New Appointment To The Food Industry Group
The Food Industry Group (FIG) is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Bree as the inaugural Executive Director.
Mr Bree has more than 20 years experience in business, most recently as the Sales and Marketing Director for
GlaxoSmithKline NZ Ltd. In 2005 he launched his own marketing consultancy.
Mr Bree has extensive experience of the food and beverage industries having previously held senior commercial roles in
Restaurant Brands NZ, Ogilvy and Mather’s Consumer Brands Division, DB Breweries, Griffins Foods Ltd and Coca-Cola NZ
Ltd.
“New Zealanders want to make their own choices about what they eat and believe in being personally responsible for those
choices.
“But industry can work with government and the public to help New Zealanders make choices that are better for their
overall health. This is definitely preferable to trying to regulate what people eat. My contribution will be to bring
industry and the people tasked with managing New Zealand’s health closer together.”
Food Industry Group Chairman Jeremy Irwin says Mr Bree’s appointment demonstrates the strong commitment to the fight
against obesity that the food industry has undertaken.
“Mr Bree’s appointment means the food industry will be even more effective in working with government to introduce foods
which are a healthier fit for different lifestyles, as a small part of New Zealand’s overall work on the causes of
obesity.”
Mr Bree is based in Auckland.
What is the Food Industry Group?
The Food Industry Group (FIG) is made up of national representatives of the food industry and its partners including:
1. The New Zealand Food and Grocery Council
2. Association of New Zealand Advertisers
3. Communication Agencies Association of New Zealand
4. All media, represented by the NZ Television Broadcasting Council and the Radio Broadcasters Association.
FIG’s key role is to implement the Food Industry Accord which is a voluntary initiative committing industry to the fight
against obesity. It is the industry’s position that it needs to be part of the solution and will effectively partner
with other groups to help New Zealanders make healthier lifestyle, as well as dietary, choices.
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