Quarterlytics / Consumer Cyclical / Packaged Foods / Fonterra

Fonterra

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Industry Packaged Foods
Employees 10,000+
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FY2017 Annual Report · Fonterra
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FONTERRA 
DAIRY FOR LIFE

This document is printed on an environmentally 

responsible paper produced using elemental chlorine 

free (ECF)FSC® certified mixed source pulp, sourced 

from well managed and legally harvested forests, 

and manufactured under the strict ISO14001 

environmental management system.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2017
FONTERRA CO-OPERATIVE GROUP LIMITED

 
 
 
FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

OUR  
CO-OPERATIVE

OUR  
POTENTIAL

OUR 
PERFORMANCE

Our Co-operative’s strength comes from our common goal. 
Our job is to produce the best milk and secure the best returns, while 
maintaining our commitment to sustainability and our communities.

We are continuing to grow value by converting 
more of our farmers’ milk into higher-value 
products for customers around the world.

A solid performance building on a significantly higher 
milk price through the execution of our strategy and 
strong financial discipline.

FONTERRA FARM SOURCE™ 
REWARDS AND BENEFITS 
AND DISCOUNTS

$50M 

FARMERS TOOK ADVANTAGE 
OF INTEREST-FREE AND 
DEFERRED PAYMENTS

4,000 

ADDITIONAL MILK 
CONVERTED INTO CONSUMER 
AND FOODSERVICE

ADDITIONAL MILK 
CONVERTED INTO 
ADVANCED INGREDIENTS

GROUP VOLUME

GROUP REVENUE

576

M 
LME

473M 

LME

23 B 

LME

$19B 

$6.52

PER 
KGMS

TOTAL CASH 
PAYOUT FOR 
2016/17 SEASON

STRONG V3 
CO-OP

DEMAND-LED 
STRATEGY TO 
OPTIMISE 
NEW ZEALAND 
MILK, SUPPORTED 
BY MILK POOLS

$1,155M 

GROUP 
NORMALISED 
EBIT (NZD)

1,526

M 
KGMS

NEW ZEALAND
MILK COLLECTION 
FOR THE 
2016/17 SEASON

INNOVATIVE 
CO-OP

INVESTING IN 
TECHNOLOGY 
AND PEOPLE 
FOR THE FUTURE

11%

RETURN ON 
CAPITAL

40CPS

FINANCIAL 
YEAR 2017 
TOTAL DIVIDEND 
PER SHARE

SUSTAINABLE 
CO-OP

CREATING 
SUSTAINABLE 
VALUE FOR ALL 
STAKEHOLDERS

$745M

NET PROFIT 
AFTER TAX 
(NZD)

HIGHLIGHTS    |   1 

CONTENTS

HIGHLIGHTS 

Chairman’s Letter 

Chief Executive Officer’s Letter 

OUR CO-OPERATIVE 

OUR POTENTIAL 

OUR PERFORMANCE 

Group Overview 

Ingredients 

Consumer and Foodservice 

China Farms 

Sustainability and Social Responsibility 

Corporate Governance 

Summary Financial Statements 

1

2

12

20

24

32

34

38

42

50

52

66

82

Fonterra uses several non-GAAP measures when discussing 
financial performance. These measures include normalised 
segment earnings, normalised EBIT, EBIT, normalisation 
adjustments and payout. These are non-GAAP financial 
measures and are not defined by NZ IFRS. Management believes 
that these measures provide useful information as they provide 
valuable insight on the underlying performance of the business. 
They are used internally to evaluate the underlying performance 
of business units and to analyse trends. These measures are not 
uniformly defined or utilised by all companies. Accordingly, these 
measures may not be comparable with similarly titled measures 
used by other companies. Non-GAAP financial measures should 
not be viewed in isolation nor considered as a substitute for 
measures reported in accordance with NZ IFRS. These non-
GAAP measures are not subject to audit unless they are included 
in Fonterra’s annual financial statements.

Please refer to page 104 for the reconciliation of the NZ 
IFRS measures to the non-GAAP measures and page 105 for 
definitions of the non-GAAP measures used by Fonterra.

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

LETTER FROM  
THE CHAIRMAN

We started the 2016/17 season 
facing the prospect of a third year 
of unsustainably low global prices, 
but ended it with our Co-operative 
in a strong financial position and 
a return to a sustainable Farmgate 
Milk Price for our farmers’ milk.

WITH GLOBAL DAIRY 
PRICES IMPROVING 
ACROSS THE YEAR AND 
FURTHER PROGRESS 
WITH OUR STRATEGY 
OF SHIFTING MORE 
MILK INTO HIGHER 
VALUE PRODUCTS, 
OUR CO-OPERATIVE 
ENDED THE 2016/17 
SEASON WITH A TOTAL 
CASH PAYOUT OF $6.52 
PER KGMS, UP 52 PER CENT 
ON THE PRIOR SEASON.

$6.52

CASH PAYOUT 
Our Co-operative 
ended the 2016/17 
season with a total 
cash payout up 
52 per cent on the 
prior season.

This reflects the positive performance across the 
business, with the final Farmgate Milk Price of $6.12 
per kgMS and a dividend of 40 cents per share from 
an earnings per share of 46 cents. 

Our Co-operative’s ability to maintain its forecast 
dividend despite a 57 per cent increase in the 
Farmgate Milk Price over the year is an excellent 
result. In delivering it, the business managed 
the downside of relative stream returns of $180 
million, by maintaining an owners’ mind-set that 
continued to drive new revenue streams and improve 
accountability for costs in the business.

The result comes after two seasons of low global 
prices and is pleasingly $1.47 kgMS ahead of 
DairyNZ’s on-farm breakeven point for the season. 
Our transparent Farmgate Milk Price and demand-
led strategy of shifting more milk into higher value 
products have seen the total payout to our New 
Zealand farmers largely return to parity when 
compared to farmers internationally.

