering with over 1,200 retailers, in-home delivery partners, foodservice providers and quick service restaurants, right through to growing our own produce and working with over 1,000 growers.

“WE ALL PULLED TOGETHER TO KEEP THE SUPPLY CHAIN OF FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES FLOWING FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.”

FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

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PLANT POWER

Demand for vegetarian and vegan products is increasing.

As concern for the future of our planet increases, a range of solutions have become apparent that consumers can adopt as part of their daily lives.

Recent research from the University of Oxford indicates that sustaining a healthier planet will require us to not only halve the amount of food waste we create and improve our farming practices, but we will also need to shift towards more plant-based diets. The production of beef creates nearly 100 times more emissions than that of the same amount of legumes such as beans, peas or lentils, so it’s easy to see why plant-based protein is being touted as a game-changer for the environment.

Consumer research agency FMCG Gurus recently revealed that 67% of consumers in the Asia Pacific region are concerned about the environment. FMCG Gurus found that 53% of consumers feel that our environment has worsened in the last two decades and 46% believe the damage done is irreversible. This highlights that consumers are recognising they are impacting the state of the planet and are looking for ways in which they can help. One of the key concerns consumers have is global warming, as 58% say they are concerned about this issue.

Consumers are recognising that their diets are having an impact on the environment and this has led to many dietary changes among shoppers in the Asia Pacific region.

FMCG Gurus’ research shows that 47% of consumers have changed their diet to lead a more sustainable lifestyle. These changes include: • Reducing dairy products (38%) • Reducing meat intake (33%) Here’s a quick snapshot of products to stock for those looking for vegan, vegetarian, or flexitarian inspiration.

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Trident introduces 2 new vegan noodle options to its range “Trident Brand, the No 2 Brand in Value of the Cooking Noodle Category (IRI NZ Express Smartview, MAT 29/03/2020, Dry + Wet Segment), is now launching a new Organic Plant Based Noodle available in two different flavours: Edamame and Black Bean,” says James Ravlich, Marketing Manager.

“Trident Brand, already present across the four segments (Simmer, Instant, Dry and Wet) is expanding its Dry segment range, a segment in double digit growth in value. Vegan and health-conscious consumers

plant-based

GOODNESS POWER OF TRIDENT

#2 brand in the category*, with highest AWOP

RECRUITING NEW CONSUMERS Trident offers noodles across all segments (instant, simmer, dry and wet)

HEALTH CONSCIOUS

Gluten free. Low in salt & fat, high in protein & fibre

SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE Tapping into plant based, organic, consumer trends

EDUCATION & MEAL SOLUTIONS Quick, easy, healthy recipes on back of pack and online at tridentfoods.co.nz

(*IriNZ Express Smartview, MAT 29/03/2020, Dry + Wet Segment)

Orders can be placed with your Hutchinsons Territory Manager or Customer Service 0800 555 258

[ category insights ]

“HARRAWAY AND SONS LIMITED IS NEW ZEALAND’S ONLY REMAINING COMMERCIAL OAT MILL.”

will be delighted to have a healthier noodle option on shelf. Indeed, health and wellness continues to rise in popularity (+13.5% in Value as per IRI SOTN 2019),” explains Ravlich.

The properties of this new line tick all the boxes that consumers are looking for: • Vegan-friendly (100% plant based) • Gluten-free • Organic • Great protein per serve • Excellent source of fibre • Low in saturated fat and salt “To inspire consumers, the Trident back of pack has delicious, easy to make vegan recipes. You can enjoy the true flavours of Asia through our new Trident Vegan Noodle Range,” says Ravlich.

Available in supermarkets from July 2020, RRP $4.50. To pre-order you can contact your Hutchinsons Representative or contact our Customer Service Team NZCustService@hutchinsons.co.nz, or phone 0800 555 258.

To see the full Trident range, visit www.tridentfoods.co.nz

Harraways Oats - the locally crafted, gold standard in plantbased food!

Harraway and Sons Limited is New Zealand’s only remaining commercial oat mill. Its brand story began within the southern gold rushes of the 1860s. The company is still privately owned and proudly mills its locally farmed, high quality oat range from its original Dunedin based mill-site.

The company has milled local oats for over 150 years and has 100% focused in this area since the early 2000’s. Even at that time it became increasingly clear that more and more consumers were migrating to consuming higher value plantbased foods and less meat in their diet. If anything this trend has intensified into the 2020s - as health and environmental concerns have increased around a diet high in meat.

Harraways’ local, Southland and Otago grown oats are some of the most nutritious and tasty in the world. This is due to southern farming conditions being ideal in optimising the fibre, protein, vitamin and mineral content within them. It is all about a soil and climate mix that optimises the result. The overall nutritional value and taste stacks up extremely well

Source: NIELSEN SCANTRACK Total Supermarkets - MAT to 19/04/2020 Val $ Sales

Val % Chg YA

Total Vegetarian Chilled

33,101,960

45.4%

Frozen Vegetarian

13,048,342

40.6%

alongside oats from other parts of the world. When you add to this provenance story the local milling techniques that have been refined over 150 years plus, the company believes it can truly deliver a unique taste experience versus the competition.

Oats overall are undoubtedly one of the classic comfort foods. This point combined with a great value for money story, means that oats have been a staple plant food for countless generations.

Harraways is proud to have fuelled Kiwis through world wars, recessions and now pandemics. Having a ready supply of nutritious oats in the pantry certainly provides security and familiarity during uncertain times.

In addition, Harraways is continuing to market new ways of enjoying its oat range. For example, the Harraways website showcases how to make a mushroom risotto for dinner using its 500g Steel Cut oats rather than the normal Arborio rice. For nutritious, tasty and innovative oat food ideas – Kiwis can now head to www.harraways.co.nz; or follow the Harraways Facebook and/or Instagram pages each day.

Whether it’s looking after Kiwis’ heart health with its plant sterol fortified Harraways Oat-activ® range, or getting Kiwis going with its quick cooking, easy to serve sachet range that delivers maximum flavour at breakfast time – Harraways has the homes around New Zealand covered. Harraways is indeed the complete home-grown choice in oats – supporting locals from farm to plate.

FMCG Business produces a monthly snapshot of category news and highlights, based on information from participating clients and Nielsen data available at time of print. To showcase your products in upcoming category reports, please contact trubanowski@intermedianz.co.nz.

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Grab & Go Goodness Bowls Pitango are launching a range of single portioned meals presented in a handy microwavable bowl. Each bowl is gluten free, high in protein and fibre and created to keep you feeling fuller for longer. With only the highest quality products used including free range chicken, brown rice, lentils and quinoa, each bowl delivers serious flavour with a good health kick - giving you an energy and wellness boost. Perfect for a

Health Basics Anti-Bacterial Hand Sanitizer NEW Anti-Bacterial Hand Sanitizer from Health Basics, kills 99.99% of germs. Quick drying gel formula, Made in New Zealand, for New Zealand.

Contains added moisturisers including Aloe Vera to keep your hands hydrated.

lunch or dinner for one. facebook.com/pitangofoods Ph: 09 2604110

A perfect 140ml size for your car, handbag, house, office desk or take it with you wherever you go. Can be found in leading supermarkets nationwide. www.api.net.nz Ph: 09 279 7979

Howler Hotdog Gluten Free Mini Muncher™ Hotdogs Howler Hotdogs Mini Muncher™ range has been enjoying extraordinary growth in the snack frozen category and the new Gluten Free Mini Hotdogs are the perfect addition to cater for the continued demand for tasty new options by Coeliac consumers. It’s perfect for platters, snacks and kids parties.

For more information contact Jo Williamson Ph +64 21 2266469 topdog@howlerhotdogs.co.nz

pure delish Delivers The Next Generation In Snacking Team pure delish are excited to announce an innovative new range of snacking clusters. With three almond and three coconut-based clusters, the new snacks are available in delicious flavours like almond & dark chocolate and tropical coconut. Hand-crafted from quality ingredients, the clusters are currently rolling out to stores around New Zealand.

Contact pure delish on 09-5745701 or email info@puredelish.co.nz for more info.

New Reach Natural Antibacterial Toothpaste Science and nature combine in the new Reach Natural Antibacterial Protection Toothpaste, which uses magnolia bark extract to safely kill bacteria that cause bad breath, cavities, plaque and tartar.

Crucially, Reach toothpastes also contain fluoride to strengthen enamel.

For more information, please contact your PAVÉ sales representative or call 09 302 1190.

FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

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ALLERGY-FRIENDLY FOOD What’s trending in store right now.

Health and wellness is increasingly important to New Zealanders and self-care is top of mind more than ever before. Self-care includes all activities we engage in to ensure good health for ourselves and our families and this includes dietary considerations such as food intolerances and allergies.

