ANZCO Foods CEO Update - February 2026

Welcome to our first farmer-supplier update for 2026.

Our thoughts are with the people and communities affected by last month’s severe weather. The human loss and damage to land, homes and communities have been deeply felt. Farming families understand better than most how quickly circumstances can change, and the resilience required to rebuild.

Moments like these can also be a reminder that what we do matters. Farming is more than a job or industry – it’s a generational commitment in producing food the world relies on.

National Lamb Day – this Sunday – is an opportunity to fire up the barbecue and raise a chop to all the incredible food producers of New Zealand. It marks the anniversary of the first shipment of frozen sheepmeat leaving our shores for the UK in 1882. From Port Chalmers aboard the Dunedin, around 5,000 carcasses began a 98-day journey that would shape the economic future of our country. That was the start of a multi-billion-dollar industry built on the skill and care of New Zealand farmers. We continue to produce the finest lamb in the world and global demand reflects that.

There are plenty of ways to get involved with this year’s National Lamb Day. You can register your own home barbecue at www.nationallambday.co.nz to go in the draw for one of five $200 meat packs. Southern Field Days in Waimumu runs all week, with the official National Lamb Day activation taking place on site today, including a live broadcast with Jay and Dunc from The Rock Drive. And, if you’re dining out in February, this Dining Guide features leading restaurants serving special lamb dishes across the country.

Whether you mark the day at home, at Field Days, or by supporting a local restaurant, it’s a moment to acknowledge the legacy you’re part of, and the future you’re helping to build.

Finally, this weekend also sees ANZCO Foods supporting another test of resilience and endurance as a sponsor of the Coast to Coast, with the ANZCO Foods IRONMAN following on 7 March. These events celebrate determination, preparation and performance, and our involvement reflects the role quality nutrition plays in fuelling people to perform at their best.

I’m proud to be lining up again at the ANZCO Foods IRONMAN alongside 33 other athletes wearing the ANZCO kit, including 10 of our farmer-suppliers who are deep in preparation for race day.

To everyone competing this weekend in the Coast to Coast, and to those counting down to ANZCO Foods IRONMAN, I wish you every success. Train well, race strong, and enjoy the moment.