Heinz/Wattie steps up export operation

By Libby Middlebrook

Global food company Heinz/Wattie will export an extra 1500 tonnes of food from New Zealand in the next two years following the closure of its Japan-based manufacturing operation.

It will double output from its Hawkes Bay site to 30,000 tonnes by 2002, exporting the majority of produce to Japan from Napier.

More than $40 million has already been spent on Heinz/Wattie's Hastings and Tomoana factories, installing cooking, labelling and pouch cooking equipment.

Spokesman Paul Hemsley said the end of the Japanese operation and the Hastings expansion was consistent with its strategy to centralise its manufacturing network.

He said it was cheaper to manufacture produce in Hastings to supply the Japanese market.

While the Hastings expansion will create at least 20 jobs, 115 Japanese staff will lose their jobs in the closure of the Utsunomiya factory later this year.