Did you know that one out of ten New Zealanders are gluten intolerant and four out of five people with Coeliac disease remain undiagnosed*?

The good news is that the range of allergy-friendly foods available to shoppers is forever growing in New Zealand, from gluten-free bread to lactose-free yoghurts and many other innovations.

Here’s a quick snapshot of new products that offer convenience and great taste. *Source: www.coeliac.org.nz

Howler Hotdog offers vegan & allergy friendly options Providing special dietary options in their product line-up has always been an important part of the Howler Hotdog journey, with both the vegan and gluten free hotdogs being inspired by the owner’s children.

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[ trends ]

“HOWLER GLUTEN FREE HOTDOGS ARE ACCREDITED

BY COELIAC NZ.” While the company has manufactured gluten free hotdogs and mini hotdogs for over five years, they’ve just been rebranded to become part of the Howler Hotdog range so that all the company’s premium hotdog products are now part of this range. The Gluten Free Mini Hotdog in particular is showing very strong consumer demand.

Company owner Jo Williamson says this is understandable, given the high incident of food allergies among children in New Zealand. It is estimated that 10% of children have some form of food allergy, with dairy, eggs, peanuts and wheat being the most common. Howler Gluten Free Hotdogs are also suitable for those with dairy, egg and nut allergies.

“We know from our first-hand experience how much kids want to be just like everyone else when they go to a party. Kids can comfortably take Howler Gluten Free Mini Hotdogs to any social occasion as a savoury snack option and know they can have them and their friends won’t know the difference,” explains Williamson.

“The vegan hotdogs were introduced last year and have established themselves as a firm favourite with vegan and vegetarian consumers craving plantbased alternatives to their favourite takeaway foods,” she adds.

Howler Hotdogs take great pleasure in being able to provide hotdogs for the whole family.

Howler Gluten Free hotdogs are accredited by Coeliac NZ and Howler Vegan Hotdogs have Vegan Society of NZ accreditation.

Grab & Go Goodness Bowls Pitango are launching a range of single portioned meals presented in a handy microwavable bowl. Each bowl is gluten free, high in protein and fibre and created to keep you feeling fuller for longer. With only the highest quality products used, including free-range chicken, brown rice, lentils and quinoa, each bowl delivers serious flavour with a good health kick, giving you an energy and wellness boost. Perfect for lunch or dinner for one (see pg 15 for more information).

Award-winning ice cream Looking for an allergy-friendly indulgence?

Boysenberry Ice Cream from Pure NZ Ice Cream was named Emerson’s Dairy Champion at this year’s Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards. The Pure NZ Ice Cream range, including this awardwinning Boysenberry Ice Cream, is gluten and peanut free and made from ingredients which are locally sourced where possible - in this instance the boysenberries are from Nelson.

Judges at the awards praised the ice cream for its natural boysenberry flavour and creamy texture, commenting that “it’s difficult to resist”.

For more information visit https://www.purenzicecream.com/.

1/2 ADVERT HOWLER HOTDOG

FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

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[ health & wellness ]

WHOLE PROBIOTICS VS PROCESSED PRODUCTS: THE LIVEBREW DIFFERENCE

The understanding that whole foods are healthier and more nutritious than highly processed foods is no longer a fringe concept. This idea applies to probiotics too. Fresh, live and active liquid probiotics are superior to freeze-dried and otherwise preserved products.

Associate Professor Craig Bunt of Lincoln University has worked with BioBrew Ltd on their probiotic technology over the past decade.

Dr Bunt has a background in pharmaceutics, formulation, and animal science. Dr Bunt said: “A probiotic is not just the bacteria, it’s the compounds they make. The advantage of the fresh probiotic is that it has already got it all there. It’s raring to go. Whereas the freezedried culture has to get up to speed.”

Dr Bunt also suggests avoiding products based on spore-forming (bacillus) microbes as these tend to cease activity and form a spore when the going gets tough in the gut, an option not available to non-spore-former microbes like the lactobacilli found in LiveBrew.

He said: “products that have live, active bacteria with proven probiotic characteristics, that have a guaranteed number of microbes stated on the label, these are the products I have more faith in. LiveBrew is the only liquid product that I have seen in NZ that meets these criteria.”

LiveBrew is a unique combination of fresh, live, and active probiotic lactobacilli and the beneficial metabolites (organic acids) produced by those microbes. LiveBrew contains strains of microbes that are very well researched and documented to have a wide range of probiotic characteristics.

LiveBrew is the only fresh probiotic with guaranteed viability (a minimum of a billion live and active lactobacilli per dose) throughout the entire seven-month shelf-life period. Most other products only provide consumers with the number of microbes present at the time of manufacture. LiveBrew guarantees customers will get the live and active microbes that they paid for.

“LiveBrew does not require refrigeration or any other special handling prior to opening. No other product available offers this unique combination of quality and handling characteristics,” explains Andre Prassinos, Managing Director at BioBrew Ltd. BioBrew Ltd spent over 10 years working on a long-term R&D process with Callaghan Innovation and Lincoln University and has demonstrated the value of their approach to probiotics with a successful 18

FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

“LIVEBREW DOES NOT REQUIRE REFRIGERATION OR ANY OTHER SPECIAL HANDLING.” ANDRE PRASSINOS, MD AT BIOBREW LTD decade of independent trials and sales in the animal health sector. The result of this sustained effort is the launch of LiveBrew, NZ’s finest fresh, live and active probiotic.

LiveBrew is manufactured under a strict quality-control system at the Callaghan Innovation-funded Foodbowl facility in Auckland. This MPIapproved export-quality facility is NZ’s finest F&B development and commercialisation facility.

LiveBrew moves probiotics out of the freeze-dried era and into a fresh new day! www.livebrew.co.nz (0508) BIOBREW andre@freshprobiotics.com

[ health & wellness ]

LOCALLY MADE PRODUCTS KEEP NZ SAFE AND CLEAN Earthwise plant powered products really work too! Following testing

by Consumer NZ of 22 multi-purpose cleaners, Earthwise Multi-Surface Citrus & Mint Spray Cleaner 500ml was second overall and the top performing eco-friendly surface cleaner. While Earthwise products are tough on germs, they don’t cost the earth either. All Earthwise products are made in their Environmental Choice certified factory, the highest NZ Eco accreditation which considers the full life cycle of a product.

WIN an Earthwise prize pack (worth $100) packed with locally made ecofriendly cleaning products - tough on germs and gentle on the earth to help keep

Several other new Earthwise antibacterial products will be available in the coming weeks too.

Earthwise has also been busy working through weekends, to create large volumes of hand sanitiser to help healthcare frontline staff and commercial businesses as part of the Government’s COVID-19 national response project.

Kiwis safe and clean.

To enter the draw, simply email your postal details to trubanowski@intermedianz. co.nz with EARTHWISE NZ in the subject line.

DUCT OF T HE PRO Y CG M FIN ALI ST

•F

PRODUCT OF THE YEAR

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R• EA

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NEW NATURAL DEODORANTS

•F

Earthwise, one of New Zealand’s most trusted eco-friendly brands made right here for over 50 years, has been working hard to meet high demand for household cleaning and personal care items in supermarkets.

Jamie Peters, Managing Director and owner of Earthwise, says the business has worked around the clock to continue to provide essential household items such as cleaning, laundry, dishwash and personal care products. Supermarket shelves were looking a little sparse in some cases particularly where brands are made overseas, he explains. “Thankfully our factory is based right here in Auckland, New Zealand which means we’ve been able to continue manufacturing and shipping our full range of Earthwise products to supermarkets across the country.”

As a nimble local business, Earthwise has been able to quickly react to consumer needs, creating a new Earthwise Nourish Hand Sanitiser, which kills 99.9% of germs, contains 70% ethanol, and comes in a bottle made from 100% recycled plastic sourced from milk, water and juice bottles.

Joining the finalists in the FMCG Business Product of the Year line-up are three new natural deodorants from essano™: Lily Flower & Chamomile, Mandarin & Aloe Vera, and Fragrance-Free.

After trialling natural ingredients from around the world, essano’s on-site chemists discovered four new natural actives proven to effectively destroy and inhibit the bacteria that cause bad odours.

“It took years of development to create a roll-on deodorant that adheres to our strict product promise and actually works, removing body odour while allowing the body to naturally detox. We are so confident in this formula; we are offering a 30-day money back guarantee to those who purchase it and aren’t satisfied with the results,” says essano™ Co-founder Shane Young.

Caroline Clarke, GM of Marketing and Innovation, says: “Once our chemists finalised the formula, we could have launched using new plastic packaging imported from China, however, this did not align with our sustainability principles.

Instead we decided to spend more time and money to invest with a NZ supplier to create a container made of 100% recycled material (HDPE) – a NZ first!”

