Alliance Group

Alliance Group's newest independent director Vanessa Stoddart describes the meat industry as being ''at the heart'' of New Zealand. She talked to agribusiness reporter Sally Rae during the company's inaugural Pure South conference in Queenstown this week.

Alliance Group is launching a new season programme exporting lamb to Brazil following a successful trial last year.

More than 200 meat workers at the Alliance Group's Pukeuri meat works, who were laid off temporarily last week when the plant's exports to China were halted, still have no idea when they can return to work.

Meat processor Alliance Group plunged into the red in the year ended September, reporting its first operating loss in 20 years.

When it came to building a new venison plant at Alliance Group's Smithfield plant, the timeframe was tight.

Southland-based meat company Alliance Group held a series of supplier roadshows throughout the country last week. Agribusiness reporter Sally Rae attended a roadshow at Pleasant Point, where the company outlined what had been a challenging year, and previewed the coming season.

Construction of a $13 million rendering plant at Alliance Group's Lorneville plant, near Invercargill, has been completed.

Alliance Group director Dawn Sangster has been awarded the Otago Southland branch of the Institute of Directors' 2012 aspiring director award.

Maniototo farmer Dawn Sangster has become the third female director in the history of meat company Alliance Group.

Meat exporter Alliance Group is one of the companies involved in trialling new refrigeration technology that shipping line Maersk expects will cut its annual CO2 emissions by 500,000 tonnes.

A $15 million upgrade of beef processing facilities at the Alliance Group's Mataura plant is the biggest investment at the plant since it was built.

Alliance Group has recorded an operating surplus before pool distributions, non-recurring expenses and tax of $20.7 million for the year to September 30 on turnover of $1.5 billion - down on the previous year's result of $29.6 million on turnover of $1.4 billion.

Maniototo farmer Dawn Sangster is seeking a place on the Alliance Group board, motivated by a desire to contribute to New Zealand's sheep and beef industry and to put newly-honed leadership and governance skills to use.

Alliance Group is proposing to close its Sockburn plant in Christchurch at the end of the 2012 processing season, affecting about 250 jobs.