40,000 meals donated as NZFN marks fifth anniversary
The New Zealand Food Network's (NZFN) fifth birthday celebrations have been boosted by a whopping five tonne meat donation from meat processor ANZCO.
Meat processor and exporter ANZCO Foods has joined other NZ agri-sector businesses and reported a record net profit of $75m for the 2021 year.
The company says it successfully navigated the challenges of the year - including ongoing impacts of labour shortages and supply chain disruptions - to post more than twice the profit of 2020 ($35.7m) on turnover of $1.64b.
"The successful 2021 result builds on the previous two years' results with a focus on core business activities and increased investment in business systems and data analysis to ensure good decision making," says chief executive Peter Conley.
"It is important to recognise the efforts of our people who have worked incredibly hard in challenging times to deliver a strong performance across the ANZCO Foods business."
Conley says the result also reflects the company's continued focus on consumer needs and customer relationships in key markets and being able to navigate supply chain pressures occurring as a result of Covid-19.
"In addition, ANZCO Foods' focus on revenue, yields, and value-add performance, has enabled the payment of consistently high farm-gate returns during the last three years," he adds.
Conley says the company has a clear strategy to derive more value from the livestock it processes.
"This priority continues to differentiate ANZCO Foods, with our manufacturing and healthcare operations contributing strongly to the increased revenue and net profit reported for 2021."
He says the recent acquisition of the global biotechnological business Moregate Biotech, complements ANZCO's existing business Bovogen Biologicals and builds the company's capacity in the healthcare industry.
"This capability will continue to deliver value-add opportunities for ANZCO Foods."
Conley adds that with the 2022 year well underway, demand remains strong for its products, but challenges remain.
"ANZCO Foods remains committed to doing all we can to help New Zealand's recovery from Covid-19 by continuing to deliver strong returns and ensure the red meat sector remains in good heart."
2021 At A Glance
The closure of the McCain processing plant and the recent announcement of 300 job losses at Wattie’s underscore the mounting pressure facing New Zealand’s manufacturing sector, Buy NZ Made says.
Specialist agriculture lender Oxbury has entered the New Zealand market, offering livestock finance to farmers.
New research suggests Aotearoa New Zealand farmers are broadly matching phosphorus fertiliser use to the needs of their soils, helping maintain relatively stable nutrient levels across the country’s agricultural land.
Helensville farmers, Donald and Kirsten Watson of Moreland Pastoral, have been named the Auckland Regional Supreme Winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
Marc and Megan Lalich were named 2026 Share Farmers of the Year at last night's Canterbury/North Otago Dairy Industry Awards.
William John Poole, a third year Agribusiness student at Massey University, has been awarded the Dr Warren Parker and Pāmu Scholarship.

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