G

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PRODUCT OF THE YEAR

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DUCT OF TH PRO EY CG M

UCT OF THE OD YE PR A

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FMCG BUSINESS PRODUCT OF THE YEAR Do you have a Hero product that stands out from the crowd?

If there’s a tasty tastebud teaser, NPD rockstar, or best seller in your portfolio that deserves to be crowned ‘Product Of The Year’ - we’d love to hear from you!

We’ll showcase some of the finalists in upcoming issues and reveal the FMCG Business Product of the Year later in 2020.

To find out more on how to enter please email: trubanowski@intermedianz.co.nz

FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

19

UCT OF THE OD YE PR A

HOT

DRINKS

A snapshot of new products and trends in tea and coffee.

As New Zealand went into lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic and shoppers started stockpiling essential items, the team at Dilmah noticed an increase in tea sales at the end of March and beginning of April of around 40%.

Since then they have been working hard to keep the supply chain going, says Nigel Scott of Dilmah NZ. “Dilmah is picked and packed off shore in Sri Lanka and due to COVID-19 restrictions Sri Lanka in turn has been presented with a number of issues with their internal supply chain – such as plantation workers, transport, packaging, printing, factory staff etc.”

However, on a happier note, Dilmah Founder Merrill J Fernando celebrated his 90th Birthday on 6th May… in lockdown! The Dilmah family is also celebrating his 70 years in the tea industry and Dilmah was voted “Number 1 trusted tea brand in New Zealand” for the fifth year in a row via Readers Digest.

Scott says: “Dilmah will be running an on-pack fundraiser later in the year in aid of Hospice NZ. This is further 20

FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

support of Hospices – we have supplied each Hospice’s tea requirements free of charge for the past 20 years.”

He adds: “Dilmah is maintaining a very strong position in TKA for Total Tea Market. Our strength is clearly in Black Mainstream Tea Bags and Loose Leaf teas.”

Havana Coffee Works “Here at Havana Coffee Works we pride ourselves on continuing to lead the New Zealand coffee revolution, now with a move to 500g bags for retailers nationally with our popular Super Deluxe blend," says General Manager Lee Brown.

“This follows on from the highly successful 2019 launch of Havana’s blend innovation – Pacifica – which is a deep comforting coffee blend, with precious Tanna Island beans, featuring wild vanilla, rich cacao and honeycomb, all buttery and sweet tones, this PEACEFUL PACIFIC VIBE

[ category insights ] CLOSE TO HOME is part of our REALTRADE values, having a positive impact on the lives of our Pacific neighbours.”

Brown explains: “Havana Coffee Works continually choses to buy from producers who farm sustainably and in turn contribute to their communities through economic and social return. Havana pays premium prices in recognition of the coffee farmers and the importance of the industry to the many struggling regions where coffee is grown. We pay over and above Fairtrade and call this REALTRADE. We see the positive impact REALTRADE has in changing lives and how it allows the farmers to make future plans for their communities because of this trading relationship with us. It is one of the foundations to our values.”

Brown adds: “The new 500g offering commencing with the Super Deluxe in whole beans and plunger grind is a deluxe blend of coffees roasted with all the Havana love. It is elegant, full-bodied caramel and mocha hit so velvety smooth, it's a coffee treasure you will love to share.”

“Get on board the Havana train, leading the coffee revolution since 1989.”

Maggio's - love coffee, love the planet

“Maggio’s brings you the first to market biodegradable and compostable coffee pod that completely decomposes within 12 weeks*.”

Maggio’s brings you its luxury coffee straight from the café and into your home.

Maggio’s – as seen on the cover of this issue – is a unique blend of handcrafted Colombian, Brazilian and Indian coffee, the most environmentally friendly and planet-sustainable pod, now available in New Zealand.

Café experience in a pod Marketing Manager James Ravlich explains: “Maggio’s has grown from its Italian heritage having developed a famous café culture around Sydney Harbour. Maggio’s is now a trusted brand for a great coffee experience and a well-loved and established café. Known for its premium coffee blends and friendly service, it has been a favourite of coffee lovers for over 20 years. With specially selected blends of coffee, Maggio’s has now made the great taste available in your home. The Maggio’s blend of coffee pods will capture your love of coffee with every cup.”

Maggio’s not only tastes great, but is great for the planet Ravlich adds: “Maggio’s paper capsules/pods are the cleanest and most biodegradable coffee pods available.

Other pods made from a combination of plastics and aluminium, normally take between 150 to 500 years for aluminium and plastic capsules to breakdown in landfill.

*In controlled industrial compost conditions. All other forms of composting times may vary.

All other forms of composting times may vary.

Beautifully packaged and available in the artisanal blends of Intenso and Classico, Maggio’s capsules are compatible with *Nespresso coffee machines.

Available in New World and PaknSave, RRP $7.99 (10 pods). www.facebook.com/maggios For more information contact the Hutchinsons Customer Service Team at NZCustService@ hutchinsons.co.nz or phone 0800 555 258.

Source: NIELSEN SCANTRACK Total Supermarkets - MAT to 19/04/2020 Val $ Sales

Val % Chg YA

Total Coffee

287,346,901

10.5%

Total Tea

90,545,342

2.8%

Black Tea

53,622,591

3.4%

Herbal Tea

24,737,127

5.2%

Green Tea

9,939,711

-4.9%

FMCG Business produces a monthly snapshot of category news and highlights, based on information from participating clients and Nielsen data available at time of print. To showcase your products in upcoming category reports, please contact trubanowski@intermedianz.co.nz.

FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

21

PROUDLY

Crafted in Dunedin,New Zealand Since 1867

Y HOMEGROWN OATS

WWW.HARRAWAYS.CO.NZ

NZ’S ROCKSTAR CATEGORY:

BAKING

Baking aisles in supermarkets across New Zealand have become a Rockstar category overnight as COVID-19 created an army of new bakers around the country.

Pre-lockdown saw baking essentials such as flour and yeast fly off shelves as Kiwis put their learnings from watching MasterChef into action. And the extent to which New Zealanders embraced this new found love of baking was nothing but extraordinary with households purchasing enough yeast pre-lockdown to make 710,000 loaves of bread – an increase of 241% compared to the same time as last year.

For George Lim, Category Manager at Foodstuffs North Island, dealing with exponential growth during lockdown was no small feat.

“Over the past eight weeks, Foodstuffs North Island stores sold 3.2 million kilos of flour – up an additional 1.4 million kilos compared to the previous year. Our suppliers have had to increase operations three-fold – with current demand yet to show any sign of slowing down,” says Lim. 24

FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

Source: NIELSEN SCANTRACK Total Supermarkets - MAT to 19/04/2020 Val $ Sales

Val % Chg YA

Total Baking Needs

104,114,215

14.0%

Cooking Chocolate

15,316,559

13.6%

Dried Cake & Biscuit Mixes

14,778,149

20.6%

Mixes & Batters

8,490,578

16.3%

Essences & Colourings

8,062,636

14.1%

Cocoa

6,684,467

9.1%

Coconut

4,665,458

5.7%

Yeast

4,375,497

33.6%

Baking Powder

2,867,420

14.9%

Icings & Marzipan

2,498,166

-9.8%

Baking Soda

2,488,801

13.0%

Total Flour

37,927,815

29.2%

Sugar

55,432,431

7.4%

[ category insights ] Scratch cooking was not the only thing making a comeback during lockdown. Customers were eager to get their hands on pre-made baking mixes for breakfasts, birthdays or afternoon tea. “Our Edmonds pancake mixes flew off the shelves during lockdown, easily taking out the top spot of ‘most popular mix’ sold. It seems New Zealanders missed going out for brunch and decided to recreate their favourite foods at home.

“I am no baker but even I joined the rest of NZ in stocking up on flour during lockdown. Despite not getting in on the lockdown trends of banana bread and sour dough, I did manage a batch of cookies and some pancakes for breakfast,” says Lim. “Post-lockdown we are anticipating people to bake more as many have uncovered a hidden talent for cooking great food at home. We are expecting up to 30% of people to continue baking and predictions are healthier baking trends are on the rise. Homemade baking with a focus on paleo, sugar free and gluten free products were key trends during lockdown and we are envisaging these trends will continue,” adds Lim. “Over the past eight weeks our supply chain has come together to ensure its product is on shelves during COVID-19. Whether it's my direct team, our suppliers, the supply chain, DC, transport or our stores, I want to recognise the tremendous effort and lengths everyone has gone to during these unprecedented times,” says Lim.

Betty Crocker From cakes with ready to spread frosting, brownies, cookies, muffins, pancakes and a frosting range, Betty Crocker™ is a win-win for any baking enthusiast or beginner. Betty Crocker™ was launched in 1921 and is a trusted global brand and will celebrate turning 100 years old next year! Betty Crocker continues to deliver growth for the category, with the latest quarter delivering +77% value growth and 34.5% value share of the category. (T. Supermarkets 26.04.2020 Baking mix and aids category.) “With so many families home together during

the lockdown, it's not surprising that baking sales have taken off.

