PGG Wrightson has transferred the assets of the international
Wools of New Zealand (WNZ) and Laneve brands to the Wools of
New Zealand Trust, a 100% grower-owned entity.
The formation of the trust followed the recent unbundling of
Wool Partners International into PGG Wrightson Wool and
served to put the international marketing of wool in the
hands of New Zealand wool growers, the company said.
The transaction includes the sale of the Laneve brand, a wool
fibre integrity programme for growers, to Wools of New
Zealand brands.
Under the agreement, PGG Wrightson Wool will continue to be
Laneve's preferred supplier and the company will continue to
work to enhance the Laneve brand and contracts and drive the
on-farm programme with growers.
Initial trustees of the trust are Banks Peninsula farmer Mark
Shadbolt, Lean Meats chairman and Wairarapa farm consultant
Philip Guscott and Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand
(WRONZ) chairman and Livingstone farmer David Douglas.
WNZ, which undertakes the marketing of New Zealand wool
through operations in Europe, Asia and North America, has
more than 100 licensed brand partners throughout the world.
It is largely funded by a voluntary fee charged to wool
growers.
The transfer of WNZ to grower ownership was consistent with
PGG Wrightson's strategy of focusing on wool brokering
handling while respecting grower wishes to be involved in
wool marketing and the downstream value chain, PGG Wrightson
managing director George Gould said in a statement.
It was an exciting chance for growers to back a strong,
single brand and benefit from wool marketing initiatives, he
said.
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