Anchor (brand)

Anchor

Type	Private
Industry	Dairy
Founded	1886
Headquarters	Auckland, New Zealand
Parent	Fonterra agricultural co-operative
Website	www.anchor.co.nz

Anchor is a brand of dairy products that was founded in New Zealand in 1886 and is one of the key brands owned by the New Zealand-based international exporter Fonterra Co−operative Group. In Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan the Fernleaf brand is used in place of Anchor.

The Anchor brand In New Zealand

Historically the Anchor brand of milk products in New Zealand was owned by the New Zealand Dairy Group which merged with Kiwi Co−operative in 2001 to form the mega dairy Co−operative Fonterra. As this merger would leave New Zealand with virtually no competition in the domestic dairy sector, government legislation was required for Fonterra to be formed. One of the requirements was that Fonterra must divest its strongest domestic brand, Anchor, in the New Zealand market. This did not affect the brand internationally. The brand was sold to what is currently Goodman Fielder. Between 2001 and 2005 Fonterra grew one of their smaller milk brands which was originally only available in the South Island of New Zealand, 'Meadow Fresh Milk' into a nationwide brand which provided good competition to the Anchor Brand of milk products. In 2005 Fonterra did a brand swap with what is now Goodman Fielder, swapping Meadow Fresh for Anchor meaning Fonterra could once again align its international and domestic dairy brands.

Anchor Milk

Fresh Anchor Milk products available in New Zealand are manufactured and marketed by "Fonterra Brands", a division of Fonterra. The main milk processing plant producing Anchor milk in New Zealand is in Takanini, Auckland.

In addition to the common varieties with differing percentages of milk fat, they also offer "Anchor-Xtra", with extra calcium (marketed to "extra active" parents), and "Mega Milk", with extra vitamins, as well as extra calcium, marketed for children. In 2013 the Anchor brand was released in China.

Anchor Milk Powder

Anchor Milk Powder is the major Anchor product available in some developing countries such as guyana

Anchor Butter and Anchor Cheese

Anchor Butter and Anchor Cheese are sold in New Zealand; however, the brand for these products in New Zealand is still owned by a Goodman Fielder subsidiary. For butter and cheese the brand was not returned to Fonterra in the brand swap so not all Anchor branded products are Fonterra products in New Zealand. However, like most dairy products in New Zealand the milk is still sourced from Fonterra suppliers and for butter and cheese it is also likely that Fonterra manufactured the products with Goodman Fielder simply packaging the products.

The Anchor brand Outside New Zealand

Internationally the Anchor Brand is 100% owned by the Fonterra Co-Group. It is available in (and manufactured in) many areas including:

• Australia
• Barbados
• China
• Fiji
• Malaysia
• Mauritius
• Middle East
• Pacific Islands
• Philippines
• Russia
• Singapore
• Sri Lanka
• Taiwan
• United Kingdom

In the UK, Anchor block butter was imported from New Zealand until August 2012 when Arla Foods UK, the British licensee, controversially transferred production to a local factory at Westbury, Wiltshire, using British cream which substantially altered the taste of the product.

Anchor Spreadable

Anchor Spreadable is one of the brand's specialised products. This butter-based spread is softened with canola oil and spreads easily, but marketing claims of its being spreadable direct from the fridge have been questioned. A 2003 campaign for Anchor Spreadable, created by Jonti Picking, of Weebl and Bob fame, included television ads featuring wobbly cows.

Anchor Spreadable, as well as other New Zealand butter products, were banned from import into the EU for a short time. This came after a complaint made to the European Commissioner for Trade, Peter Mandelson, by the German dairy trader, Egenberger.

See also

• Dairy farming in New Zealand

External links

• Anchor
• Anchor Institute
• Anchor Malaysia