We often see during school holidays that baking sales rise, and therefore this year we partnered with Kidspot to provide parents with delicious and easy recipes to bake memories with the family,” says Marketing Manager Keezia Haste.

Betty Crocker also has a delicious Gluten Free range and there is no compromise on taste. It’s also been endorsed by the NZ Coeliac association.

Tasti “Quality and innovation have always been at the heart of Tasti, since we first opened our doors in 1932,” says Kyle Lagerwall, Brand Manager at Tasti Products. “The business was founded on the single-minded pursuit of securing the best quality ingredients for our consumers, because we know the best ingredients get you the best results.”

This tradition continues today, with the recent launch of our Ready to Eat ‘Soft & Juicy Pears’ and ‘Deglet Noor Dates’, which are sourced from the finest regions in Africa.

They are perfect for on trend grazing platters or as a unique ingredient tossed into a salad, which comes in a convenient resealable pouch.

Lagerwall explains: “At the same time, we have introduced new packaging innovation with the launch of resealable pouches across our larger pack formats in our baking range, offering greater pantry convenience and freshness for our consumers. We have also made the segment easier to shop and merchandise with the introduction of our shelf ready shippers, ensuring faster and easier shelf replenishment in store.”

“THIS TRADITION CONTINUES TODAY, WITH THE RECENT LAUNCH OF OUR READY TO EAT ‘SOFT & JUICY PEARS’ AND ‘DEGLET NOOR DATES’, WHICH ARE SOURCED FROM THE FINEST REGIONS IN AFRICA.” KYLE LAGERWALL, BRAND MANAGER AT TASTI PRODUCTS

FMCG Business produces a monthly snapshot of category news and highlights, based on information from participating clients and Nielsen data available at time of print. To showcase your products in upcoming category reports, please contact trubanowski@intermedianz.co.nz.

FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

25

[ legal advice ]

SELLING GOODS ONLINE – ARE YOU COMPLYING WITH THE LAW?

Megan Williams is a Director of Steindle Williams Legal Limited. A significant part of Megan’s practice for over 25 years has been in the property and general commercial arena, however she also has a particular expertise in advising on asset ownership, and the setting up, administering and review of trusts. swlegal.co.nz

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FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

The internet has given businesses the opportunity to sell goods or services to anyone no matter where they are at the click of a button, however online selling is not a 'free for all' and comes with its own set of rules.

If you engage in advertising or selling goods to New Zealand consumers online, the Fair Trading Act applies even if you are based outside of New Zealand. This includes selling goods by any of the following methods; • websites • online auctions such as Trade Me • ticket reselling platforms • daily deal and group buying websites.

• smartphone applications • emails • text messaging • social media Businesses that sell goods or services online must make it clear that they are “in trade” by disclosing this status prominently at the point where a customer completes a purchase. The definition of “in trade” is broad and many factors will be taken into account including how regularly goods are offered for sale, if goods are made or obtained with the intention of selling them, if staff assist in sales, if the seller is GST registered or if the seller is trading through a legal entity, such as a company. This is not an exhaustive list and there are other factors which might mean a person is in trade. Sellers cannot avoid their obligations under consumer legislation by having someone else sell on their behalf.

For the sake of clarity, goods initially purchased for personal use and then sold (for example, outgrown clothes) do not count as being in trade, whereas bringing 10 mobile phones home from holiday to sell online does count as being in trade because there is the intention to resell.

Business selling online must also ensure they comply with the other provisions of the Fair Trading Act by; • ensuring any representations made about the goods being sold are accurate and not capable of misleading or deceiving consumers;

• not misleading consumers about their rights; • having a reasonable basis for any claims made about the goods being sold; • not engaging in unfair sales practices; and • complying with the product safety and consumer information standards where relevant, and not sell any goods prohibited by an unsafe goods notice.

The Consumer Guarantees Act sets out minimum guarantees that apply to all goods including those sold online. Goods must match their description, be fit for their normal purpose, be safe and of acceptable quality, have no undisclosed defects and be supported by available spare parts and repair facilities (by manufacturers).

We see a number of common issues with online sales. Many purchasers are suspicious and will search the seller online, their reviews and feedback and will check the business exists and all contact details are transparent. Some tips for getting it right are; • Make sure the terms and conditions of any online sale are clear and easy to find and not buried in the fine print or in a separate link – including terms relating to price, quality and condition, delivery, returns and warranties.

• Do not offer to sell goods that you do not reasonably believe you will be able to supply on the terms offered, especially if you do not hold stock “on the shelves”.

• If you offer goods through daily deal or group buying websites, such as GrabOne, you must have the capacity and resources to fulfil every deal that is sold within a reasonable time of the voucher being presented. If you are only able to satisfy a certain number of sales, you should limit the offer to a manageable number, specify in the offer any dates when the voucher cannot be redeemed, or ensure a refund is available if the customer has trouble redeeming it.

The Commerce Commission regularly receives complaints about sellers breaching their obligations when selling online and will so be mindful of your legal obligations before proceeding.

[ FGC ]

SHOPPING IN A POSTCOVID-19 WORLD There’s been a lot of speculation about what our post-COVID-19 world will look like, and how our daily lives will change and our businesses might have to adapt.

Long-term, it’s anyone’s guess, and will depend on how quickly the world can rid itself of the virus and how quickly we get our confidence back. But we can already see hints of how the food and grocery sector will look, in the short term at least.

A survey of consumers by the New Zealand arm of global retail research company IRI revealed some interesting data. Nearly half of respondents say they will not change lockdown habits and will continue stockpiling groceries after things settle down, buying enough for two weeks. Some 8% say they will buy for 3-4 weeks, and 2% for even longer than that.

Some 34% will make fewer trips to the supermarket, while 16% will keep buying larger product packs.

Nearly a quarter say they will continue buying groceries online or via click & collect, or take up subscription-box deliveries.

There’s also a trend emerging around price. In times of economic crisis, people don’t have the income to eat out, and the IRI data shows consumers are already taking more care with expenditure and putting a greater focus on price as it becomes harder to balance household income with expenditure.

It’s the same in overseas markets. Another global research company, Euromonitor International, says grocery buying has significantly changed since the start of the year and will continue for some time.

It’s picking trends in stockpiling, buying for in-home meals, and online shopping will continue for the rest of the year as social distancing continues and financial uncertainties and pressures remain – even though cafes, restaurants and bars will have re-opened in many places. In the longer term, it sees consumers opting for budget-friendly grocery options while continuing to spend less on eating out.

Many will continue to shop online.

This is echoed by Martin Lindstrom, chairman of the global branding and culture transformation Lindstrom Company, in ‘Buyology for a Coronavirus World’, an update on his best-selling book ‘Buyology’.

He says consumer behaviour will change for some time because once people have been fearful of something for a sustained period they move into a mindset where even if things are coming right they’ll stockpile out of concern about what may happen down the track. He says until economies recover, consumers will continue to be frugal by buying

cheaper products, including house brands, and taking advantage of discounting.

So it looks like we’re in for a period of change and adjustment in coming months, or even longer.

But that’s nothing new to suppliers, supply chain, merchandisers, supermarkets and shops, as the past eight or so weeks have shown.

Everyone was impacted as demand reached a peak.

Some were caught short, but others dusted off their pandemic plans and dealt with the sudden rush.

Plenty of heroes emerged, from the field and the factory to the shop floor, and their work in keeping the shelves stocked has been acknowledged.

Not so obvious are FGC members who have been involved in the search for a vaccine or an antiviral drug to stop us from contracting COVID-19 or lessen its impact for those who do contract it.

I’m thinking of Sanofi NZ, Johnson & Johnson, GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer, some of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies with long histories of work in this area, which are collaborating in some way with companies and research groups across the world on finding solutions.

So far, the most optimistic projections put success between the end of this year and the second half of next year, which would be significantly faster than the normal timeline for vaccine development.

While we’re all making sure the shop shelves are filled, we’ll also have our fingers crossed and half an eye on what these companies are doing.

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

FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

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[ good business ]

SUSTAINABLE ‘BAKE IN TRAY PIZZA’ A BIG HIT

The new pizzas are popular at New World Island Bay.

Freshly topped in-store gourmet pizzas are flying off the shelves at participating Foodstuffs North Island New World, PAK’nSAVE and Four Square stores thanks to a new sustainable packaging solution that enables customers to heat their delicious pizza in its home compostable,

bake in tray. From shelf to oven to table with no mess, the pizzas really deliver in both taste and convenience.

