News On French Fries and Potato Specialties from Oceania

July 17, 2008

35% price increase for potato farmers Simplot Australia

The potato processor, Simplot Australia, and farmers have been negotiating prices for four months and have agreed to a 35 per cent price rise for the coming crop. Simplot's managing director, Terry O'Brien, says both sides have ended up in a good pla...

July 11, 2008

Simplot Launches Full Takeover Offer For Mr Chips

Potato chip maker Mr Chips has received a full takeover offer from Simplot Australia. The offer, conditional on a satisfactory report by Grant Samuel &Associates, was for $2.643 per Mr Chips share, and an entitlement to retain a cash dividend of ...

June 26, 2008

Simplot spud growers in Australia may look for other crops.

Simplot spud growers say they could be forced to opt out of growing the crop after price negotiations on new contracts hit a stalemate this week. The farmers are seeking a record 33 per cent price rise due to skyrocketing fuel and fertiliser costs tha...

June 26, 2008

Cloth causes McCain's contamination scare

McCain Foods has confirmed a cleaning cloth was found in a bag of frozen chips in New Zealand earlier this month. A supermarket checkout operator made the discovery after the package felt unusual. The contamination was reported to McCain Foods and has...

May 30, 2008

State-of-the-Art Potato Storage Facility Opened in Tasmania

Braddon MHA Bryan Green says a new state-of-the-art storage facility on the North-West Coast builds on the region’s reputation as Australia’s premier potato-growing area.Mr Green today officially opened the $2 million development undertaken by long tim...

May 15, 2008

More shareholders agree to accept takeover offer Mr Chips by Simplot

The takeover of potato products maker Mr Chips is inching towards certainty after more institutional shareholders agreed to accept Simplot Australia's impending takeover offer. Agreements with Balle Bros and Jon Davison gives food manufacturer Simplo...

May 07, 2008

Shares in New Zealand french fries manufacturer Mr Chips soared 20 percent

Shares in potato chip maker Mr Chips soared 20 percent today as the company upgraded its end of year profit forecast. Mr Chips said it was expecting to make a net profit of around $5m for the year to March, up 80 percent on the previous year.

May 01, 2008

McCain Australia closes Timaru vegetable processing plant

McCain Foods will close its Timaru vegetable plant, affecting 30 jobs. The company announced this morning it will close its small vegetable plant in early November, which is adjacent to the larger French fry facility. McCain Foods employs 240 staff a...

April 18, 2008

Mr. Chips delisted from NZ stockmarket if takeover by Simplot succeeds

The NZX looks set to have another bite taken out of it as potato products maker Mr Chips faces the prospect of a takeover. Food manufacturer Simplot Australia intends to delist Mr Chips if its takeover offer is successful. Majority shareholder Sincla...

April 17, 2008

Mr Chips Holdings Expects Bid From Simplot Australia

Mr Chips, a New Zealand maker of french fries and processed vegetables, advised shareholders not to sell their shares because Simplot Australia Pty plans to make an offer for the company. The offer will be at a substantial premium to the last sale pri...

April 17, 2008

New Zealand's trade deal with China: Fresher Foods needs more potatoes to gear up french fries production

Thrilled by the potential the free trade agreement with China brings, potato chip-maker Steven Wong of Fresher Foods is spending $2.8 million on new machinery to double his factory's production. "The free trade agreement opens up an almost unlim...

March 07, 2008

Can new potato varieties make french fries with less fat?

New research has found some potatoes make healthier fries than others because they absorb less fat. Takeaway shops are now being encouraged to follow new healthy cooking guidelines, but it doesn't stop there. Using a different potato could reduce f...

March 07, 2008

New Zealand Chip group launches worlds' firsts chip shop standards

The Chip Group has achieved a world first with the launch of a set of industry standards aimed at helping independent chip shop operators to make takeaway chips (French fries) healthier. Details of ‘The New Zealand Standards for Deep Fried Chips in In...

January 23, 2008

Australian water shortages lead to rise in potato imports

Vegetable processor Simplot Australia will import a third of its potatoes this year, more than it has ever had to before. Concerns over water shortages in Tasmania meant that not enough farmers were able to sign contracts to supply potatoes to Simplot...

December 12, 2007

GAIN Report: Potatoes in Australia

In CY 2006, Australia produced 1,255 TMT of potatoes from 35,485 hectares, suggesting an average yield per hectare of 35.4 MT. Recently industry restructure and drought has resulted in a potato trade deficit, with growth in imports outstripping exports...

November 15, 2007

2009 World Potato Congress to be held in Christchurch, New Zealand

Allan Parker, President of World Potato Congress Inc., announced today that Christchurch has been selected as the site of the 7th International World Potato Congress to be held in March 2009. It’s the first time the Congress will be held in the South...

November 12, 2007

McCain Foods Australia receives government grant to save water in Ballarat

The Minister for Regional and Rural Development, Jacinta Allan, today announced a $635,474 Brumby Government grant for a Central Highlands Water project which will help McCain Foods Australia/New Zealand reduce its potable water use by a further 15 per cent.

October 31, 2007

CEOforum interviews Steve Yung, Managing director of McCain Foods Australia

The western Victorian regional city of Ballarat (population: 88,000) would not be the first city that would spring to mind when considering likely locations for the Australian headquarters of a global company.

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