We knew that the events which impacted global 
dairy markets from 2013 – 2015 did not represent a 
structural shift in prices. It is a credit to our farmers 
who responded to the circumstances, sharpening 
their systems, maximising the natural strength of 
New Zealand’s pasture-based model to reduce costs, 
and in all cases made significant personal sacrifices 
through this sustained low milk price period.

Prolonged wet weather in many regions over the 
2017 season made farming conditions difficult, 
contributing to a decline in milk volumes of three 
per cent to 1,526 million kgMS. However the 
increased Farmgate Milk Price offset this and 
means our farmers will receive more than $3 billion 
additional payments compared to last year. 

Farmers will be focused now on carrying their cost 
efficiencies and pasture-based advantages through to 
the new season to make the most of improving prices. 

STRONGER TOGETHER
We have helped farmers keep their costs down by 
lowering the cost of farm supplies through our Farm 
Source™ stores and by offering competitive terms. 
More than 4,000 shareholders and sharemilkers 
took advantage of extended interest free and 
deferred payment terms and $17.8 million worth of 
Farm Source™ Rewards Dollars over the year.

Our Farm Source™ store offering has delivered the 
average sized Fonterra farm approximately 10 cents 
per kgMS in savings and rewards if they purchased 
farm supplies exclusively with Farm Source™.

Improvements in the forecast Farmgate Milk Price 
over the season will trigger a first repayment of the 
Fonterra Support Loan when the total advance rate 
exceeds $6.00 in October.

It was pleasing to be able to use the financial 
strength of the Co-operative to help farmers during 
this time. The loan, launched in the 2015/16 season, 
was interest free until May 31 2017. It was taken up 
by 76 per cent of farmers and $383 million in support 
was provided. After the October 2017 payment, there 
will be $190 million outstanding.

Our regional leadership model is going from strength 
to strength, connecting our local farmers and their 
communities with our management team so they 
are more responsive to local needs.

There have been many examples of this over the 
year but perhaps it was best demonstrated in 
April when Cyclone Cook caused widespread 
flood damage to homes and farms in Edgecumbe, 
Te Puke, Galatea and Reporoa. Following the initial 
flooding, our Farm Source™ team and staff from our 
Edgecumbe site transformed the site into a hub for 
the community, and a base for clean-up operations 
in the area. The team then took to the streets, 
helping the town with the clean-up. A Farm Source™ 
flood relief package was pulled together to help ease 
the pressure and support local farmers. Well done to 
all of the team who came together and supported 
their communities at difficult times during the year.

2 | LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN  |   3  

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

LETTER FROM 
THE CHAIRMAN

HELPING KEEP 
COSTS DOWN
Our Farm Source™ store 
offering has delivered the 
average sized Fonterra farm 
approximately 10 cents 
per kgMS in savings and 
rewards if they purchased 
farm supplies exclusively 
with Farm Source™.

10C

OUR STRATEGY IS DELIVERING
Our Co-operative increased revenue by 12 per cent 
to $19.2 billion, with rising prices offsetting a three 
per cent decline in volumes at 22.9 billion LME. 
Normalised EBIT of $1.2 billion was down 15 per cent 
as a result of reduced margins across the business 
which also influenced net profit after tax, down 
11 per cent at $745 million.

Ingredients
Ingredients sales volumes were down five per cent, 
partially as a result of lower milk collections that 
were restricted by New Zealand weather conditions 
and by the historically low opening inventory levels.

Our Ingredients business generated $943 million 
in normalised EBIT, a 22 per cent reduction on last 
year. That result reflects downward pressure on gross 
margins in our Ingredients business, which reduced 
by 20 per cent primarily due to materially lower 
stream returns.

Over this financial year, the relative prices of 
non-reference products over reference products 
narrowed significantly, reflected in the 30 per cent 
increase in revenue per metric tonne for reference 
products versus a 12 per cent increase for non-
reference products. This resulted in negative stream 
returns of $40 million, a decline of $180 million 
relative to last year.

4   |   LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

This year we have reported our Advanced Ingredients 
segment for the first time. Advanced Ingredients 
are differentiated products that attract premium 
prices over base ingredients through superior 
product performance. Whey protein isolate and 
medical grade lactose are good examples. We shifted 
473 million LME into this segment, an increase of 
nine per cent on last year.

Consumer and Foodservice
This year a further 576 million LME went into higher 
value products in Consumer and Foodservice, 
bringing the total to 5.5 billion compared to last 
year’s 4.9 billion. We remain on-track to reach our 
overall goal of 10 billion LME in Consumer and 
Foodservice by 2025. 

Our progress continues to be demand driven, 
supported by investments in capacity to produce 
high value products. Foodservice volumes grew by 
27 per cent to 2.3 billion LME, helped by 46 per cent 
volume growth in Greater China and increased sales 
across all of our Asia markets. Revenue from our 
Foodservice business alone crossed the $2 billion 
threshold for the first time. 

DOLLARS DEALS 
AND DISCOUNTS
More than 4,000 shareholders and 
sharemilkers took advantage of 
extended interest free and deferred 
payment terms and $17.8 million 
worth of Farm Source™ rewards 
dollars over the year.

4,000

Our Soprole business in Latin America delivered a 
strong sales performance through the execution of 
its consumer focussed innovations. Soprole drove the 
18 per cent increase in Consumer and Foodservice 
volumes in Latin America. However, adverse 
economic conditions in Brazil and Venezuela resulted 
in our overall normalised earnings for Latin America 
being down five per cent at $103 million.

In Australia the successful turnaround of our local 
business contributed to a four per cent increase in 
normalised earnings in Oceania. We finished the 
year by reaching a significant milestone with the 
re-opening of our Stanhope cheese plant in Victoria, 
two and a half years after fire destroyed the previous 
plant. With the turnaround complete, Australia 
is now a global ingredients hub for Fonterra’s 
cheese, whey and nutritionals, complementing our 
Consumer and Foodservice businesses.

