alliance
DON MORRISON B.Ag.(Com)
P: 03 207 1857
M: 0274 877 088
W: www.donmorrison.co.nz
Alliance’s core function is to “create a platform for Co-operatively minded farmers to achieve the maximum value for their product in the value chain”
Elected first in 2013 my Vision to the Board was “One strongly resourced and highly profitable Company leading a resurgent red meat industry…our Co-op achieving the maximum possible return for us as farmers in the Value Chain as we pursue a Market Focused approach to all possible income streams”.…Don Morrison, 2013
Since 2013, as your Director I have fully advocated to this goal with:
- Alignment of strategic growth within core Co-op principles
- Shift from a processing focused operation into a Market and Brand Focused, Food Solutions Company.
Within your Alliance Co-op, change has been driven from the top and I offer a continued deliverance of Vision, Leadership and Teamwork to focus Strategic Execution as we transform Alliance into a true Market and Brand Focused, Food Solutions Company.
Significantly over that time Your Board has been responsible for
- Appointment of David Surveyor as CEO
- Appointment of talent capability amongst Senior Executive Team
- Strategic pathway to create value within the Company’s operation
This has been visible to Shareholders in 2022 with,
- Record Company Profit, Record Company Revenue
-Record Safety Performance
- Continued strong Equity position
- Strategic plant reconfiguration, Plant utilisation increase
- Development of people capability and values
- Accelerated Sales performance
- Significant acceleration in Premium Brand, Value Add component of business
As we further evolve into a multi stream Food Solutions Co, Alliance strategy needs to continually premiumize core product as we connect our Farmers to the Market, and at the same maximise all opportunities to move non-core and co- products into the Value Chain.
Further accelerating our Plant Modernisation programme moves cost out and captures value while increasing processing capacity to strategically align kill season profiles.
Plant reconfiguration has increased processing capacity across species as shareholder growth continues, matching capacity to a significant growth in our Bovine profile.
Strengthened Balance Sheet Equity and consistently improved Profit positions has allowed the Board to focus on Strategic Capital Investment delivering full asset utilisation as Strategic Execution matures from initial cost focus efficiencies to the solution of growing value in the market place.
Individual strategic projects of in year improvement from the Strategic Pipeline are delivering significant streams of additional revenue.
Alliances investment in its new Lorneville Value Add Further Processing facility illustrates the strategic growth opportunity which now aligns direct to the consumer supply of prepared product.
Set up of Alliance’s UK, Asia, US, and New Zealand Food Service operations are visible ‘first step’ in the success of the Brand and Premium Brand development. The premium brand portfolio is delivering significant price elevation around a specialised product delivering a unique taste position.
Premium Price positions around Handpicked and 55 Day Age Beef have complimented the Silere, Lumina and Handpicked ovine brands within market, and Handpicked venison now builds the Co-op value position.
At Farm level, shareholders have been delivered their highest prices in history and as we complete our ERP programme, information streams around taste and performance will enable the fast tracking of on-farm production and genetic systems accelerating that opportunity.
Focus within the Company continues around our work on Values and people Capability. Your Board has facilitated a Senior Management capability that is now able to lead from the top as we develop that confidence and ability across all our work force.
A highly valued and motivated team across all our workforce is now our connection between market and farm. The capability across our full Alliance Team has in 2022 delivered an outstanding result in one of the Companies most challenging trading years characterised by extreme volatility and supply chain disruption. While that result represents the continued execution of our new strategy it also represents a remarkable performance from our people who care and deliver.
In 2022 our our people went “above and beyond’ and as shareholders we owe a huge acknowledgement to them for our success.
Execution with Excellence has delivered in 2022
- Record Company profit
- Profit distribution Pool payment straight back to farmers
-Bonus share issue to shareholders reflecting elevated Equity position
- Significant investment in Capital Expenditure
-Continued investment and growth in people, market and plant.