Rebecca Tuhakaraina, Foodstuffs North Island Category Manager for Delicatessen and Meal Solutions says, “Our pizzas have always been popular with our customers and we’re pleased to now be able to offer shelf to oven to table convenience. Our customers have been incredibly receptive to the new home compostable and recyclable packaging, especially as more people look for in-home meal solutions with packaging solutions which are environmentally friendly.”

The pizza packaging innovation combines sustainability and convenience and has been a huge hit with customers. New World Gate Pa owner Tony Ford says, “We’ve seen huge growth in our freshly topped gourmet pizza sales since changing to this new type of packaging. The convenience of being able to put the pizza directly in the oven in its tray and all the packaging being compostable and recyclable has really appealed to our customers’ values.”

The round tray is made from a by-product of sugar cane and corn, using less space and fewer materials than a traditional square pizza box.

The cardboard sleeve is compostable and recyclable, the bagasse tray is home compostable once used and the transparent plastic lid is made out of rPET, which means it’s made of recycled PET (type 1 plastic) and widely recyclable in New Zealand.

Any leftover pizza can be popped in the fridge using the resealable lid.

[ profile ]

FARRAH’S – HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS YOU CAN TRUST Being a local business has never been so important. The current global pandemic has encouraged New Zealanders to increase their support of local businesses, and Farrah’s is no exception.

Over two decades ago, Jovan and Farrah Čanak took a leap of faith to open a specialist bakery in a former Wellington fish and chip shop, where they worked long hours making wraps for the local hospitality industry. The original idea for the business came from a chance conversation with a friend.

The story is so simple, it’s printed on the back of every packet of wraps: “It was the summer of ‘99 when our friend Jimmy, who owned a local kebab shop, commented that he couldn’t find a tortilla wrap that wouldn’t crack or split when rolled – this sparked an idea.”

The couple taught themselves how to make flour tortillas the traditional way – hand rolling the dough balls, stretching them and cooking them over an open flame hot plate. They visited Mexico to research different techniques, and then the US, where tortillas were beginning to be called wraps.

Twenty-one summers and millions of wraps later, Farrah’s is now the market leader in New Zealand and have just put the finishing touches to their most ambitious project yet: a state-of-the-art factory in Upper Hutt. Planning for the world-class facility started back in 2017 when Farrah’s purchased the former Foodstuffs Wellington site.

The founders’ pioneering spirit and determination continues to drive the Farrah’s team to meet the needs of the market. As an essential 28

FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

Farrah’s Founders Jovan and Farrah Čanak

supplier during the lockdown, Farrah’s adapted stringent food safety policies in their production facility to deliver high quality products that customers can trust.

Having experienced exceptional growth during this period, the Farrah’s team would like to acknowledge the support of their partners and wider New Zealand community.

[ profile ]

ARE YOU PAYING FOR MERCHANDISING TWICE? With retailers including (or thinking of including) merchandising as part of their retail terms, brands could be paying for merchandising twice. I’m sure brands agree it is vital to maintain their sales and merchandising hands, eyes and ears instore. The risk is too great to leave this activity solely in the retailer’s hands.

The recent COVID-19 event has highlighted the importance of brands sales and merchandising teams in restocking shelves, keeping tickets up and managing out of stocks. Even when business returns to normal, it is vital that the activity at store level is managed by brands. Sales data does not tell you everything!

Storetaste can play a role to assist brands, agencies and stores maintain their merchandising activity cost effectively with independent reps located in many stores across New Zealand performing sampling and merchandising duties on a pre-scheduled time, defined duty, and location basis.

The Storetaste platform provides visibility of the reps’ activity along with reporting on product distribution, out of stocks and prices.

This is achieved by their smart cloud-based reporting application, which can be used by established agencies to protect and provide added value to existing client relations and also by independent Storetaste distributed representatives.

Being a New Zealand owned and operated company they have grown with the needs of their brands and innovation has been at the forefront leading the business. If you want to empower and streamline your current team with the ability to report on the actions they are taking in store using the Storetaste platform, or if you are looking for an experienced merchandising or sampling team, Storetaste is the right place to look.

Contact Kelsey Maclean NZ Manager Ph: 0273305018 kelsey@storetaste.com. www.storetaste.com

[ profile ]

T&G PACKAGING DELIVERS VALUE In business for over 25 years, T&G Packaging is working with many of New Zealand’s leading FMCG companies meeting their local embellishment and rework requirements.

Located in Auckland, our facilities and systems are recognised by our clients as being among the best in New Zealand. We are a safe and secure option for any rework or point of sale project that you are considering.

Our rework facility has a Medsafe licence for secondary packing of medicines. We have trained and committed Quality Assurance and Production teams who will work with you to ensure correct handling and processing of your goods including full traceability.

We can do anything from construction of prepacked display stands, pack size reconfigurations, application or removal of labels, general piece work and packing into shelf ready packaging etc.

We are seeing an increased level of customer demand for value and T&G Packaging is well placed to support organisations looking to meet those needs. We have considerable experience in producing flow wrapped samples for direct to consumer sampling. Additionally, our equipment can shrink wrap a wide range of sizes and shapes of bonus and multi packs.

We have transportation available so can quickly, safely and efficiently collect and return your product. The entire process is managed to ensure your product’s safety.

A recent addition to our business is Point of Sale Management. If you need to support a field force of Sales Representatives or Merchandisers we can store and distribute Point of Sale to your teams or direct to stores. We have an online E-store ordering system in place to facilitate this, which can be customised to meet your needs.

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss projects with you. Key contact is Trevor Crowther with over 30 years’ experience in the business.

Contact Trevor: Ph +64 21 338 851 or trevor@tandgpackaging.co.nz www.tandgpackaging.co.nz FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

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[ profile ]

REFORM

Supplying NZ businesses with essential personal protective equipment (PPE) Kiwis want to feel protected when they come out of lockdown and for some, that want is now greater than ever as thousands of people return to their workplaces.

The Matakana-based company, Reform is distributing PPE to businesses throughout NZ to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Like the flu, COVID-19 is spread from person to person through droplets that quickly settle onto surfaces where they can survive on for up to 72 hours. By touching this surface and then your mouth, nose or eyes, you can become infected which is why PPE is so important.

On a mission to design and develop affordable products that help to build safer communities and save lives, Reform offers a range of FDA

approved medical facemasks, face shields and hand sanitisers suitable for everyone.

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, Reform was distributing their range to large primary industry clients. In response to the outbreak and to support their fellow Kiwis, Reform has increased their production to keep up with the demand and to do their bit to help combat the disease.

With the use of PPE shaping out to be the new ‘norm’, it is important to have all your equipment ready. Reform can fulfil your minimum to high-volume orders and will even customise products to meet the health and safety needs of NZ businesses.

All PPE is available now and can be ordered from orders@globaldesign.co.nz or by phoning 0800 437 8326.

[ profile ]

AORAKI SALMON’S FRESH NEW LOOK The team at Aoraki Salmon have always been quick to tell you that the taste of their salmon is connected to the place that it’s from.

Their Freshwater King Salmon thrive in the ice-cold waters that flow from Aoraki/Mt Cook and it’s this environment that creates a fish with a lighter, cleaner taste and a delicate texture.

With NZ consumers increasingly wanting to know more about product provenance, and the story behind the product, the Aoraki team recently took the opportunity to better express their unique story on pack.

They’ve done this in a number of ways. The predominant new ‘A’ brandmark represents the mountain for which the company is named after. The crisp white, overlaid with textured gloss lines, speaks to the freshness of their South Island alpine origins and new icons are used to highlight unique points of difference. The back-of-pack also now shares more of the Aoraki story, provides creative serving suggestions and introduces the people behind the product.

Along with a new look, the artisan smokers at Aoraki Salmon have also released two delicious new flavours of hot smoked salmon; Wholegrain mustard, balanced by smooth Mānuka honey and Cracked black pepper, complemented with a hint of vanilla. The new flavour duos have been carefully selected to enhance the natural lightness of Freshwater King Salmon, without overwhelming it.

www.aorakisalmon.co.nz info@aorakisalmon.co.nz

Contact your Alliance Marketing Rep for ranging details.

Our taste is connected to our place

Aoraki Smoked Salmon is lighter, purer; taking you to the ice-cold fresh waters of Aoraki, Mt Cook.

Discover the difference aorakisalmon.co.nz

[ fresh produce ]

BEST IN SEASON Winter has arrived which means consumers are after fresh produce for hot soups, roasts and stews.

Items such as pumpkin, kumara, potatoes and carrots will be popular on the menu.

Leafy greens including broccoli, celery, leeks, silverbeet, kale and cauliflower will also be sought after.

Fruit-wise, kiwifruit remain abundant and persimmons are available for a short window until July.

Tamarillos will be appearing and are a beautiful, specialty fruit to have on offer.

Feijoas are now reaching the tail-end of their season.

New Zealand citrus will keep providing with Satsuma mandarins in full supply. New Zealand Navel oranges, lemons and grapefruit are all approaching peak season.