The strong performance of our overall Consumer and 
Foodservice business delivered a return on capital 
of 47 per cent up from 42 per cent last year. This is 
a good result given the higher Farmgate Milk Price 
contributed to a four per cent reduction in Consumer 
and Foodservice margins. 

FARM SOURCE™ 
FLOOD RELIEF
A Farm Source™ flood relief 
package was pulled together 
to support Bay of Plenty 
farmers after Cyclone Cook.

Greater China
Our Greater China business continues to deliver 
both volume and value growth with an additional 
402 million LME this year and normalised earnings 
of $209 million, up 60 per cent on last year. Our 
Ingredients business sold four billion LME, and 
our China Foodservice business delivered another 
strong performance, with volume growth of 
48 per cent this year.

Two important parts of our China strategy are 
Beingmate and our China Farms.

Beingmate’s performance, while very disappointing, is 
a reflection of China’s market conditions, which remain 
challenging for everyone in the infant formula market 
due to the impact of regulatory changes. Beingmate 
was amongst the first to receive regulatory approval 
and will be well-positioned as the regulations come 
into full effect and the market stabilises.

Our China Farms continued to focus on operational 
improvement, significantly reducing cash costs by 
0.21 RMB per litre or six per cent. After a long period 
of establishment, these farms are now complete 
with 335 million LME produced this year. While local 
farmgate milk prices have remained low, Fonterra 
is now increasing its sales of fresh liquid milk to 
our customers and Consumer and Foodservice 
business in-market, complementing milk from 
our New Zealand farmers. 

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN  |   5  

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

LETTER FROM 
THE CHAIRMAN

INVESTING 
IN THE FUTURE 
We are strengthening our 
position by utilising advances 
in technology and innovation, 
especially those which protect 
and enhance our premium 
position, building on the more 
than $1 billion we have spent 
on research and development 
over the last 10 years. 

Operating costs and debt
As our farmers have done, our Co-operative’s 
management team continued their push to reduce 
costs and maximise returns for our farmers. 

Operationally, our New Zealand sites delivered 
further improvements in yields and managed cost 
of quality to similar levels as last year, despite 
tightening standards. The unusual profile of 
milk collections over the season provided some 
challenges to operational planning but savings were 
generated across the supply chain and management 
continued its focus on controlling operating costs 
across the business. As a result, operating expenses 
were down six per cent. 

At 44 per cent, our gearing is the same as reported in 
2016 and within our target range of 40–45 per cent.

STRENGTHENING OUR STRATEGY
New Zealand farmers have always been quick to 
adopt new technology and drive innovation, it’s 
a culture that our people across Fonterra have 
embraced. Our people must earn the right to 
transform our business into the dairy industry of 
tomorrow, by delivering for our farmers today.

Maintaining financial discipline and a strong balance 
sheet has enabled us to help farmers through 
difficult years. Our business transformation work 
over the past two years has also reinforced this 
discipline, reducing costs, enabling faster decision 
making and giving our people ownership of their 
business targets and accountability for their delivery.

Our people are excited by innovation and the 
prospects for positive changes to the way we grow, 
make and deliver food to our customers. 

We have a genuine advantage. Our traditional 
pasture-based model produces some of the best 
milk in the world, both in quality and nutrition, at 
a time when consumers are increasingly willing to 
pay a premium for food that has been produced in 
a socially and environmentally responsible way. Our 
Trusted Goodness™ quality seal, launched last year, 
provides our customers with that assurance.

RIPARIAN  
PLANTING 
Dairy farmers have 
spent more than 
$1 billion on environmental 
improvements, including 
riparian planting.

We are strengthening our position by utilising 
advances in technology and innovation, especially 
those which protect and enhance our premium 
position, building on the more than $1 billion we 
have spent on research and development over 
the last 10 years. This innovation will help secure 
our ability to generate sustainable value for all 
of our stakeholders, from our farmers through to 
customers, consumers and communities. 

Advancements in farming practices and on-farm 
technology have helped to improve land productivity 
of dairy farms by 84 per cent since the year 2000, 
up to $7,893 of export value per hectare. They have 
also contributed to a 70 per cent increase in export 
revenue per cow since 2001. 

There will always be a global, growing market for 
natural dairy given its complex mixture of proteins, 
fats, minerals and other nutrients. Alongside 
that, we’re investigating consumers’ attitudes to 
alternative proteins to look at the role they may play 
in future nutrition.

Alternative products have been in the market for 
many years, including soy, rice and nut products. 
With global demand for food expected to increase 
50 per cent by 2050 there will be a place for both 
categories but it is clear that the natural strength of 
dairy, and its nutritive value and efficacy, will be the 
premium nutrition of choice. 

SUSTAINABLE FARMING
Sustainability is at the forefront of everything we do. 
Our farmers continue to make significant investments 
and management changes as they grapple with rapid 
and challenging regional policy changes.

Two recent independent reports show that, while 
there is undoubtedly work to do, dairy farmers are 
leading the way in the protection of our waterways 
by fencing waterways and investing in additional 
riparian planting and in their farm management 
practices to effectively manage nutrients.

This year Fonterra and DairyNZ released the Dairy 
for Climate Change Action Plan which will help the 
industry to contribute to New Zealand meeting the Paris 
Climate Agreement by helping dairy farmers to better 
understand and manage their farming emissions. 

The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture 
Organisation already puts New Zealand as a world-
leader for efficiently producing milk on a greenhouse 
gas per unit of milk basis, and our science 
community has confidence in new and emerging 
technologies to manage ruminant emissions further.

New Zealand farmers have always been quick 
to adopt these types of new technologies. Our 
future success relies on investment in science and 
innovation, and our willingness to continue to evolve 
our practices based on that science.

6   |   LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN  |   7  

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

LETTER FROM 
THE CHAIRMAN

HALF THE 
PIZZAS IN 
CHINA
Fonterra mozzarella 
tops over half the 
pizzas in China.

