Zespri Introduces New Supply Structure

Zespri Introduces New Supply And Relationship Management Structure

ZESPRI International has reorganised its resources and functions in order to improve delivery of its business growth strategy. CEO Tim Goodacre says a new focus on improving industry relationships and the quality and efficiency of ZESPRI’s supply structure is of paramount importance to the business.

“We need to achieve effective and commercially robust relationships with growers and the post harvest sector, and to do that, we need to find mechanisms that enable growers and suppliers to be active participants in decision making on issues that are directly related to their roles.

“These are primarily in the onshore supply and handling of kiwifruit and I feel it’s a critical area for ZESPRI to address.”

To this end, Tim Goodacre has set up a multi functional Corporate Team to provide the focus and resource in building strategic relationships.

This will bring together grower, supplier and industry relations, including Tech transfer. This group will also have accountability for shareholder relations, communications, government relations, strategic planning and human resources.

ZESPRI’s Operations division has now been replaced with a new Global Supply Chain and Systems department – responsible for all aspects of planning, procurement, quality assurance and logistics – all supported by efficient information systems.

“I’ve put Grahame Coles in to lead this new combined team – his work on the System and Processes Working Party along with the ZESPRI/Supplier Evolutionary Working Party makes him well qualified to take the supply chain forward.”

Grahame joined ZESPRI in January 2000 as IS Manager, in a role that was quickly extended to manage the strategic review of core processes and to drive the new system selection process.

The new department will build on the platform of supply chain competency that Richard Punter and the operations team had firmly established over recent years. Tim Goodacre says that while no further significant changes are envisaged during the season, he can confirm Richard is leaving ZESPRI.

“Richard advised ZESPRI formally last year that he had a number of business opportunities he wanted to pursue and that he intended to leave us, but was considerate enough to put back his departure date so seasonal planning and implementation wouldn’t be disrupted.

“This is an initial step in my review of the ZESPRI business to ensure we have the right structures and people in place to get the most efficient business outcomes for the future, both for ZESPRI and the wider industry”.

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