NZ: Zespri welcomes Turners & Growers change
Zespri grower relations general manager Simon Limmer says Turners & Growers has modified its proposals and that, along with its change of approach, have made the prospects of getting a positive outcome a lot brighter.
Meanwhile BayWa says Turners & Growers will remain a New Zealand-centred company.
New chairman Klaus Lutz says Turners & Growers headquarters will remain in Auckland and it will continue to be listed on the New Zealand stock exchange.
Mr Lutz says there are no plans to increase BayWa's 73% stake in the company.
Mr Hipkins, the new CEO, is holding a 90-day comprehensive review of the company.
He says that it will include cost efficiency, which doesn't always translate to redundancy and may translate to growth and investment.
"That's certainly something that BayWa bring to the table. They have a longer term strategic view - 10, 15, 20 years out and if some of our business units are profitable, why can't we make them more profitable?", Mr Hipkins says.
He believes BayWa's knowledge of European markets will be of interest to Zespri.
Mr Hipkins says Turners & Growers will review where it sources its apples from.
He says the company needs to look at more continuity of supply, as well as looking at risk profiles given what's happened with the Psa disease and kiwifruit.
Source: www.radionz.co.nz