Sharing the continued hard work of our farmers, 
and the positive environmental outcomes that all 
New Zealanders enjoy as a result, will remain a 
priority for the Co-operative. 

TRADE 
In the current geopolitical climate, we are seeing a 
concerning trend towards rising protectionism and 
reduced international co-operation, both of which 
could slow global trade growth.

Connecting our premium dairy products with global 
consumers relies on quality trade agreements in our 
key markets. 

Trading dairy nutrition is not easy. Tariffs on our 
products distort global dairy markets and mask pricing 
signals to international farmers. Ideally, we would have 
free trade into all of the markets in which we operate. 
Currently, 87 per cent of all New Zealand dairy exports 
are restricted by quotas or tariffs of more than 10 per 
cent. Lowering import tariffs will help countries to 
address food security concerns and lower food prices. 
They will also ensure New Zealand dairy products 
and dairy innovation remain price competitive and 
accessible to consumers in our key markets. 

Opening up market access and tackling non-tariff 
barriers must remain a priority for the New Zealand 
Government.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Being first to market with new innovations, or 
adapting quickly to new technologies that are 
changing the way our customers want to do business 
with us are key to our continued success.

Our people are at the heart of our Co-operative’s 
adaption to these changes and I’d like to thank 
them for their willingness to accept change, seek 
out new opportunities for our business, and continue 
to focus on achieving the best possible returns for 
our farmer owners. 

Our people have strong co-operative values and 
have dedicated and hard-working leaders whose 
examples they can follow. We have seen a significant 
transformation in Fonterra over the last three or four 
years, all with our farmers’ interests and returns at 
the forefront. Thank you to the management team 
for the effort to date, and for your willingness to drive 
the further changes which are a certainty over the 
next 3–4 years if we are to stay at the forefront of 
global dairy. Those changes aren’t possible without 
the support of our customers and suppliers who work 
with us as partners for mutual long-term success.

This year we welcomed two new Directors onto the 
Board, Scott St John, an Independent Director, and 
Donna Smit, a Farmer Director.

84%

IMPROVED 
PRODUCTIVITY
Advancements in 
on-farm technology 
have helped to improve 
land productivity 84 per 
cent since the year 2000.

Scott is one of New Zealand’s leading investment 
advisors. He has almost 30 years of experience with 
funds management and securities transactions which 
have involved him advising the boards and senior 
managers of prominent companies and organisations 
in New Zealand and globally. 

Donna, a Chartered Accountant, owns with her 
family, dairy farms in Eastern Bay of Plenty and 
Oamaru. She is a Director of Ballance Agri Nutrients 
and Primary ITO and a Trustee of Taratahi Agricultural 
Training Centre and Eastern Bay Energy Trust. 

On behalf of our farmers, I want to thank 
Independent Director David Jackson and Farmer 
Director Ian Farrelly as they retire from the Board. 
Special mention must also go to Michael Spaans 
who stepped down from our Board this year but 
continues to show strong leadership in our industry.

David has given us 10 years of leadership and wise 
counsel through some of the most significant stages 
of our evolution including the implementation of 
our Milk Price, Trading Among Farmers and our 
Governance and Representation Review. He is a 
strong advocate for our strategy and a firm believer 
in our people’s ability to execute it to secure the best 
returns for farmers.

David’s commitment to reporting transparency and 
governance disciplines has been very important to 
our Board and wider Co-operative.

In January, Michael Spaans made the difficult 
decision to step down from our Board for health 
reasons. Michael’s contribution to the New Zealand 
dairy industry has been significant both inside and 
outside the Fonterra boardroom. We wish Michael all 
the best with his continued recovery.

After making the decision to retire from our Board at 
the 2016 Annual Meeting, we welcomed Ian Farrelly 
back onto the Board part way through the year to fill 
the casual vacancy created by Michael’s retirement. 
I’d like to personally thank Ian for returning to our 
Board, putting our Co-operative’s interests first and 
making a significant contribution this year.

John Wilson
Chairman

8   |   LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN  |   9  

 
FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

M1.5

TRUST IN DAIRY
 1.5 million New Zealanders 
feel Fonterra is making a 
change for the better. 

SHARING OUR STORY IS 
IMPORTANT TO US – WE 
WANT NEW ZEALANDERS 
TO KNOW WHO WE 
ARE AND WHAT WE 
STAND FOR.
From the tech-savvy farmers 
who own our Co-operative, to our 
commitment to clean waterways, 
we are letting the world in on 
what matters most to us.

10 

11 

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

LETTER FROM THE  
CHIEF EXECUTIVE

The world is experiencing 
huge momentum across markets, 
industries and geographies. 

473LME

M

SALES 
VOLUME 
GROWTH

WE TRADE ACROSS 
GLOBAL BORDERS 
AND CONNECT WITH 
MORE THAN A BILLION 
CONSUMERS EVERY 
YEAR, AND ARE WELL 
ON OUR WAY TO MAKING 
A DIFFERENCE IN THE 
LIVES OF TWO BILLION 
PEOPLE BY 2025.

ADVANCED 
INGREDIENTS
Sales in highly 
specialised, high 
margin ingredients 
formed a key part 
of our solid result.

We will do this by building on the strength of our 
Co-operative to take on challenges and make the 
most of new opportunities. Our grass to glass 
business means we are well-placed to succeed.

This year, we have concentrated on making the most 
of every opportunity as milk prices returned to more 
normal levels, bringing the benefits of better demand 
and improving returns to our farmers. At the same 
time we have maximised earnings by moving more 
volume into higher value products. 

SALES VOLUME 
GROWTH
5.5 billion LMEs sold in Consumer 
and Foodservice – an additional 
576 million on last year.

We are working with new technologies and finding 
new ways of thinking about dairy nutrition. We are 
delivering on our strategy which gives us the right to 
be able to look into the future, using the benefits and 
versatility of dairy to create sustainable value for our 
farmer shareholders and unitholders.

