Kiwifruit exporter Zespri is considering job cuts to counter the economic fallout of a virulent disease hitting crops.
Zespri, which currently employs around 250 people globally, has said it will have to “adjust” the business in the wake of bacterial disease Psa-V affecting fruit across the Te Puke region of New Zealand.
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In 2010/11 Zespri’s net profit dropped from NZ$25.9m (US$19.5m) to NZ$7.3m. A statement from the company said the fall was primarily due to its contribution of NZ$12.9m to the response to the Psa outbreak in New Zealand. A Zespri spokesman said the impact of Psa on this year’s net profit will become clearer towards the end of the year, but jobs may be on the line.
He said: “The situation is, like all players in the kiwifruit industry, Psa will have an impact on Zespri’s business and we’re looking at how to adjust the business accordingly. This is a process that we’re working through at the moment and we are looking at all aspects of our business, and decisions on what changes need to be made will be made before the end of the year.”
He added that any cuts would be announced to Zespri employees before anyone else.
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