Kiwifruit

“KIWIFRUIT ARE GOOD SOURCES OF VITAMIN C AND FOLATE WHICH HELPS SUPPORT IMMUNITY.”

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New season kiwifruit continues to be harvested throughout June and should be a staple on shelves at this time of year, with bulked up displays to enhance appeal.

The four main varieties available are Green, SunGold, Organic Green/Sungold and Sweet Green.

Limited quantities of the new Red variety are also available. They have red flesh and a sweet berry-tinged flavour.

What to look for: Choose fruit that is semi-firm to touch, unblemished and with no soft, bruised spots or wrinkled skin.

Storage/handling: Store kiwifruit at room temperature, out of direct sunlight for 2-3 days to ripen. Once ripe, keep refrigerated.

Nutrition: Kiwifruit are good sources of vitamin C and folate which helps support immunity – something consumers are currently interested in. They are also a source of niacin, vitamins E and K, and contain potassium.

Carrots The Ohakune crop is in peak production, with supplies also coming from the lower South Island.

Display loose carrots to attract attention but also offer pre-packed options close by so consumers can grab a bag and go. Carrots should be merchandised alongside parsnips and swede.

What to look for: Choose firm carrots with a bright orange colour and smooth skin. Blackness near the top indicates carrots are not fresh.

Storage/handling: Store in a cool, dark place and keep hydrated.

Nutrition: Carrots are a good source of vitamin A for healthy skin and eyesight. They are also a source of vitamin B6 which is vital in allowing the body to utilise iron.

Parsnips Parsnips are thought of as a winter vegetable and although this is when they are at their peak, they are available year-round in smaller volumes.

They come in a variety of shades, from white to creamy to golden.

Consumers can easily mistake gold-coloured parsnips as not fresh, but this is not the case.

As soon as parsnips come out of the ground they start to oxidise, hence the golden colour. Like this, they are still fresh and perfectly fine for eating.

What to look for: Smooth, firm parsnips, ideally 5-7cm in shoulder diameter and 19-25cm long.

Storage/handling: Although parsnips are a root vegetable belonging to the carrot family, they do tend to wilt faster than carrots so stock rotation is essential.

Store parsnips at 0°C and keep moist.

Nutrition: Parsnips are a good source of vitamin K, essential for healthy blood clotting. They are also a good source of dietary fibre which supports digestive health.

Join us on

www.unitedfresh.co.nz

[ profile ]

FMCG BUSINESS NEW PRODUCT CHAMPION AWARD FOR PORRIDGE WITH ATTITUDE

‘Porridge with attitude and panache’ – that’s how the judges described Blue Frog Manuka Honey & Hemp Heart Probiotic Porridge, awarding it FMCG Business New Product Champion and a gold medal in the 2020 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards.

Blue Frog’s Scotty Baragwanath founded the business with the vision of making the ‘world's best tasting cereal’ showcasing taste - and health.

Blue Frog has developed an extensive range of cereals, porridges and kids’ cereals – all packed full of flavour while maximising nutrition.

Over the past three years Blue Frog has regularly taken its place on the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards winners’ podium. As well as being named a Champion this year, Blue Frog Black Doris Plum, Dragon Fruit & Coconut won silver and Blue Frog Coco Munch won bronze. In 2019 Blue Frog Raspberry and Vanilla Granola was awarded a silver medal and Blue Frog Apricot and Hemp received bronze.

In 2018 Blue Frog products received a silver medal and two highly commended awards.

Since he started his first company making commercial biltong in 1994, Scotty’s career has seen him specialise in fast moving consumer goods. He studied research and development and worked for a large FMCG multinational in Australia before returning home and establishing Blue Frog in 2015.

Blue Frog Founder Scotty Baragwanath

Breakfast worth waking up for Blue Frog is founded on a love of good healthy food and amazing flavours and textures. Now with his own brood of four children to test his amazing creations on, Scotty creates breakfasts worth waking up for.

Supporting local producers is important to Scotty and the company has a strong focus on sourcing all ingredients from New Zealand.

Only when ingredients can’t be sourced here will they use imported ones – after an extensive search to find the best flavour. They collaborate with Kiwi food producers, including fellow 2020 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards gold medal winning brands Fix & Fogg and Heilala Vanilla.

Strong sustainable practices are important to the company. Blue Frog is a living wage employer and has comprehensive well-being policies for staff, including flexible working hours. It prides itself on being a ‘Be Accessible’ employer – this consideration guides the company, right down to helping consumers by having 12-point font on their packaging, ensuring it’s easy to read!

Blue Frog sponsor Eat My Lunch, providing great breakfast for the volunteers every day.

They are certified carbon neutral and carefully consider water and energy use.

Blue Frog is widely distributed in supermarkets and fine food stores across New Zealand and can be purchased on their website https://bluefrogbreakfast.co.nz/.

FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

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NEW ZEALAND’S FINEST

At a time when Kiwis were rediscovering home cookery, the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards were delighted to announce the 2020 medal winners and champions.

The Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards celebrate the best of New Zealand’s locally grown and made food and drink products.

This year, Bostock Brothers were named Supreme Champion for their Organic Whole Chicken. Bostock Brothers Organic Whole Chicken was also named Giesen Wines Paddock Champion and Bostock Brothers received Gold Medals for Bostock Brothers Chicken Thighs and Bostock Brothers Chicken Breasts.

Gisborne’s Ngati Porou, AHIA Freshly Smoked Kahawai Manuka Honey was awarded Seafood NZ Water Champion. The judges were won over from the first bite saying, “Beautifully moist… moreish…a good honest Kiwi fish celebrated and treated with love.” The kahawai reflects Ngāti Porou Seafood’s environmental focus. The company has moved away from bulk-processing, creating diverse products from sustainable species.

Pure NZ Ice Cream, Boysenberry Ice Cream was named Emerson’s Dairy Champion. As is all the Pure NZ range this ice cream is gluten and peanut free and made from ingredients which are locally sourced where possible - in this instance the boysenberries are from Nelson. Judges praised the ice cream for

its natural boysenberry flavour and creamy texture complaining ‘it’s difficult to resist’.

Wellington’s Fix & Fogg Everything Butter was named Farro Earth Champion for their innovative blend of hemp, chia, sesame, sunflower, flaxseeds and pumpkin seeds with peanuts and almonds.

Kelli Walker took out the Label & Litho Drink Champion for her Forage & Ferment Wild Kefir, Ginger Root.

Clevedon Herbs & Produce was named recipient of NZ Life & Leisure Spirit of New Zealand Award, while Raglan Food Co was named Outstanding Sustainability Champion.

This year’s FMCG Business New Product Champion is Blue Frog Manuka Honey & Hemp Heart Probiotic Porridge (as seen on page 33).

Zaroa Pohutakawa Smoked & Sous Vide Cooked Angus Beef Brisket is Outstanding Free-From Champion, while the Freshco.nz New Business Champion is Foundry Chocolate. This comes off the back of Foundry Chocolate being named Supreme Winner at the recent NZ Chocolate Awards.

Find out more about some of this year’s Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards winners below.

PURE New Zealand Ice Cream

PURE New Zealand Ice Cream is handcrafted in Wanaka and is all about 100% natural ingredients, intense flavours and provenance. You’ll find no artificial flavours, colourings, emulsifiers and additives – just real food ingredients brought together by hand and which are contained in a very short list on each tub.

In case you have intolerances, allergies or just a food preference, all our ice creams are certified gluten-free and peanut-free and our sorbets and gelatos are dairy-free and vegan - all without compromise to their intensely delicious flavours!

“Our Champion Boysenberry Ice Cream is made purely from premium fruit produced in sunny Nelson,” says Commercial Director Brian Thomas.

Using only full cream and no eggs or milk make this a sumptuous, gelato-style ice cream. The plump fruit offers up a huge berry flavour as well as its rich, magenta boysenberry colour that is clearly on show through PURE’s transparent and 100% reusable and recyclable tubs. www.purenzicecream.com 34

FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

[ awards ]

Waimata Sheep Milk Camembert

Waimata Sheep Milk Camembert is handcrafted with milk from the Gisborne family’s herd of sheep. Creamy, full-bodied and decadent, the cheese is nutrientrich, naturally A2 and is suitable for lactose sensitive cheese fans.

Best enjoyed at room temperature and lavishly smothered on fresh, crusty bread.

Available at select Foodstuffs stores nationwide.

Contact sales@waimatacheese.co.nz waimatacheese.co.nz

Award-winning Ahia

Ahia by Ngati Porou is manufactured locally in Gisborne.

Awarded five ONZFPA medals for their range of smoked fish fillets and newly released spreads, Ahia also won the coveted Water category champion award for their Smoked Kahawai Manuka Honey.