12   |   LETTER FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

STRONG V3 CO-OPERATIVE
We are implementing our strategy across three 
strategic horizons – Strong V3 Co-operative, 
Innovative Co-operative, and Sustainable 
Co-operative. New Zealand milk remains at the 
very core of our Co-operative, and it is clear that 
our future requires us to be strongly connected 
to the diverse and ever-changing needs of our 
customers and consumers.

Our V3 strategy of Volume, Value and Velocity 
is at the heart of our ambition, and provides the 
foundation for us to fund and drive innovation and 
sustainable value creation. This has been a year 
where our V3 strength has made sure that we can 
deliver solid earnings alongside rapidly increasing 
milk prices.

ADVANCED 
INGREDIENTS
Examples of Advanced Ingredients 
include functional proteins, high- 
spec WMP, and extra-stetch cheese.

In Ingredients, we achieved a nine per cent increase 
in sales volumes for our higher value Advanced 
Ingredients, such as functional proteins, high-spec 
whole milk powder and extra-stretch cheese. 

These Advanced Ingredients grew in volume by 
473 million LME this year, increasing Advanced 
Ingredients to 19 per cent of total external sales. 

Margins for our non-reference products were down 
14 per cent per tonne this year, but through our 
manufacturing flexibility we have been able 
to partially offset this by making the best choices 
in our product mix.

Our Consumer and Foodservice businesses saw 
continued growth, as our global customer teams 
sold almost 5.5 billion LMEs, an additional 576 million 
LME on last year. This is further demonstration that 
our new product development and strong customer 
relationships in our key markets are locking in good 
market shares. Each year we capture more and more 
of the full potential in these categories.

Higher input costs this year provided some pressure 
in our Consumer and Foodservice businesses but 
our strategy to drive more milk into higher margin 
products allowed us to achieve a normalised EBIT 
of $614 million, an increase of six per cent over 
last year. 

We have also continued to do what we said we 
would do in Australia. Australia contributed well 
to Oceania’s normalised EBIT, up four per cent 
to $101 million in Consumer and Foodservice, 
with Australia Ingredients achieving $62 million 
in normalised EBIT despite lower sales volumes.

LETTER FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE  |   13  

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

LETTER FROM THE 
CHIEF EXECUTIVE

TRUSTED GOODNESS
Our story of grass-fed 
dairy in New Zealand produced 
by a farmer Co-operative 
and underpinned by world-
class food safety and quality 
systems, goes to the essence of 
Fonterra’s Trusted Goodness.™ 

DISRUPT
This year, our Disrupt 
programme generated 
new sources of revenue by 
creating future business 
models which will meet the 
needs of the consumer of 
the future. 

Velocity
We have continued to deliver against our 
strategic priorities.

This has been helped considerably by the 
determination of our teams to embed this way 
of working over the last two years. It seeks to 
remove barriers to delivery, and builds in an 
owners’ mind-set. 

Our Velocity business transformation has freed 
up cash and created additional efficiency, and our 
three-year targets were reached in two years. This 
provides us with resilience to deal with expected 
and unexpected headwinds, and ensures that we 
are better placed to deliver consistent earnings 
despite volatility in global dairy markets.

We will continue to look for additional efficiency 
but Velocity will increasingly be used to lock in 
additional sources of revenue, leveraging new ways 
of working and future technologies. 

Our reputation 
We know that our customers want to know who 
produces their food, where it comes from, and 
that it’s safe and good to consume. Our story of 
grass-fed dairy in New Zealand, produced by a farmer 
co-operative and underpinned by world-class food 
safety and quality, goes to the essence of Fonterra’s 
Trusted Goodness. 

FROM 9 TO 5
Fonterra’s reputation has improved 
from ninth to fifth over the last 
year, when benchmarked against 
other comparable organisations.

The best way to share our story is through our 
farmers. Through the year they have shared with 
New Zealand and our global markets the remarkable 
and unique story built on the connections between 
our farmers, our people, and our communities.

We are committed to being a Co-operative that 
inspires and constantly delivers on the expectations 
of all stakeholders in a rapidly changing world. It 
remains a key part of our identity and we will keep 
working to achieve it. 

FONTERRA 
VENTURES 
CO-LAB
In the past 12 months 
alone, we have scanned 
more than a thousand 
potential partners to help 
accelerate change as part 
of these initiatives.

INNOVATIVE CO-OPERATIVE
The world’s population is growing, and quickly. 
It is estimated that by 2050 there will be more 
than 9.7 billion people, doubling the global demand 
for food.

This is a world where demand is outstripping 
supply, high energy protein-rich diets are becoming 
more common and the consumer of the future is 
shaping the way we will approach food production 
and supply.

GLOBAL PARTICIPATION
1,400 people have participated 
in Fonterra’s Disrupt programme 
– around five per cent of the 
global workforce.

To succeed in this future we need to be more 
agile. Embracing change means looking at every 
facet of our Co-operative – on-farm, across our 
manufacturing assets and supply chain, our office 
functions, right through to the food we produce 
and how we produce it. 

Our farmers have a history of innovation, and this 
has always been a feature of the Co-operative. 
We will continue to build on our already strong 
base, being well prepared for the fast pace of change 
and rapid development in technology facing us 
in the future. 

Our ongoing progression in being an Innovative 
Co-operative is covered in more detail in the 
Our Potential section of this report.

This year, our Disrupt programme generated new 
sources of revenue by creating future business 
models which will meet the needs of the consumer 
of the future. To date, more than 1,400 people across 
Fonterra have participated in Disrupt – around 
five per cent of our global workforce. 

True innovation comes from leveraging the strength 
of many. This year, we launched Fonterra Ventures 
Co-Lab, an initiative that has seen us partner 
with others in the field of innovation. In the past 
12 months alone, we have scanned more than a 
thousand potential partners to help accelerate 
change as part of these initiatives. 

