Potato News from New Zealand

The humble spud is on a roll. After years of languishing behind the greens on the back of the dinner plate, it shouldered its way into the candlelight last year when the United Nations designated 2008 the year of the potato. Now, just a few months in...

New Zealand potato breeder Plant and Food Research has added a new attractive purple skinned variety to its range, which may have added health benefits. With a vivid purple skin and distinctive speckled purple flesh inside, Purple Heart was one of 16 c...

The official Closing ceremonies of the 7th World Potato Congress (WPC) at Christchurch, New Zealand, were highlighted by the presentation of the triennial Industry Awards. The awards recognize outstanding personal contribution and leadership, related ...

The chair of the World Potato Congress, being held in New Zealand, says producers will need to be ready to meet increased international demand and New Zealand in particular has room to do so.The seventh congress opened in Chirstchurch on Monday - the f...

Caviar and champagne might be out, but the humble potato is reigning supreme in the recession. Sales of seed-potatoes have sky rocketed and a major distributor predicts demand from gardeners will be up 30 per cent for the coming season. At Fairfields ...

It's a long and winding road in search of the perfect crisp, but a Moutere couple have demonstrated that it can all be worth it. Alastair Paulin reports.The question of what makes the perfect potato chip sounds like the kind of idle musing that might h...

Delicious golden-brown chips (french fries) with only a spoonful of oil - sounds too good to be true.The ActiFry cooks with hot air and minimal oil - a paddle in the centre of the cooking pan evenly distributes the oil by stirring food as it cooks. We ...

Jones Lang LaSalle's retail specialist team is hunting for properties for a 20-store expansion planned by fast-food chain Wendy's throughout New Zealand.The property consultants say the timing could not be better with the way the market has moved latel...

Chip shops across the country are being urged to get in quick to be crowned the nations best chippie, with registrations for the ‘That’s Life! Best Chip Shop Competition 2008’ due to close on 31 July. Chairperson of the Chip Group, Glenda Gourley, sa...

Potato chip maker Mr Chips has received a full takeover offer from Simplot Australia. The offer, conditional on a satisfactory report by Grant Samuel &Associates, was for $2.643 per Mr Chips share, and an entitlement to retain a cash dividend of ...

A snack food promotion accused of encouraging children to eat the equivalent of more than a kilogram of fat has been stung by the Advertising Standards Authority. The authority upheld a complaint by the Ministry of Health that Bluebird Foods' "R...

The takeover of potato products maker Mr Chips is inching towards certainty after more institutional shareholders agreed to accept Simplot Australia's impending takeover offer. Agreements with Balle Bros and Jon Davison gives food manufacturer Simplo...

Shares in potato chip maker Mr Chips soared 20 percent today as the company upgraded its end of year profit forecast. Mr Chips said it was expecting to make a net profit of around $5m for the year to March, up 80 percent on the previous year.

McCain Foods will close its Timaru vegetable plant, affecting 30 jobs. The company announced this morning it will close its small vegetable plant in early November, which is adjacent to the larger French fry facility. McCain Foods employs 240 staff a...

Scientists from Crop and Food Lincoln are cooperating with research organisations in Christchurch’s Friendship city of Wuhan, China, to develop potatoes with superior qualities including resistance to cold-induced sweetening. Professor Tony Conner, a...

The NZX looks set to have another bite taken out of it as potato products maker Mr Chips faces the prospect of a takeover. Food manufacturer Simplot Australia intends to delist Mr Chips if its takeover offer is successful. Majority shareholder Sincla...

Mr Chips, a New Zealand maker of french fries and processed vegetables, advised shareholders not to sell their shares because Simplot Australia Pty plans to make an offer for the company. The offer will be at a substantial premium to the last sale pri...

Thrilled by the potential the free trade agreement with China brings, potato chip-maker Steven Wong of Fresher Foods is spending $2.8 million on new machinery to double his factory's production. "The free trade agreement opens up an almost unlim...