![Fonterra axes 523 jobs](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Fonterra axes 523 jobs
Chief Theo Spierings admits news unsettling for staff as co-op tries to reduce its payroll bill by up to $60m a year.
Chief Theo Spierings admits news unsettling for staff as co-op tries to reduce its payroll bill by up to $60m a year.
Liam Dann says axing 523 jobs may make financial sense to Fonterra's chiefs but the dairy slump is bigger than that.
Fonterra's board will consider its current farm gate milk price forecast for 2015/6 at its next meeting on August 7, a spokesman for the co-operative said.
Dairy prices have plunged in the latest world dairy auction, taking the Kiwi dollar down with it.
Fonterra says it is disappointed about a poor first-half result expected by its Chinese infant formula investment, Beingmate Baby & Child.
Farmer sentiment has been dented by a slump in dairy prices and conditions which saw more stock sent to slaughter earlier.
In submissions to the Commerce Commission, Fonterra's competitors say there is insufficient competition to deregulate.
The Chinese dairy firm partially owned by Fonterra has been suspended from trading amid the Chinese stock market turmoil.
The family of Fonterra's first chief executive, Craig Norgate, may have to wait more than two weeks before they can bring his body home for a funeral in Taranaki.
Shares in Beingmate - the Chinese company which is 18.8pc owned by Fonterra - have halved in value over the past three weeks.
Fonterra has begun consulting staff on proposals to streamline its business structures, a spokesman for the co-operative said.
The New Zealand dollar fell after prices for the nation's largest commodity export declined in the latest GlobalDairyTrade auction overnight.
The price for NZ's key dairy export, whole milk powder, is set to decline further at tonight's GlobalDairyTrade auction.
MP says cost to Kiwis unacceptable as Fonterra, supermarkets point finger at one another.
One fact is often overlooked amid all the hype about business opportunities in China.
Prime Minister John Key says overseas markets are causing high prices for milk at home.
The account surplus was larger-than-expected in the first quarter as spending by tourists widened the services balance.
More falls in dairy prices are expected in the next few months, but futures market pricing suggests a mild bounce-back might take place at tomorrow's GlobalDairyTrade auction.
Opposition parties have labelled Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings' $4.18m salary as "absurd".
The Labour Party has launched into the controversy surrounding Fonterra's latest restructuring by saying chief executive Theo Spierings should take a voluntary pay cut.
Fonterra chairman John Wilson says he knows farmers are increasingly anxious about low farm-gate milk prices.
It hasn't been a great week for investment bankers on both sides of the Tasman.
Media were told that hundreds of Fonterra jobs were to be axed, hours before staff heard the news.
Fonterra management had no choice but to restructure, writes Liam Dann. But it is cosmetic surgery for a patient that requires much more fundamental medical attention.
Highly-paid head office managers are expected to be in Fonterra's sights as it slashes hundreds of administrative jobs to cope with falling global milk prices.
Market analysts and dairy industry players say Fonterra needs to improve its performance and while job cuts are unfortunate, big changes are required.
Auckland Council should follow the lead of Fonterra, which is laying off hundreds of staff in response to low dairy prices, says Orakei councillor Cameron Brewer.