Spreading the spreads sales

By PHILIPPA STEVENSON

A big dairy products retailer has swapped milk for avocado and olive oil in its latest foray into the spreads market.

New Zealand Dairy Foods, holder of the Anchor butter brand in New Zealand, is claiming a world first with the combination of oils in the product unveiled this week.

Olive oil spreads have been rapidly taking market share for around a decade and account for 14.8 per cent of this country's spreads sales.

Chief executive Peter McClure said the company hoped to sell its two-oil spread, Avezzo, globally.

Dairy Foods' technical and development manager Dr Laurence Eyres, who until seven months ago was Massey University associate professor of food science, led the team that produced the pale yellow spread.

The idea came from Dairy Foods' marketing department, which knew many consumers were keen on alternative spreads, he said.

At Massey University, Eyres pioneered research into avocado oil, often working with Kerikeri producer Olivado, which supplies the avocado oil to Dairy Foods.

The olive oil is imported because local production, although of high quality, is not enough.

Avezzo, marketed in a 375g, olive green and yellow tub, carries the Heart Foundation Tick. An olive oil-only spread is also being marketed under the same brand.

nzherald.co.nz/dairy

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