November 01, 2021
Sealord looks across Tasman for growth
The Australian managers of Foodstuffs North Island don’t want Sealord’s fillets in its freezers – but the Māori-run company hopes Australian customers have a different view.
Manager Doug Paulin says the Foodstuff’s decision will cost Sealord about $5 million in revenue, and it will have to redeploy or lay off some of the sales and marketing staff who have serviced the supermarkets.
But processing staff are still needed in its Nelson coating factory.
“We’ve got very good opportunities in Australia so it’s interesting, we’ve got an Australian company selling frozen coated fish into a New Zealand retailer and yet we’ve got opportunities to sell frozen coated fish to Australian retailers so there’s always an opportunity for us to grow in those products,” Mr Paulin says.
Sealord also anticipates more growth in its Tasmanian salmon farming business Petuna now has moved to full ownership.
Meanwhile, the Commerce Commission has asked participants in its grocery market virtual conference to this week discuss operational and structural separation and divestment – whether the supermarket duopoly should be broken up and made to sell off some supermarkets or wholesale operations.