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FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

LETTER FROM THE 
CHIEF EXECUTIVE

MEETING THE 
CHANGING 
NEEDS OF OUR 
CONSUMERS
Building on the 
foundations of natural, 
high quality dairy nutrition, 
Fonterra is well placed 
to meet the diverse and 
evolving preferences in 
the future of food.

From within our business, we are identifying the 
capabilities and cross-functional collaboration 
needed to meet the needs of future consumers. 
We are calling this VelocityNXT, and it will see 
us take our first exciting steps into new consumer 
and technology trends emerging around the world. 

Our investment in innovation is enabled by the 
Strong V3 Co-operative of today. Investing in 
advanced technologies now will pave the way for 
exciting new drivers of value in the future.

Without question, the face of the food industry 
is already undergoing a major shift. What we will 
be eating in another 20 years will be very different 
to what we’re eating today. Consumer expectations 
continue to evolve, signalling a need for more agile, 
responsive and sustainable sources of nutrition. 
Food tailored to meet individual consumers’ needs 
is not far away, but we are well placed through 
our Innovative Co-operative strategy and with the 
foundations of natural, high quality nutrition already 
well established. 

SUSTAINABLE CO-OPERATIVE
Our Fonterra Story talks about building on the 
proud heritage of the New Zealand dairy industry 
for future generations. To do this we need to make 
sure that we have an enduring business. This is 
not just about sustainability, it’s about looking at 
everything we do and making sure it contributes 
to creating sustainable, long-term value.

CREATING 
SUSTAINABLE VALUE
Being truly sustainable means 
refining our farming practices, 
our role in the future of food, 
through to supporting a 
sustainable global dairy industry.

The Sustainable Co-operative does not stand alone 
from our Strong V3 Co-operative and Innovative 
Co-operative; they’re intertwined. The Sustainable 
Co-operative will challenge us along our strategic 
horizons to make plans and decisions to deliver value 
for all our stakeholders, infinitely into the future. 

SUSTAINABLE 
VALUE
Sustainable value will 
require innovation and 
we will constantly look for 
alternatives in the energy 
and clean technology 
arena, helping us reduce 
our footprint and improve 
our operating efficiency 
while increasing our 
returns through the 
farming generations.

In New Zealand and everywhere we operate around 
the world, sustainable value means many things, 
such as refining our farming practices, our role in the 
future of food, considering how diets are changing 
and how dairy can solve some of the world’s nutrition 
challenges, obesity and malnutrition – right through 
to our support for a sustainable global dairy industry 
through dairy development.

Sustainable value will require innovation and we will 
constantly look for alternatives in the energy and clean 
technology arena, helping us reduce our footprint and 
improve our operating efficiency while increasing our 
returns through the farming generations.

We are already well on track to deliver against 
our targets. There will be challenges, that is certain, 
but I firmly believe they will be some of the most 
formative in the history of Fonterra and our global 
dairy industry, and that is exciting.

None of this is achievable without the passion and 
commitment of our people. Our future is exciting, 
and I know we will exceed the ambitions that might 
now seem like lofty goals. I would like to thank the 
Board for their ongoing support, my colleagues on 
the Fonterra Management Team for their dedication 
and strong advice, and all of our people around 
the world for coming to work each and every day 
determined to make a difference for our farmers,  
our customers and our Co-operative.

Theo Spierings
Chief Executive

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FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

89

%

FARMING SMART
89 per cent of 
Fonterra farms are 
connected to the 
Co-operative through 
smartphones or tablets.

FROM SMARTPHONES, 
THROUGH TO ROBOTIC 
MILKING, AND DRONE 
MAPPING.

Our farmers are increasingly 
using on-farm innovations 
that increase efficiency, 
productivity and sustainable 
outcomes.

WEIGHT
490 KGS

COW 828

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STRONGER 
TOGETHER

Fonterra farmers are at the beginning 
of our value chain and the heart of 
our Co-operative. We are constantly 
working to develop new tools 
and solutions to support 
our farmers.

DISCOUNTS
$22.1m  in discounts offered 
$7.3m  in partnership

through store

discounts:
$5.9m  in fuel discounts
$1.2m  in power

discounts

DEALS

EARNED

$3m 

saved on
Mazda vehicles

17.8m earned in Farm Source™ 

Rewards Dollars

MORE THAN 

200 vehicles

purchased

8,000 farmers covered 

through support 
packages

IT STARTS WITH THE 
BASICS, LIKE LOWERING 
THE COST OF FARMING 
SUPPLIES ONLINE 
AND THROUGH OUR 71 
FARM SOURCE™ STORES, 
SECURING DISCOUNTS 
ON SERVICES SUCH AS 
POWER, FUEL, VEHICLES, 
TYRES AND INSURANCE 
AND PROVIDING EXTRA 
PURCHASING POWER 
THROUGH OUR 
FARM SOURCE™ 
REWARDS DOLLARS.

We have also used our strong Farm Source™ balance 
sheet to provide financial support during tough times 
with more than 4,000 shareholders and sharemilkers 
taking advantage of extended interest free and 
deferred payment terms over the season.

DIGITAL TOOLS FOR REAL TIME 
INFORMATION
As technology evolves, we do too, making farming 
business easier with our apps On Farm, My Co-op 
and Monthly Plant Check. 

My Co-op provides constantly updated news and 
information from across the Co-operative and 
the industry including milk price announcements, 
updates from the Chairman and CEO and rural and 
regional council news. The On Farm app provides 
daily milk production and quality information, 
comparisons against last season volumes, tanker 
ETA and summary reports of key milk performance 
information for the last 30 days.

The Monthly Plant Check app makes it easier for 
farmers to complete this assessment with diagrams, 
space to record notes and a ‘farm summary’ screen that 
shows what checks have been completed and what 
checks still need to be done. The apps complement 
our Farm Source™ website, which offers the same 
or more detailed data online back at the farm office.

