Honey deal not so sweet
By Peter Kerr for sticK
(sticK - 27 October 2011 ) Sometimes it takes somebody else to bring to light the reason you’re uncomfortable with something.
In this case, Wellington’s Vantage Consultants director David Miller has unearthed the nub of the challenge underneath the proposed buy-out of manuka honey (and other products) producer Comvita by overseas-owned Cerebos, in turned 83% owned by Japanese liquor company Suntory.
“Do we really want to expose one of our most promising high added value primary industry based sectors to the whims of offshore managers,” Miller asks?
“The thought of flogging offshore the value chains associated with icons such as Mt Cook, the Waitomo Caves, the kiwi or the All Blacks would be beyond the imagination of most New Zealanders. Why on earth would we do it for manuka honey derived health products, which are based on another national icon?”
Click to read the rest of this
story
http://sticknz.net/2011/10/27/honey-deal-not-so-sweet/
For sticK – science, technology, innovation & commercialisation KNOWLEDGE - is a new Wellington based news service concentrating on following the money from ideas to income. Contact editor Peter Kerr at peter.kerr055 @ gmail.com

University of Auckland: Junk Food Designed To Make Us Eat More, Study Finds
Spark: New Report Sets Out Outcomes-Led Approach To Lift Rural Connectivity Using The Right Mix Of Technologies
Bill Bennett: Fixed Voice Rules Head For Deregulation
UN Department of Global Communications: United Nations Proposes New Global Dashboard To Measure Progress Beyond GDP
Banking Ombudsman Scheme: Fraud Check Delays Well Worth The Inconvenience, Says Banking Ombudsman
Asia Pacific AML: NZ’s Financial Crime Gap - Beyond The 'Number 8 Wire' Mentality

