Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

FGC statement on Cadbury announcement

Press Release: 16 February 2017

FGC statement on Cadbury announcement

NZ Food and Grocery Chief Executive Katherine Rich says her thoughts are with affected employees, their families, and the people of Dunedin over today’s announcement by Mondelez regarding their Cadbury factory.

“The factory means so much to the community and it’s been a big part of Dunedin life for nearly 150 years. For many generations a chocolate factory visit was part of a rites of passage for every Dunedin school student.

“The reality is it’s been tough keeping the doors open.

“Over the past 20 years in different roles, I have seen first-hand the people of Cadbury, Kraft and Mondelez try everything to make the numbers work – from new market ideas, reorganisation, innovation to increasing export production and new factory investment. The passion for chocolate-making and the intentions have been sincere, but the reality is no new strategy has worked.

“Like many Dunedinites, I feel great sadness at this final decision, but I know successive companies have worked so hard and exhausted all the options.

“As someone who has followed the issues closely, it seems to me there are certain factors which mean it’s hard to get the numbers to work. It’s not an artisan-scale chocolate factory. The factory footprint is massive, and the manufacturing scale required to make it profitable when producing such a low margin product is way beyond what can be achieved within New Zealand’s small domestic market and current environment.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“There has been no shortage of passion or collective political will for the factory to succeed from Dunedin City Council leaders, local Labour and National Members of Parliament and successive governments over the last few decades.

“I know many Members of Parliament have been champions, and I do recall seeing the powerful advocacy over the years from local MPs such as Pete Hodgson and Michael Woodhouse. As far as I am aware everything that could have been done has been done.

“Knowing Mondelez’s people well, and the way they operate, I know they are disappointed and saddened by having to make this move. Their first priority has always been their people and their families, and they know how this will affect them. Nothing about this decision is easy, but I know the company is doing all it can to support its people.”

ends


© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.