Tuesday, 04 June 2019 15:16

Meat company creates 35 regional jobs

Written by 
Alliance chief executive, David Surveyor. Alliance chief executive, David Surveyor.

Meat processor, Alliance Group is investing another $1.4 million in improvements to its Dannevirke plant as it seeks greater efficiencies in processing.

The 100% farmer-owned cooperative is re-configuring processing operations and investing in additional technology at the plant in southern Hawke’s Bay, bringing total investment at Dannevirke to $12 million in the past year.

The improvements to the plant’s lamb and sheep processing capabilities will increase the plant’s capacity by 20%.

The company will re-configure product flows, install additional vacuum packaging capacity and introduce additional downstream labelling and strapping equipment. 

As a result of the changes, Alliance expects to employ about 35 additional staff at Dannevirke.

It marks the next stage in the company’s investment in the region and comes on top of Alliance investing $10.6 million in the latest robotic primal and middle cutting machinery at Dannevirke last year.

David Surveyor, Alliance chief executive, said the investment is part of the cooperative’s Manufacturing Excellence Programme and is designed to meet the needs of North Island farmers.

“The investment will significantly improve the product flow through our further processing facilities and result in greater efficiencies at the plant. It reflects Alliance’s commitment to maximising the operational performance of our plant network for the benefit of our farmer shareholders and people.

“Strengthening our processing capabilities at Dannevirke enables us to respond to the needs of our farmers in the lower North Island. Increasing capacity, driving efficiencies and lower costs means we can pass these gains onto our farmer shareholders. As a co-operative, we are focused on maximising the value created for New Zealand farmers.

“This is all part of our goal to lift the performance and productivity of all our plants and ensure we remain the leader in New Zealand red meat processing.”

The investment also represents a vote of confidence in the local communities and the region, said Surveyor.

“This is a major boost to the Dannevirke community. We’re a major employer in regional New Zealand. Nearly 5,000 people work for Alliance all over the country and we also provide work and income for a significant number of local contractors and service providers.

“Investments in technology and  innovation are important drivers in Alliance's Manufacturing Excellence Programme to further build on improving performance within the cooperative.”

More like this

Featured

NZ household food waste falls again

Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.

Editorial: No joking matter

OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.

DairyNZ plantain trials cut nitrate leaching by 26%

DairyNZ says its plantain programme continues to deliver promising results, with new data confirming that modest levels of plantain in pastures reduce nitrogen leaching, offering farmers a practical, science-backed tool to meet environmental goals.

National

Machinery & Products

Tech might take time

Agritech Unleashed – a one-day event held recently at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton – focused on technology as an ‘enabler’…

John Deere acquires GUSS Automation

John Deere has announced the full acquisition of GUSS Automation, LLC, a globally recognised leader in supervised high-value crop autonomy,…

Fencing excellence celebrated

The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

A step too far

OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…

Save us from SAFE

OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter