Topic “Featured” — Exporter Magazine

New Zealand food and beverage manufacturers can now utilise the FoodBowl – a purpose-built, state-of-the-art plant designed for short-run, pilot scale processing of products for in-market testing. For exporters, it could be just what they need to extend their reach to new markets.

New Zealand recorded record exports by value in March, driven by shipments of dairy products to China and contributing to a larger-than-expected monthly trade surplur, according to the NZ Herald. General Mills had been hotly tipped as a likely winner of the bidding auction, which has attracted approaches from the likes of Nestle, Bel and The Bright Food Company. This is because the US food company already holds a license for the Yoplait brand in North America. According to the market analyst, factors that have led to a shift back to previous trends in 2010 include rising disposable income levels, consumers reverting again to trading up and a growing demand for convenience features. Ice creams with added pre- or probiotics can be formulated to have good nutritional and sensory properties, according to FoodNavigator.com, citing a new study published in the Journal of Dairy Science.