By LIAM DANN
Rainer Gut, globetrotting chairman of the world's biggest food company, Nestle, is a busy man, having spent just five days at his home in Switzerland in the past three months.
He is in New Zealand to meet local staff face to face, as an important part of his job is to "get a feel for the people in the company".
With more than 250,000 staff worldwide, he has his work cut out.
He said he tried to visit about 12 different markets a year.
Gut said he had been impressed by Nestle's performance in New Zealand.
"In terms of per capita product sold this is one of the leading markets in the world."
But to put that in perspective New Zealand represented about 0.5 per cent of total global sales - worth about $150 billion last year.
More significant for this country was the relationship that Fonterra had established with Nestle.
The companies have a joint venture partnership working in Latin American markets.
Gut said he was pleased with the way the joint venture was operating, but time constraints meant he would not get the chance to meet Fonterra management.
He is scheduled to spend just two days in New Zealand and after meeting the local Nestle staff yesterday will today open an expanded production facility at Wiri.
The expanded facility represents a $20 million investment by the company.
It is expected to create 65 new jobs. Gut will open the plant with Prime Minister Helen Clark.
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