Ahia is available in over 80 stores throughout the North Island.

Email: ahia@npsl.co.nz www.ahia.co.nz Facebook: ahiasmoked

Harmony range from Neat Meat Our HARMONY 'TAUPŌ BEEF' range represents sustainably-farmed, restaurant-quality meat that is ethically produced. The 'TAUPŌ BEEF & LAMB' collective of farmers have worked closely with regulation experts and research scientists to develop sustainable farming methods that respond to the unique requirements of the region. Lake Taupō is one of New Zealand’s most important landmarks. “TAUPŌ BEEF & LAMB” has designed a system of land, pasture, and animal care that ensures this beautiful place remains pristine for all to enjoy — today and tomorrow. www.harmony.co.nz www.neatmeat.com

FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

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[ events ]

NEW DATES FOR EXPO 2020

Expo 2020 Dubai is gearing up to help shape a post-pandemic world and create a better future for all after a majority of Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Member States voted in favour of postponing the next World Expo by one year.

The global mega event will now run from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022, a delay that allows all participants to safely navigate the impact of COVID-19, and allows the World Expo to focus on a collective desire for new thinking to identify solutions to some of the greatest challenges of our time.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman and CEO of Emirates Group, and Chairman of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee, said: “We welcome the decision of BIE Member States to support the delay of Expo 2020 Dubai by one year. We are thankful to Member States for their continued commitment to contributing to a

World Expo in Dubai that will play a pivotal role in shaping our postpandemic world at a time when it will be most needed.

“Over the last 50 years, we have sought to build bridges, connections, and partnerships around the world because we believe in genuine collaboration to safeguard the future of all. This swift and overwhelming vote reflects the strength of our international partnerships and truly reflects the positive role the UAE and Dubai play with all countries around the world.”

Expo 2020 Dubai retains its name and remains committed to hosting an exceptional event that will celebrate humanity’s resilience, creativity, culture and innovation – including major technological advances in the fields of medicine and science.

The first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, Expo 2020 will welcome 192 countries, plus businesses, multilateral organisations and educational establishments.

FINE FOOD NZ RESCHEDULED The organisers of Fine Food New Zealand have confirmed the newly scheduled dates for the event: June 13 – 15 2021, at the ASB Showgrounds, Auckland.

“We have worked in consultation with the venue, key stakeholders and other international organisers to secure dates that will work best for the industry as a whole,” explain the organisers.

“We feel the generous lead time between now and June 2021 places the show well beyond what will likely be a recovery phase of COVID-19 for the wider economy. As we experienced with the launch of this event post GFC, Fine Food New Zealand proved a very effective platform for economic and sector recovery, filling the void left from that crisis – and Fine Food New Zealand 2021 will be no different!”

The decision to postpone the 2020 event was made following the Prime Minister’s statement on Monday 16th March at 4pm, specifically advising that mass gatherings of over 500 people should cancel, which applied to this event.

“The health and safety of our attendees, exhibitors, and staff is, and will always be, our top priority. We are entirely supportive of the Government’s position, regardless of the importance of events to the wider economy,” said the organisers.

For more information visits www.finefoodnz.co.nz 36

FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

[ events ]

THE INTERMEDIA GROUP LAUNCHES VIRTUAL EVENTS SOLUTIONS The Intermedia Group is adding a new service to their already impressive portfolio - Virtual Events solutions.

The increase and importance of virtual events and digital communications has been undeniably significant, even more so with recent pandemic developments across the world. As a leading publishing, event management and technology business, The Intermedia Group took initiative in launching “Virtual Events”, offering their markets multiple brand opportunities in the digital event space.

Virtual Events provides end-to-end solutions to deliver virtual events and

never been easier to expand the digital opportunities.

“As a B2B media company, we’re in the business of connecting brands with their customers – so we’re very excited to be launching Virtual Events, which provides our clients with dynamic new marketing opportunities and makes events accessible to everyone, irrespective of geography or social distancing rules,” said Managing Director Simon Grover.

“A natural extension to our

digital communications through The Intermedia Group’s proven distribution channels. Delivering live and recorded content to the audience directly, brands will be able to boost their engagement, brand awareness and lead generation by live stream and or long-term hosting to ensure reaching the largest possible audience.

The opportunities are endless, from studio environment and remotely, type of event and communication, messaging, branding and content delivery… It has

existing media solutions, Virtual Events enables companies to continue to engage and interact with our audiences, sharing expertise, showcasing brand credentials and building relationships with customers, even in these unprecedented times.”

This service is limited only to your imagination! View Virtual Events solutions here: tinyurl.com/EventsVirtual

WINETOPIA LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE PLATFORM “WINETREE” With the Winetopia 2020 event postponed until COVID-19 restrictions ease, the organisers Lemongrass Productions have launched a new website offering a carefully curated list of the nation’s top wines.

Winetree features outstanding producers from all over the country, all of whom have been impacted by the recent shutdown. This new initiative also aims to give our environment a boost by supporting local native tree planting projects with every purchase.

Founder Rob Eliott says: “After running the Taste of Auckland Festival for 11 years and Winetopia since 2016, we have come to know some truly wonderful winemakers who were all expecting to showcase their best bottles at our Winetopia events this winter. Our new Winetree website offers customers a chance to explore and buy these wines online, knowing that they will have world-class wines delivered with every order. We stand by all these wines 100% and people will have the opportunity to meet the winemakers in Auckland and Wellington when our events are able to resume.”

Wineries on the site include Nautilus Estate and Greywacke from Marlborough, Pegasus Bay and Black Estate from North Canterbury, Prophets Rock and Gibbston Valley from Central Otago, Elephant Hill and Osawa from Hawkes Bay, Palliser Estate from Martinborough

and Man o War from Waiheke naming just a few. All offerings on the site are proudly New Zealand made aside from one – the JK14 range from Sir John Kirwan and daughter Francesca, which are brought in from Italy and have been very popular at the Winetopia events.

Every case of wine purchased on Winetree. co.nz supports native tree planting through a partnership with Million Metres – one tree planted for every two cases (12 bottles) sold. The first project will help to fund riparian planting along the Matuku Reserve at Te Henga (Bethells Beach) helping restore water quality to the waterways as well as capturing carbon from the atmosphere.

For more information see www.winetree.co.nz FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

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[ wine ]

STABLES INVESTS SIGNIFICANTLY IN FUTURE GROWTH The name Stables reflects the award-winning heritage of this significant Hawke’s Bay wine producer, blending its origins of breeding world-class racehorses with a passion for crafting vibrant and characterful wines since 1981.

With time and progress, the brand has evolved. This has allowed it to maintain a competitive advantage offering wellmade, appealing wines at an affordable price, making it one of New Zealand’s best priced wines and a monument in the New Zealand wine industry.

The Stables core range in the $10-$12 segment is trusted for its consistent style and supported by fans who have been drinking Stables for over 30 years. Wines are artfully blended with carefully procured grapes from New Zealand and Australia creating wines which are appreciated for their gentle, approachable style.

Stables Reserve, a tier up, is an award-winning collection of seven noteworthy varietal wines produced from small parcels of exceptional grapes sourced from some of the best vineyard sites in New Zealand.

These wines have won an array of impressive awards with winemaker, James Ostergren at the helm for the last two years following the acquisition by Mission Estate.

In 2017 Mission Estate acquired the Ngatarawa brands portfolio of which Stables was the spearhead. Since then, James has worked tirelessly to bring all the wines to gold standard, efforts being recognised with a haul of recent wins such as a Gold Medal for the Stables Reserve Syrah at last year’s New Zealand Wine of the Year awards and a Gold Medal for the Stables Pinot Gris the previous year, amongst other accolades.

James says, “It’s all about drinkability. Make the wines the way people want to drink them – soft, fruity, flavourful and uncomplicated.”

James is highly creative and energetic. When he is not making great wines, he is out in the surf at the local beach. He is also a black belt in jujitsu enabling him to bring unrivalled focus and discipline to his winemaking.

In the wake of the COVID crisis, Stables is in a fortunate place. Consumers are known to gravitate towards good value, trusted brands at times like this and Stables is well positioned to satisfy these needs. Stables remains a local 38

FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

success story and is focused on becoming a category-leading brand by driving rate of sale in store, growing distribution and establishing a strong brand presence.

CEO Peter Holley says, “Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, this is an exceptionally exciting time for Stables. It has a strong connection in the hearts and minds of customers and consumers alike, and we have invested significantly in the future growth of this brand, including warehousing and a new bottling line. The opportunity to bring Stables under our roof means we can now apply our own leading sustainability measures to the production of these great wines and hone the quality even further.”

“STABLES REMAINS A LOCAL SUCCESS STORY AND IS FOCUSED ON BECOMING A CATEGORY-LEADING BRAND.” “Following a successful packaging refresh in 2019 and achieving some major distribution gains, we are delighted to continue building this must-stock brand with the support of a newly appointed marketing team.”

