Anchor customers milk money from overseas

By Paula Oliver

Sales of whisky to Scotland contributed to a surge in spirits exports over the last financial year.

Exports of mostly neutral spirits increased 70 per cent for the year ended June 30, 1999, and industry representatives said this proved New Zealand was coming of age as an alcohol producer.

Laurie Brockliss, general manager of our largest alcohol exporter, Anchor Ethanol, said cost and quality were two reasons overseas markets had increased.

"Another factor in us securing sales in Thailand is our internet presence, which solved the problem of coming from such a remote location."

Anchor's distilleries produced alcohol using dairy by-product casein whey, which Mr Brockliss said led to low production costs.

"We have the raw materials right at our fingertips, and once the factory is up and running, our manufacturing costs are considerably lower than other methods."

Anchor's plants in Reporoa, Tirau and Edgecumbe supplied 96 per cent strength alcohol to customers, who then adapted it into 40 per cent strength consumable drinks.

Mr Brockliss said some customers making whisky under a licence within New Zealand had successfully sold it to Scotland.

"It's a little ironic, but we've also had customers sell vodka to the former Soviet Union."

Anchor plans to increase production, although there are not plans for any more plants just yet.

"We can make a few changes at our Edgecumbe plant and increase production, and we're looking at selling higher grades rather than bulk shipments so we capture more per litre of alcohol."