Pure South beef, venison and lamb to Singapore

Pure South is on the menu in SingaporeLeading meat processor and exporter Alliance Group is now supplying Pure South beef, venison and lamb to a restaurant  in Singapore’s iconic waterfront precinct.

The cooperative’s export brand is on the menu at Singapore’s Fern & Kiwi restaurant, an offshoot of the Lone Star bar and restaurant. The restaurant, located in a refurbished warehouse in the upmarket waterfront dining area of Clarke Quay, is the Lone Star’s first outlet outside of New Zealand.

It follows trials with Fern & Kiwi and its executive consultant chef, former New Zealand Master Chef guest Mathew Metcalfe. Metcalfe has cooked for the world’s rich and famous including Apple founder, the late Steve Jobs, and leading figures in Hollywood.

The lamb, beef and venison is sourced from farms across the country and processed at Alliance’s Group’s eight plants.

Murray Brown, general manager, marketing at Alliance Group, said Singapore is  known as a leading culinary city in Asia, which is a major area of growth for Alliance Group.

“Pure South is now well-established as an export brand after more than a decade representing Alliance Group’s products in Asia. Pure South lamb, beef and venison is New Zealand’s leading brand in many leading restaurants and top hotels throughout Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and increasingly in the main cities in China.

“With Singapore having the world’s fourth highest income per capita, Fern & Kiwi is expected to help promote  the New Zealand brand in Asia. The quality of the cuisine is excellent and the restaurant is the perfect fit for Pure South.

“Pure South symbolises all the key elements of Alliance Group – the pure southern location, world-class technology, production techniques, the proud heritage and the very best grass-fed red meat.”

Established in 1988, Lone Star is a Kiwi institution with 21 branches across the North and South Islands. The Clarke Quay site is the first restaurant to open since the flagship outlet was destroyed in the devastating Christchurch earthquakes.

Greener pastures

New Zealand has the potential to capture $1.3 trillion more in agricultural exports between now and 2050 if targeted actions are taken, according to a new report recently released by ANZ.

An ANZ Insight report Greener Pastures: The Global Soft Commodity Opportunity for Australia and New Zealand quantifies the size of the opportunity open to New Zealand and Australian agriculture as a result of the shift in global economic growth to Asia.

Key findings from the report are that rising incomes and changing diets in developing countries mean the world will demand at least 60 percent more agricultural output by 2050, compared with 2005-2007. New Zealand could stand to gain an additional $550 million, which could increase to $1.3 trillion with favourable conditions and targeted actions, the report says. However, intense competition from emerging players with countries like Brazil, Malaysia and Indonesia becoming major threats. It also determines that $340 million in additional capital is needed to drive production growth and support NZ farm turnover between now and 2050.

Capturing the opportunities offered to the potential “food bowl of Asia” will not happen of its own accord, says Graham Turley ANZ’s managing director commercial and agriculture. “Significant barriers exist that will have to be overcome at every step of the supply chain.”

Sourcing capital to find growth, attracting skilled labour, intensified focus on national agricultural R&D, improving supply chains and targeting key markets are among those barriers.

“The danger we face is that we are not alone in seeking to exploit the global soft commodity boom and countries, like Brazil with its highly successful soy industry, are leading the charge.”

“If we are serious about wanting to develop vibrant, globally dominant and highly profitable industries, we need all stakeholders in the industry to work together to bring about change.

“There are environmental issues and foreign and domestic investment comfort levels that New Zealanders also need to consider in making these choices. These are the choices facing policy makers as they strive to make New Zealand more economically successful,” says Turley.