20   |   OUR  CO-OPERATIVE

Launched this year, the Agrigate online tool developed by 
Farm Source™ and LIC combines all the key data farmers 
need to make faster and smarter decisions on one, easy to 
use online dashboard. By bringing together this data into 
one platform, Agrigate will help with future traceability 
of end products, creating additional value in our supply 
chain. On-farm, this data helps farmers to assess the 
interaction between different on-farm factors, such as 
weather conditions, animal health, milk production, 
financials, pasture cover and fertiliser applications. 

A REGIONAL NETWORK TO 
SUPPORT OUR FARMERS 
Farmers are fast adopters of technology, but 
apps can’t replace real people, including our Area 
Managers, Sustainable Dairying Advisors, feed experts, 
Technical Sales Reps and Food Safety Managers. These 
are our local people, there to support farmers with a 
sounding board, practical solutions and direct links to 
senior people who can handle concerns or questions.

The value of our regional model is no more evident than 
during severe weather events or natural disasters and 
many regions of New Zealand experienced that this year.

In April, Cyclone Cook caused widespread flood 
damage to homes and farms in Edgecumbe, Te 
Puke, Galatea and Reporoa. Following the initial 
flooding, our Farm Source™ team and staff from our 
Edgecumbe site, and the Co-operative’s Emergency 
Response Team transformed the local site into a hub 
of operations and meeting place for the community.  

FONTERRA 
GRASS ROOTS 
FUND
Fonterra has provided 
more than 10,000 
high visibility vests 
to schools around 
New Zealand.

Our people went to work sandbagging properties 
threatened by rising flood waters, and then as the water 
receded, helped the town to fill 120 rubbish skips each 
day as part of the clean-up. We also provided tankers to 
be used for transporting drinking water to local residents.

TIAKI: FARM SOURCE™ 
SUSTAINABLE DAIRYING
As a responsible Co-operative, sustainable dairying 
is core to our long-term strategy. Our customer and 
community expectations continue to rise, so it’s 
our ability to produce high quality dairy within 
environmental limits that will create the most long-term 
value for our farmers. Our Tiaki programme is designed 
to support our farmers to meet these standards.

As part of our wider sustainability strategy, Tiaki 
brings together our Co-operative’s on-farm 
sustainability tools and services, tailored to individual 
farm needs. We have built up a team of skilled experts 
over the years in every region to work with farmers in 
key areas like nutrient management. 

Through Tiaki, our Sustainable Dairy Advisors are helping 
to develop Farm Environment Plans to assist farmers 
in meeting regional regulatory requirements. They are 
using the best tools and technology such as innovative 
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping 
technology to manage and mitigate the environmental 
impacts of farming. They help farmers to navigate through 
resource consent processes which vary by region.

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FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

OUR 
CO-OPERATIVE

SHARING OUR 
FARMERS’ STORY
Our Co-operative’s 
reputation shifted from 
ninth to fifth in our 
reputation comparison set.

This is part of our philosophy of delivering solutions 
to farmers, helping them to manage their businesses 
within ever-evolving regulatory environments.

SHARING OUR FARMERS’ STORY: 
FROM HERE TO EVERYWHERE
We continued to tell our farmers’ story to the New 
Zealand public by sharing our Co-operative’s efforts 
to take Kiwi innovation and dairy nutrition to the 
world. We know that when the public have a better 
understanding of who’s behind our Co-operative and 
what we stand for, they feel more positive towards 
us. The support of New Zealand is important to our 
farmers and our people.

We measure our reputation using a system called RepZ,  
which is the global standard for reputation measurement. 
It compares us against nine organisations, that are either 
similar to Fonterra, or have public reputations similar to 
where we want the Co-operative to be.

At the start of the year we were last in our comparative 
set. Over the course of the year, our reputation work 
focused on giving our farmers an opportunity to talk 
about all of the good things their Co-operative does for 
New Zealand, and the areas that we know are important 
to the public and that we are trying to improve.

We finished the year fifth equal in our comparative 
set, an improvement in RepZ which is virtually 
unprecedented in New Zealand.

DAIRY DEVELOPMENT
New Zealand farmers are considered to be among the 
best in the world. Through our Dairy Development 
programme they share their skills with their 
counterparts overseas, either as volunteers abroad 
or by hosting farmers from developing dairy regions 
back here in New Zealand. 

Dairy Development supports local farmers to produce 
consistently safe, quality milk that local consumers 
can trust. In the process, it improves livelihoods 
and creates thriving communities by generating 
sustainable employment. 

We work with small-scale farmers to teach global 
best practice techniques for food quality and safety, 
and animal husbandry.

We have a new exchange scheme this year for 
young Chilean farmers. The first group of 11 arrived 
in New Zealand in June for a year of paid hands-on 
work experience at participating farms.

CONTRIBUTING 
TO OUR COMMUNITIES

The Fonterra Grass Roots Fund 
Our Grass Roots Fund financially supports initiatives that 
help to strengthen our dairy communities, bringing them 
together, caring for the environment and promoting safe 
and healthy lifestyles. Launched in 2007, we now have 

22   |   OUR  CO-OPERATIVE

FONTERRA MILK 
FOR SCHOOLS
More than 1,450 schools 
and around 140,000 children 
take part in our Milk for 
Schools programme. 

Grass Roots Funds in New Zealand, Australia and Sri 
Lanka. This year more than 430 grants were awarded 
with more than $750,000 donated. 

In New Zealand, the fund is helping to provide safety, 
rescue and lifesaving equipment, providing more than 
10,000 high-visibility vests to school children, and 
helping the Whakatane Kiwi Trust to buy equipment 
to protect the kiwi. 

In Australia, many of the grants supported sports 
and kids’ education. We helped three pre-schools to 
establish garden beds to grow fruit and vegetables 
to learn about healthy eating and sustainability.

