Report outlines challenges

The co-op last week released its 2019 sustainability report -- the first to reflect its ‘triple bottom line’ goals of healthy people, healthy environment and healthy business.

Chairman John Monaghan and chief executive Miles Hurrell say in the 2019 sustainability report that the last financial year brought significant challenges and change for the co-op.

“There’s no question about it, it’s been a tough year. We always knew it was going to be, and should be pleased with the progress we’ve made. 

“That might sound strange, given our performance this year, but we are confident that when we look back at 2019 a few years from now, it will be to mark the beginning of a new period of success for the co-op.”

After two consecutive years of losses, resulting from massive writedowns of assets, the co-op embarked on a new strategy -- learning from past decisions and agreeing on what the co-op should stand for today, Monaghan and Hurrell say.

“Eighteen months ago, we may have said we’re a global dairy giant here to make a difference in the lives of two billion people through a volume ambition of 30 billion litres of milk by 2020. 

“Today, we stand for value. We’re a New Zealand dairy farmers’ co-op, doing smart, innovative things with New Zealand milk to create value for our owners, customers, and communities.

“This is the right strategy for us, but it requires us to make some different choices.”

Fonterra’s healthy business targets include an 8.5% return on capital (ROC) by financial year 2022 and 10% by 2024. Last year its ROC was 5.8%.

Fonterra targets earnings of 40c/share by 2022 and 50c by 2024. Last year it achieved 17c/share: no dividend was paid.

The co-op has a free cashflow target of $900m by end the of 2022 and over $1 billion by 2024. Last year it recorded free cashflow of $699m.

Under its healthy people target, Fonterra hopes to have 50% of its senior leadership team made up of women. Two of its seven-member executive team are presently women. The head of people and culture, Deborah Capill, has resigned and will leave in February 2020.

Fonterra also wants “ethnic” representation on its leadership team of 20% by 2022 (9% last year).

It also wants all Fonterra consumer branded products to have health star ratings by 2025 (68% last year).

On healthy environment, Fonterra hopes to have all its 10,000 farmers equipped with farm environment plans: last year only 23% of its farmers had FEPs. It also hopes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing sites by 30% within 10 years.

Fonterra says it will measure the success of its strategy and approach using triple bottom line reporting. 

“We will measure the health of our people, our environment and our business. Each comes with a number of performance targets, including return on capital, greenhouse gas emissions and the engagement levels of our farmers and staff.”