World First Extends Olive Spread Market

16 July 2002

New Zealand Dairy Foods’ World First Extends Olive Spread Market

New Zealand Dairy Foods is revolutionising the olive spread market with the launch of what is believed to be the world’s first Avocado & Olive Oil spread.

As a leader in the butter market, New Zealand Dairy Foods is now bringing innovation to the popular olive spread market with a ground breaking combination of Avocado and Olive oils, which offers unique health benefits.

The olive spread market currently accounts for 14.8 percent of the total spreads market, with sales increasing more than 11.9 percent year on year . Containing Avocado Oil the new spread, which is part of a new range called Avezzo, offers consumers the taste and health benefits of an olive oil spread enhanced with the unique health benefits of Avocado Oil.

Peter McClure, Chief Executive of New Zealand Dairy Foods says, “We believe in leading the market through innovation and are excited to be launching what we believe to be the world’s first Avocado & Olive Oil spread.”

We have been working towards entering this category for a long time and believe that the development of a product that offers the unique health benefits of both Avocado and Olive Oil will grow the market significantly. Following the launch of Avezzo in New Zealand we will be looking at opportunities to take this example of New Zealand Dairy Foods’ ingenuity to the international market.”

The development of the Avezzo range was driven by New Zealand Dairy Foods General Manager – Technical and Development Laurence Eyres, who has long been a pioneer in the development of the Avocado Oil market in New Zealand.

Laurence Eyres says, “Avocado Oil has been praised by both food and health professionals around the world for its unique taste and health profiles. Avezzo delivers Avocado Oil to consumers in a versatile and user friendly format.”

As part of the development of the Avezzo range, New Zealand Dairy Foods has undertaken extensive research into the concept of an Avocado & Olive Oil spread. In testing consumers reacted extremely positively to the introduction of an Avocado Oil variant. Concept research was followed by extensive in-house trials in which the product was received positively.

Praised by high profile chefs such as Jamie Oliver and Peter Gordon, for its distinctive and highly palatable flavour Avocado Oil also boasts excellent health credentials. The freshness and absence of any oxidised products in the oil contributes to its culinary reputation and it’s beneficial effect on health.

While many health conscious consumers are familiar with the role of monounsaturated Olive and Avocado Oils in helping to reduce bad cholesterol in the blood and boost levels of good cholesterol, Avocado Oil has additional health benefits.

Avocado Oil contains significant levels of the natural plant compound Beta Sitosterol, which inhibits the absorption of cholesterol in the blood stream. The Avocado Oil used in Avezzo Avocado and Olive Oil Spread has up to three times the Beta Sitosterol level of similar quality olive oil.

Also included within the Avezzo range is an Olive Oil spread variant. Both products within the range carry the Heart Foundation Tick.

New Zealand Dairy Foods is the leading New Zealand Dairy Producer including within it’s portfolio well-known brands such as Anchor, Fresh ‘n Fruity, Simply Organic, De Winkel, Country Goodness, Calci-Yum and Primo.

ENDS

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