Food for the nation
During the next four weeks New Zealanders’ combined spending on food, beverages and other grocery items is likely to once again break records. Even though purse strings are tighter, people will over-compensate for fear of being caught short.
Budget pressures aside, we forget how fortunate we are to have access to such an impressive choice of products, particularly as our Christmas falls in the summer season. It’s a reminder of the critical role the food and grocery industry plays in NZ on many different levels, domestically and in exports.
These important contributions were recognised at last month’s Food & Grocery Council Annual Conference, opened with a brief televised message from PM John Key. The PM stressed the importance of the food and beverage sector to New Zealand. Now, he would say that wouldn’t he? But in fact the stature of our food industry has been recognised in a special way by the past two governments.
When in office, Labour initiated a food and beverage taskforce chaired by Tony Nowell. Research undertaken by the taskforce started to crystallise for politicians the industry’s importance and opportunities. This has continued under National, no doubt assisted by the foreign earnings’ contributions of food exports that are impossible to ignore in the world’s troubled economic environment.
Our Government has set a target of tripling the country’s food and beverage exports over the next 15 years, meaning that the food and beverage sector will remain the linchpin of the New Zealand economy for many years to come.
In its food industry, New Zealand has an enviable strategic advantage and we should celebrate our food heroes, big and small. In the next month we’ll have every chance to do just that.
What’s on your food and beverage agenda this Christmas?
Tags: Christmas, Communication, Economy, Food & Grocery Council, Food & Grocery Council Annual Conference, food exports, food prices, John Key, Labour government, National government, Network, NetworkPR, PR, public relations, Tony Nowell