ENZA Foods on the market

T&G says its strategy is to focus on its core business of growing, sourcing, packing, marketing, selling and transporting trusted fresh produce to customers in New Zealand and around the world.

In line with this strategy, T&G has reviewed the operations of T&G Foods and determined that the fruit processing business is non-core and consequently should be either sold, rationalised or closed.

Expressions of interest are welcome by November 15.

Depending on the timing and whether T&G Foods is ultimately sold, consolidated or closed, T&G may incur a significant after-tax loss due to a write down in the net book value of T&G Foods’ assets and other associated costs. At this stage the negative impact to the T&G Group is estimated to be in the vicinity of $14m, the company says.

T&G Foods has the capacity to process up to 200,000 metric tonnes of apples and other fruit at its two manufacturing sites, one in each of Hastings and Nelson. 

The business processes apples into apple juice and has also diversified into the production of higher margin fruit ingredient products including diced apple for the food services industry, apple sauce in bulk and small format pouches for retail consumers. 

The company says the apple industry has been converting orchards to new apple varieties and in the last five years has added more than 2,500 hectares of orchards in New Zealand. “While this has been positive for T&G’s pipfruit division, with more whole fruit being exported, the volume of apples available and suitable for processing has been in significant decline and has negatively impacted T&G Foods trading. 

“The strong New Zealand dollar and a decline in apple juice concentrate prices worldwide have also contributed to T&G Foods recent trading losses.”

T&G Global chief executive Alastair Hulbert says T&G Foods, and its people, need certainty and would benefit from an owner focused on fruit processing who is willing to invest for the long term.”

“Despite the best efforts of T&G Foods’ management and staff, the business has struggled to counter the current impact of the significant decline in the volume of fruit for processing in New Zealand and the continued worldwide decline in the commodity price of apple juice concentrate.”