Major Plans Drawn Up for Bay’s Food Industry

Major Plans Drawn Up for Bay’s Food Industry

TAURANGA, Thursday 13 May 2010: 

Local food industry leaders want to set up a new research and tertiary education facility – plus a new business incubator – to help their sector flourish over the next decade.  They also want to target more Asian consumers.

 
Several major initiatives were agreed upon at last week’s inaugural Food Bay of Plenty’s Strategic Leaders Forum which was attended by 20 CEOs involved in the region’s food sector.
 
Food Bay of Plenty chair Liz Muller says the new business initiatives discussed would help them better understand consumers (particularly those from Asia) and deliver the products they want.
 
“Over the next decade there will be increased influence from Asia and niche, safe, premium food products will be in demand internationally,” Muller says.

 
It was the first time key players had brainstormed together to decide how to drive future economic growth and capitalise on the region’s competitive advantage in food production.
 
Muller says an action plan was drawn up at the forum which agreed to pursue the following ideas and implement them by 2020:
·         Establish a food/horticultural science-based research and tertiary education facility
·         Establish a “Glass House” business incubator to grow the capability of the region’s business owners, to foster start-ups and to link business funding requirements with investors
·         Establish a center of excellence in international supply chain and logistics, leveraging ZESPRI’s needs and capability in this area.
·         Attract and retain skilled people to the region by marketing the region’s value proposition
·         Identify and realise all opportunities for collaboration within the sector to develop innovative new products and new niche market opportunities
 
Muller says forum participants (which included leading international companies such as Zespri, Taura Natural Ingredients and Comvita) want to establish the Bay as New Zealand’s home of safe, premium quality,
sustainably produced, science-based food products.
 
“We have a natural competitive advantage in food production thanks to our great soil, water and climate,” she says. “This means that our horticulture production and supply chain is world-scale and world-class
and as a consequence offers this region immense opportunities for added value growth, and higher productivity opportunities.”

Nearly 40 per cent of the total hectares used to grow New Zealand’s fruit, vegetables and other crops is located right here in the Bay of Plenty. More than 80 per cent of the country’s kiwifruit production is here,
along with 74 per cent of the national avocado crop, and 30 per cent of the national citrus crop.  More than 14,000 people are directly employed by the food production and hospitality sectors in the Bay of Plenty.  
 
Food Bay of Plenty has previously been guided by Priority One but is now in the process of transitioning to the Chamber of Commerce’s care.
 
Tauranga Chamber of Commerce CEO Max Mason says he is delighted that the Chamber will be providing core services to Food Bay of Plenty in future.
 
“The food industry is playing a growing role in the economic strength of the region, and we are looking forward to supporting and contributing to the businesses driving that growth.
 
“The Chamber currently provides administration and event management services for several networks, and Food Bay of Plenty is an excellent fit, both operationally and strategically. We are excited to
provide Food Bay of Plenty members with a wide range of additional Chamber services.”
 

About Food Bay of Plenty

Food Bay of Plenty was set up 10 years ago and is a membership-based industry organisation for both large-scale food and beverage operators and owner-operator businesses. It also includes key service providers
to the industry.
Benefits to members include: enhanced business networks; exclusive access to the latest advice, information and knowledge; the opportunity to participate in quality culinary tourism events to raise their profile; and a
say in building a competitive position as an export-led, innovative and sustainable food region.
Food Bay of Plenty also acts as a forum for sharing information and ideas among food producers and processors, and explores opportunities to expand the region’s food exports, create culinary tourism opportunities
and expand local industry skills, knowledge and collaboration.
 
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