A meat industry action group acknowledges it faces a major obstacle today getting the Alliance Group to accept remits forcing company executives to start co-operating with Silver Fern Farms.
The Meat Industry Action Group has mobilised Alliance shareholders to call a special general meeting in Invercargill at which 11 remits would be voted on calling on Alliance and Silver Fern Farms to begin dialogue on the future of the meat industry with the eventual goal of a merger.
Eventually the action group wants through mergers and acquisitions to create a company to handle 80% of the country's red meat procuring, processing and marketing.
A similar meeting has been called by Silver Fern Farms (SFF) shareholders for October.
But, action group chairman John Gregan yesterday said it would be a major ask to get enough shareholder support: "It will be an uphill battle. Alliance has used all their resources to fight this."
In the meantime, SFF shareholders will on Monday complete voting on a partnership with rural servicing company PGG Wrightson, but there has been a growing chorus of farmers and industry observers who feel the action group's goals would be achieved by being part of a shareholder's council to be formed as part of the new structure.
Should the partnership proceed, some observers say the action group could wield influence by getting its supporters on that council.
Mr Gregan said farmers' voices would be diluted in such a structure, and it was better to use their influence to seek change.
The group was advocating for industry change rather the merits of an individual company plan, he said.
