Honey deal not so sweet
By Peter Kerr for sticK
(sticK - 27 October 2011 ) Sometimes it takes somebody else to bring to light the reason you’re uncomfortable with something.
In this case, Wellington’s Vantage Consultants director David Miller has unearthed the nub of the challenge underneath the proposed buy-out of manuka honey (and other products) producer Comvita by overseas-owned Cerebos, in turned 83% owned by Japanese liquor company Suntory.
“Do we really want to expose one of our most promising high added value primary industry based sectors to the whims of offshore managers,” Miller asks?
“The thought of flogging offshore the value chains associated with icons such as Mt Cook, the Waitomo Caves, the kiwi or the All Blacks would be beyond the imagination of most New Zealanders. Why on earth would we do it for manuka honey derived health products, which are based on another national icon?”
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http://sticknz.net/2011/10/27/honey-deal-not-so-sweet/
For sticK – science, technology, innovation & commercialisation KNOWLEDGE - is a new Wellington based news service concentrating on following the money from ideas to income. Contact editor Peter Kerr at peter.kerr055 @ gmail.com