“In terms of the vintage to come, it’s very exciting in the winery," says James. “The warm dry weather provided us with the ability to leave the grapes on the vine until they reached optimum ripeness. Although we were required to work under strict guidelines as an essential service during the recent national lockdown, the winery and vineyard teams buckled down and did an exceptional job. The wines are all looking fantastic with opulent fruit intensity, poise and balance. Overall, I feel the vintage was a roaring success.”

For sales enquiries, contact your local representative or email orders@missionestate.co.nz. T: 06 845 9350. www.stableswines.co.nz

Odds on, it’s a winning campaign.

• National integrated media campaign.

• Nationwide in-store activity.

• New POS toolkit and website.

• Supported by a haul of recent accolades.

Stables is focused on becoming a leader in its category with award-winning wines which have been a firm favourite for almost 40 years.

Make sure you don’t miss out.

STOCK UP NOW!

A breed apart Please Drink Responsibly

stableswines.co.nz

J000767-FMCG

Stables is distributed by Mission Estate Winery.

For sales enquiries, please contact your local sales representative or email orders@missionestate.co.nz

[ wine ]

VILLA MARIA HELPS TO BRING MORE BEES TO KIWI GARDENS Villa Maria and Countdown have teamed up to encourage more Kiwis to plant wildflower seeds in their gardens and are highlighting the importance of bees to Aotearoa’s unique biodiversity.

Villa Maria was a founding member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand way back in the mid-1990s. This family-owned winery is continuously trialling ways to reduce its impact on the environment.

Justin Liddell, Villa Maria CEO, says quality wine comes from vines nourished by healthy soils and balanced ecosystems.

“For us sustainability begins in our vineyards and continues in every aspect of the winemaking process. We have planted more than 700kg of wildflower seeds in our vineyards every year to attract beneficial insects and encourage biodiversity. Food waste from our Auckland and Hawkes Bay facilities goes to worm farms based on site, which helps to produce fertilizer for our vineyards. Grape skins left over from our winemaking process in Hawkes Bay are turned into compost and used on our vineyards. Our biggest waste streams are effectively recycled or returned to the soil to nourish it,” he says.

waste and lowering its carbon footprint are critical areas of focus for Countdown, and the supermarket is keen to support local suppliers who share this passion.

“As a food business, we are acutely aware of the fragility of our precious environment as well as the huge importance bees play in our biodiversity and food supply chain.

“Planting more wildflowers and encouraging more bees into gardens is an easy way to help make a positive difference,” says Hannifin.

Look out for more information on this wildflower initiative on neck tags on Villa Maria wines in store. Villa Maria and Countdown will also support Trees That Count to plant 2000 native trees in New Zealand this year.

“WE HAVE PLANTED MORE THAN 700KG OF WILDFLOWER SEEDS IN OUR VINEYARDS EVERY YEAR TO ATTRACT BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND ENCOURAGE BIODIVERSITY.” JUSTIN LIDDELL, VILLA MARIA CEO “We have a goal of zero waste to landfill by 2025. We’re also leading the way on mitigating our impact on the climate and for over 10 years we’ve been reducing our carbon emissions from things such as waste and energy.”

As a result, Villa Maria has reduced their carbon emissions by 36% per bottle of wine in the last 10 years and has a goal to reach a 50% reduction in five years’ time. Other initiatives such as trialling native grass plantings in the vineyard to manage weeds, switching to renewable energy such as electric forklifts in the warehouse, and investigating alternatives to treated wooden posts in the vineyard shows Villa Maria remains one of the pioneers in this space.

“We know our customers care about the environment, and so do we.

Being environmentally responsible is inherent in the long-term view we take of not only our business, but the wine industry as a whole.”

Countdown’s General Manager Corporate Affairs, Safety and Sustainability, Kiri Hannifin, says protecting the environment, reducing 40

FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

DID YOU KNOW? ● Over 30% of Villa Maria owned vineyards are managed organically, which means not using synthetic chemicals.

The company has a goal to make that 100% by 2030. ● Villa Maria ensures their packaging includes recycled material and can be easily recycled. ● Villa Maria reduced the weight of their bottles by 16% and reduced shrink wrap by the equivalent of 10 single use plastic bags per pallet sent from their warehouse. ● Villa Maria’s used label backing paper is recycled into baking paper, removing approximately 36 tonnes per annum from landfill.

[ drinks ]

PANDEMIC AFFECTS INDUSTRY EVENTS The liquor industry in New Zealand and overseas is cancelling large scale events in a bid to slow down the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, many events have announced new dates later in the year to keep the spirits up and give the industry something to look forward to.

• Auckland Beer Week due to take place in June has been postponed and the new date is TBC. • The Highball cocktail festival scheduled for May has now been postponed and will take place in Wellington on 9-10 October.

• Hop’N’Vine Craft Beer, Wine & Food Festival has been postponed until 10 October.

• The Gisborne Beer Festival has been postponed until 28 November.

• The judging and awards dinner for the 2020 New Zealand Spirits Awards has been postponed. The new date is to be advised.

• Beer-a-Palooza in the Hawke’s Bay has been postponed until later in the year with the new date to be advised.

• Winetopia – due to happen in Auckland and Wellington in May and June – have both been postponed, new dates are to be confirmed.

• Pinot Noir NZ 2021 will now be held on February 23-25, 2022.

Unfortunately, some events have been forced to cancel, including:

Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park has been cancelled this year.

• The Winter Food & Wine Classic (F.A.W.C) due to take place across Hawke’s Bay in June.

• The Decanter Asia Wine Awards (DAWA) for 2020 scheduled for September.

• The 2020 New Zealand Beer Awards and BREWNZ’20.

• Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park in December.

“Large gatherings and events are a high-risk environment for the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19, because people often behave in ways that facilitate transmission at these events,” said former Health Minister David Clark.

APPARITION, BALLPARK AND INTERSTATE Mac’s has added three new cans to their range – two of them completely new beers, Ballpark and Apparition joining muchloved favourite, Interstate and conveniently packaged in 6-packs.

Ballpark is full of citrusy hop character - a light and refreshing pale ale that will smash your thirst out of the park. This XPA is extra pale in colour with a light bready malt character that has just enough sweetness to support the delicate bitterness of the US Citra hops.

Apparition has a fruity burst of tropical and citrus flavours followed by an eerily smooth finish. At 5.6% ABV, this hazy IPA is characterised by its juicy flavours and smooth bitterness. It pretty much tastes like a refreshing alcoholic fruit juice. Hazy IPAs are gaining more and more popularity

among craft beer aficionados and novices alike and when you taste this you’ll see why.

Interstate is made with Mosaic and Citra hops transported all the way from the US Pacific Northwest to New Zealand to create this American style pale ale. Showcasing iconic pine and grapefruit flavours and a slightly lighter malt base than an American IPA, this fan favourite is hard to go past.

Ben Fisher from Mac’s comments, “Cans are great. They chill quicker and they’re more portable. They also keep the beer fresh, protecting it from light and oxygen that can age the beer prematurely. Personally, I love drinking beer from a can and can’t wait to share our newest beers with a few mates.”

Mac’s 330ml cans are available to purchase from beer retailers around New Zealand and online at Liquor King, RRP $14.99.

FMCG BUSINESS - JUNE 2020

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24-25

MARCH 2021 Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre C&I Expo brings retailers and suppliers together over two big days of business.

The retailer audience consists of owners and operators of convenience stores, service stations, independent supermarkets, corner stores, newsagents, mini marts and foodservice stores that have a convenience offer. Suppliers and wholesalers are also more than welcome to exhibit and attend.

Visitors experience the latest in convenience products, services and merchandising.

For more information visit www.candiexpo.com.au Platinum Sponsor

Symposium & Networking Drinks Sponsor

REGISTER NOW Australia’s largest and most important trade event for Convenience retailers

ORGANISED BY: Interpoint Events Pty Ltd for C&I Media Pty Ltd

Media pty. LTd.

41 Bridge Road Glebe NSW 2037 Ph: 1300 789 845 | Fax: 02 9660 4419 Email: exhibition@c-store.com.au www.c-store.com.au

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Deliver live or recorded content directly to your audience Live Demos

Webinars

Live Streaming

Virtual Events

Live Panels

Virtual Summits Roundtables Product Launches Contests

Live Q&A

✓ Increase lead generation ✓ Boost engagement and brand awareness ✓ Educate and demonstrate to your customers ✓ Deliver digital dialogue with speed to market

Expanding your digital opportunities has never been easier!

Download the free kit today tinyurl.com/EventsVirtual To discuss further contact Vicky Bennett E: vbennett@intermedianz.co.nz P: +64 21 626 115 #TIGvirtualevents