Food and beverage
The New Zealand Advantage
» Unsurpassed purity of taste from the finest natural conditions.
» Confidence of safe, disease-free food protected by strict regulations and geographic isolation.
» World class science and R&D capabilities maximise the potential of our unique ingredients.
The finest taste from the purest place
New Zealand has earned an international reputation for the freshness and unsurpassed flavours of its food and beverage products, and produce from our pristine waters and fertile pastures is sought after and sold in discerning markets around the world. Our stringent biosecurity measures, disease-free status and high levels of food traceability have also seen New Zealand recognised for producing safe, high quality food. Combined with our unique raw materials and excellence in food research, we are constantly innovating to bring new types of produce and functional foods to the global market. As one of only two countries to export more than half our total food production, we have an exceptional understanding of international markets.
New Zealand’s food and beverage industry is a mainstay of the country’s economy and continues to grow, with export revenues trebling from NZ$6.96 billion in 1990 to over $21 billion in 2009. It is the largest manufacturing sub-sector in New Zealand and has several main categories including dairy, meat, aquaculture, wine and specialty foods.
Food and beverage industries
Dairy
New Zealand’s dairy industry is a vertically integrated, highly coordinated global supplier of exceptional dairy products. New Zealand controls over a third of the global dairy trade and is a leading producer of bulk commodities, such as whole and skim milk powders, as well as unique speciality cheeses, ice creams, and ingredients such as colostrum and lactoferrin. Our dairy industry’s key strengths are an efficient all-grass farming system, large scale processing, high R&D expenditure, and creative marketing capability.
Aquaculture
New Zealand’s isolated position in the South Pacific Ocean makes it one of the world’s finest locations for marine farming. Our pathogen-free aquatic environment and absence of inorganic toxins means that we are one of the few countries in the world where shellfish do not require depuration prior to processing. Our aquaculture sector has advanced at a rapid rate since the late 1980s, having grown at an average annual rate of 11.7 percent by volume over the 20 years to 2005. The industry is based on natural competitive advantages, supported by in-depth knowledge, excellent research capability and a spirit of innovation.
Red meat
New Zealand has been exporting high quality red meat products to the world for over 125 years and is one of the world’s premier locations for pastoral farming. Our sheep, lamb, beef and deer are fed on a pastoral diet of grass, in a temperate climate, eliminating the need for artificial feed and housing. This farming environment is complemented by our disease-free status, tough biosecurity measures and high animal welfare standards. Together with New Zealand’s history of expertise in producing, processing and exporting red meat, our products consistently earn top dollar in our major export markets.
Wine
Once small and family-based, the New Zealand wine industry has flourished and is now a technologically advanced producer of a wide variety of distinctive, clean and character-filled wines. Our premium wines, shaped by New Zealand’s unique geography and climate, and crafted by our innovative winemakers, continue to gain international recognition. Although small in international terms, the New Zealand wine industry occupies a strong premium niche, based on a distinctive product and a reputation for quality.
Functional foods
New Zealand’s functional food industry leverages off New Zealand’s expertise as a major producer of healthy, high quality food. The country has many competitive and comparative advantages in the health ingredients and functional foods industry, including world class science, unique raw materials, excellence in food research, safety and traceability.
Our internationally renowned research institutions, together with our biodiversity and a pristine growing environment, make New Zealand an ideal place to develop and manufacture innovative new foods.
Contact our investment specialist
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise has a New Zealand-based investment specialist who can provide advice on current opportunities in this area.
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