Beverages

A cadetship programme giving Marlborough and Hawkes Bay locals employment and providing a solution to skills shortages in the wine industry has won a national workplace diversity award. Constellation Brands New Zealand, which owns Drylands Winery and Riverlands winery in Marlborough, and Selaks winery in the Hawkes Bay, took out the Tomorrow’s Workforce category at the 2019 Diversity Awards NZ The company began its cadet programme in Marlborough in 2012 as a way of identifying and training local talent. It gives young people and those outside the industry a chance to explore working within the wine industry during a year of paid training. The programme was later extended to Hawkes Bay. About a fifth of the 60 people who have completed the training have been offered permanent employment with Constellation Brands New Zealand. Those who aren’t offered employment leave fully trained and qualified to work in most New Zealand vineyards and wineries. “This programme is an investment in the future of the company, the industry and New Zealand. This is critical in helping to fuel a growing industry with a labour shortage in Marlborough,” says Constellation brands New Zealand Vice President Human Resources Julie Bassett. Judging convener Neil Porteous says this is a well-designed programme with the greater good of the industry and regions at its heart, that has invested in developing capability creating pathways for both younger workers and those looking for a career change.

Fonterra Farmers see first-hand the operations at the new plant. Two New Zealand companies have teamed up to install a state of the art technology at the Apollo plant in Whakatu, Hawke’s Bay, that will bring some of the best in fruit and dairy beverages to Kiwis’ across the country. The agreement between Fonterra Brands New Zealand and Apollo Foods, an innovative start-up company, will help both companies capitalise on the increasing global popularity for lifestyle beverages. Apollo’s new operation includes innovative beverage filling technology which allows a range of different containers to be produced on site and filled with a range of different products on the one production line. The technology at the plant provides market leading quality control and allows for a superior fresh taste experience over an extended shelf life. This provides opportunities for outlets to stock a greater range of products and in turn gives consumers more choice. Managing Director of Fonterra Brands New Zealand Leon Clement, said a global surge in demand for dairy and fruit beverages presents a fantastic opportunity for both companies. “As high-quality drinks play an increasingly large role in consumers’ diets around the world, New Zealand companies have a real opportunity to create value-adding initiatives across our primary industry sectors,” said Mr Clement. “By taking an innovative partnership approach to production with Apollo Foods, we have been able to open up new opportunities for future brands – and create even more value for our farmers.” The Apollo Foods state of the art facility will have the capacity to produce millions of litres of beverages each year. It will allow Fonterra Brands New Zealand and Apollo Foods to take the lead in their respective categories and benefit from new technology to supply consumer drinks to the growing market. Ross Beaton, Managing Director […]