Alliance Group faces crucial vote on Dawn Meats deal
The future of the Alliance Group is “pretty dark” if the proposed Dawn Meats deal does not go through, says board chair Mark Wynne.
Alliance Group is shifting eastward, introducing its Pure South Handpicked Lamb range to the Malaysian and Singaporean markets.
The move, the co-operative says, is being made with the aim of capturing greater value for its farmer-shareholders.
In Singapore, Alliance is seeking to target chefs in the premium food service sector with fine dining cuts while also providing a range into the mainstream consumer segment with a focus on specialty butchery.
Meanwhile, in Malaysia the lamb will be launched into two supermarket chains as well as a selection of premium fine dining outlets.
Shane Kingston, general manager sales at Alliance Group, says the co-operative’s mission is to expand distribution and build scale for its Handpicked Lamb while differentiating the range from the company’s competitors and meeting the needs of an increasingly discerning consumer.
“We already have a commanding position in Malaysia with our Pure South and Silere Alpine Origin Merino distribution, and Pure South Handpicked Lamb will enable us to capture more consumer sectors and roll-out a full portfolio,” Kingston says.
Alliance’s Handpicked Lamb has built on the success of its Handpicked Beef programme. Both Pure South Handpicked Lamb and Pure South Handpicked 55 Day Aged Beef have won gold awards at the Outstanding NZ Food Producers Awards for the past two years. Pure South lamb, beef and venison ranges were also 2023 gold award winners.
The Handpicked Lamb programme is open to Alliance Group’s shareholders who supply 100% of their ovine livestock to the company. The lamb must meet a strict range of criteria with the meat hand-selected through Alliance’s plants and then aged to ensure eating quality.
With the current situation in the European farm machinery market being described as difficult at best, it’s perhaps no surprise that the upcoming AgriSIMA 2026 agricultural machinery exhibition, scheduled for February 2026 at Paris-Nord Villepinte, has been cancelled.
The Meat Industry Association of New Zealand (MIA) has launched the first in-market activation of the refreshed Taste Pure Nature country-of-origin brand with an exclusive pop-up restaurant experience in Shanghai.
Jayna Wadsworth, daughter of the late New Zealand wicketkeeper Ken Wadsworth, has launched an auction of cricket memorabilia to raise funds for I Am Hope's youth mental health work.
As we move into the 2025/26 growing season, the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) reports that the third quarter results for the year to date is showing that the stagnated tractor market of the last 18 months is showing signs of recovery.
DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown is urging dairy farmers to participate in the 2026 Levy vote, to be held early next year.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling for nominations for director roles in the Eastern North Island and Southern South Island electoral districts.

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