Fonterra food scare claims scalp of NZ Milk Gary Romano

Wednesday 14th August 2013

Fonterra Cooperative Group's tainted food scare has claimed its first scalp with the resignation of NZ Milk Products managing director Gary Romano.

Romano, who initially fronted for Fonterra to New Zealand media while chief executive Theo Spierings went to China, has resigned effective immediately, the dairy company said in a statement. Spierings will personally assume interim responsibility for the daily operations of NZ Milk, which collects milk from New Zealand farmers and manufacturers it into dairy products ready for export.

Romano's focus was "to drive profitability through a customer-centric approach to business that delivers world-class standards in productivity, quality, safety and service," Fonterra said on its website

The contamination was confined to 38 metric tonnes of whey protein concentrate (WPC80) manufactured at Fonterra's Hautapu plant near Cambridge and first picked up at a plant in Australia. It was used in the manufacture of infant formula, juice and dairy beverages, yoghurt, body building powder, and animal stock food.

The threat to New Zealand's reputation with Chinese consumers has put the government into over-drive to head off the risk, and it's fast-tracking legislation to allow a speedy inquiry so Prime Minister John Key can front up in China to allay those concerns.

The government investigation is one of four, with Fonterra holding two probes and the Ministry for Primary Industries also holding an inquiry.

Units in the Fonterra Shareholders' Fund, which gives outside investors access to the dairy company's dividend stream, fell 0.4 percent to $6.90.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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