DON MORRISON B. Com (Ag)
(Waitaha, Kati Mamoe, Kai Tahu)
Don and Brigette Morrison farm 8000 sheep and beef stock units in Southlands Waikaka Valley
Don is a Director with proven strategic performance, clear understanding of risk and opportunity, an extensive commercial background, Industry knowledge and the grounding to know what works for farmers.
With 9 years Alliance experience, extensive in market knowledge and a drive for Alliance to succeed, I am motivated to deliver Value Add opportunities to all shareholders based on core Co-op principles.
Governance Experience
* Farmer/Director on 8000su Intensive Sheep/Beef Operation.
* Director Agri Tourism Company.
* Director Hort Advisory and Consultancy Company.
* Alliance Elected Director since 2013
* Alliance Audit and Risk Committee.
* Member of the NZ Institute of Directors (IOD)
* Community Governance Experience on range of School, Church and Sports organisations.
International Banking Experience
After completing a Bachelor of Commerce (Ag), Lincoln University, I spent 4 years working in London’s commercial Banking and Finance sector.
Employment experience was gained with American Broadcasting Corporation, The Economist Newspaper, Barclays de Zoete Wedd (Barclays Investment Bank) and Credit Suisse First Boston
Strategic Growth Experience
Returning to New Zealand with my wife Brigette, we were part of growing our Rosedale family farming operation from 3000su to 15000su, with the growth expansion of 5 additional farming properties.
Splitting family farming operations in 2013 we have since further grown our current operation with the expansion of additional property.
Ahika Journeys Agri Tourism and Pure Taste NZ Entrepreneurial business Company start-ups.
Te Ao Kakano, Hort Advisory and Consultancy Company
Commercialisation of a new composite sheep breed.
Clear Understanding of Risk and Opportunity
An extensive commercial financial background combined with a record of strategic growth in my own personal Farming and Start-up business gives a real time understanding of Risk and Opportunity.
Understanding Financial Accounts is very important in the role on Alliances Audit and Risk Committee. It is an advantage to bring to the Board Table skills outside traditional Farming experience.
Market Knowledge
Prior to my term as your elected representative on Alliance I invested my own resources in travels to Europe and the UK to talk with UK and French farming leaders to fully understand both the UK and European markets. Initiating visits with UK Supermarket lead buyers and time spent at Alliance’s UK operation developed that knowledge.
Subsequent Market visits to the UK and Europe (Germany, Switzerland and Belgium) have heightened that understanding particularly around realised Brexit complications.
In Market visits to India, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore gave a most valuable insight into Alliance’s Asian operation. Relationships developed on that visit have been valuable in the ongoing growth of both our Indian and Chinese operations.
Exploratory Director visit’ to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and UAE have helped develop understanding and relationships around Middle East challenges and opportunities.
Te Ao Maori
Proud of both my Scottish and Maori ancestory, I am using te reo Maori as a humble acknowledgement of my whakapapa, and in recognition of the huge contribution our Maori/Pacifica work force contribute to Alliances’ success. I further desire to deliver the Tikanga understanding I would expect from Alliance representing New Zealand in world markets
Grounding to know what works for farmers
Above all else I am still a farmer and “get” exactly what matters to Farmers. I have remained absolutely grounded in every part of my Alliance role and remained true to the principles on which I first stood.
I represent every shareholder of the Company and it is my responsibility to act in the best interests of our Alliance Co-op. Knowledge, experience, hard work, communication, honesty, courage and the ability to build relationships remain the key attributes I offer you as your elected representative.
Nine years on the Alliance Board has represented a time of considerable change for our Co-operative and we should recognise the transformational shift that Alliance has made from a Processing Company to a Market Facing, Food and Solutions Company.
2022-23 represents a time of considerable challenge however with Geopolitical disruption, global labour challenges and domestic Government regulation broadening the volatility and disruption to our supply chain. A focus on Governance experience and continuity will benefit the performance of your Alliance Co-op.
Thankyou for your support