PwC launches global food service from New Zealand

Global accounting and consultancy firm PwC will base its new global food supply and integrity services business in New Zealand.

It will help food companies and governments tackle the world’s food security, safety and quality concerns. 

The announcement coincides with World Health Day (April 7), which has its theme of improving food safety.

PwC says this is a shared responsibility that needs confronting by industry and governments to give people greater trust in their food. 

Christchurch-based Craig Armitage, PwC’s global leader, food supply and integrity services, says macro-economic forces are threatening global food supply.

“Enhancing trust in food is a growing concern in a climate where public confidence has been rocked by food safety failures,” he says. 

“Governments and food companies both in New Zealand and globally are being challenged as never before as basic fundamentals of trade and food supply are transformed. 

“It’s a growing problem of risk we’re seeing across industries but unfortunately food is an area where supply chain failures can be fatal.”

PwC has also released a new report, Food Trust: From compliance to competitive advantage, which says governments are increasing their regulatory focus, oversight and sanctions to try to improve food safety performance.

“Trust in food is a public health concern, a significant political issue and a substantial risk for food companies and governments that get it wrong,” Mr Armitage says. 

“Complying with regulatory change is just the beginning. Legislation only sets minimum standards, yet customers expect food companies to go further in ensuring food is safe and high quality.

“Our country has been built on the back of its reputation for world-leading food and agriculture industries and there is ultimately nothing more important to people than the food they put in their own bodies.”

Among recent high-profile food safety was the alleged substitution of almond and peanut shells for cumin seeds in the UK; hepatitis A contamination fears from frozen China-sourced berry products in Australia; and the threats to poison infant milk formula with 1080 in New Zealand.

“Best practice companies are transforming their approach to ensure they have more control and visibility over their supply chains from the farm to the supermarket shelf,” Mr Armitage says. 

“They’re investing in technological solutions to improve traceability and recall management, focusing on food safety culture and going well beyond compliance to improve standards.”

Food Trust: From compliance to competitive advantage is available here.