The focus in Sri Lanka has been on education. 
At Moragahahena Maha Vidyalaya, Horana, a school 
attended by some of our farmers’ children, there was 
no water during the frequently occurring periods 
of drought. Funding and volunteer time from staff 
have seen their old well fully renovated, providing 
a permanent water solution. 

IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMMES

Fonterra Milk for Schools
We are making a difference to the health of future 
generations of Kiwi kids by offering a free serving of 
cold milk to primary-aged children every school day.  

1 

In addition to the findings by University of Auckland reported last year.

Over five years since it was launched, participation is 
still strong with more than 1,450 schools and around 
140,000 children taking part, drinking upwards of 87 
million individual packs to date. 

New research1 from Massey University shows children 
who regularly drink milk as part of the programme had 
significantly improved bone health when compared 
to a control group who do not participate in the 
Milk for Schools programme. It also confirmed that 
Fonterra Milk for Schools has increased the proportion 
of children achieving the Ministry of Health’s 
recommended number of serves of dairy on weekdays. 

KickStart Breakfast
KickStart Breakfast helps Kiwi kids achieve their 
potential, not only by providing a nutritious breakfast, 
but also by providing a supportive, nurturing 
environment. Through a partnership between the 
Ministry of Vulnerable Children, Sanitarium and 
Fonterra, the programme provides children with 
Weet-Bix™ and Anchor™ milk and supports the local 
community volunteers who run the breakfast clubs.

This year KickStart Breakfast reached 946 clubs 
serving breakfasts to more than 29,000 children and 
young people every week.

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EXPERTISE IN 
INNOVATION
Fonterra’s Research and 
Development Centre in 
New Zealand is one of the 
largest of its kind in the world, 
with around 250 scientific 
and technical staff. 

HIGH QUALITY MILK 
PROTEIN CONCENTRATES 
MADE FROM THE MILK 
OF FONTERRA FARMERS.
These are used in formulations 
both in New Zealand and overseas 
to help millions of people recovering 
from surgery and serious accidents.

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FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

OUR 
POTENTIAL

Fonterra continues towards its 
ambition to make a difference 
in the lives of two billion people 
by 2025 and through our strategy, 
we are making good progress.

WE SET OUR SIGHTS 
FIRMLY ON VALUE 
CREATION FOR OUR 
FARMERS AND BUILDING 
A CO-OPERATIVE WITH 
THE STRENGTH AND 
CAPABILITY TO DELIVER 
– AND WE FEEL WELL SET 
FOR THIS WITH OUR LEGACY 
OF CHALLENGING THE 
BOUNDARIES OF WHAT WE 
THOUGHT WAS POSSIBLE.

A SIMPLE 
STRATEGY
To help satisfy the 
world’s demand for dairy 
– supplementing our  
New Zealand milk by 
growing our global milk 
supply and creating more 
value from every drop of milk.

Our world continues to shift, with population, global 
economic, technology, science, consumer and food 
consumption trends all moving fast. To keep pace, we 
too are evolving in our approach to providing sustainable, 
affordable dairy nutrition to meet growing global demand.

The foundation of our strategy still remains the same – 
to build a strong Co-operative with our V3 strategy 
delivering consistent strong results over the long-term.

STRONG V3 CO-OPERATIVE
Our Strong V3 Co-operative remains the solid foundation 
needed to build our business and move into leadership 
areas where future value will be uncovered.

We have consistently delivered on this strategy since its 
inception, and this will continue to be the platform we 
leverage for our other strategic horizons.

Grow Volume with Value at Velocity
Emerging markets, growing populations and a desire 
for safe, accessible and nutritious food is driving strong 
demand for our natural dairy nutrition. 

Our strategy is simple – to help satisfy the world’s demand 
for dairy – supplementing our New Zealand milk by growing 
our global milk supply and creating more value from every 
drop of milk through the right mix of products, services and 
global partnerships, and of course doing this at pace.

When this strategy is executed well we are at our best, delivering 
strong returns to our farmers and enabling our business to 
reinvest in initiatives to promote growth and additional value. 

BUILDING AN 
ACTIVE LIVING 
PORTFOLIO
Advanced adult nutrition 
is becoming more important 
and mainstream.

Sustainable value from NZMP
Dairy Ingredients remain at the core of our business 
and are the foundation on which we build our Strong V3 
Co-operative. Keeping this engine tuned and performing 
is key to achieving our ambition. 

To build sustainable value from our engine, we are 
investing in the application of technology to further lift 
quality and productivity, improve our operating efficiency 
and maximise value achievement through customised 
nutritional solutions for our customers.

Foodservice expansion
The development of our Foodservice capability is a very 
strong growth story. It continued over the past 12 months 
as our focused product range and innovative chef-led 
strategy delivered a 27 per cent growth in sales volume. 
This was off the back of rapidly changing consumer 
preferences towards out-of-home consumption.

Over the past four years, Fonterra has invested more than 
$850 million in plants dedicated to making Foodservice 
products to support the steady increase in demand. 

Our NZMP teams around the world have a strong track record 
of delivering improved margins above Global Dairy Trade 
(GDT) prices through the strong NZMP brand proposition. 

This investment is delivering strong results for the 
business, supporting our double-digit growth strategy 
for Foodservice. 

Focused growth in our Consumer portfolio
By 2050, global demand for food is projected to double. 

Staying ahead of demand will mean being closer to our 
consumers, anticipating their consumption needs and 
being more visible in the places and platforms where they 
choose to purchase. 

To achieve this, we are investing in capabilities such 
as agile product development and concentrating our 
efforts on the fastest growing categories in key markets. 
These include dairy beverages, yoghurts and cheeses. 
Our three global brands – Anchor™, Anlene™ and 
Anmum™ – will carry the banner for growth across 
these product categories and remain our most trusted 
hero brands in each of our key regions.

Building an Active Living portfolio
More than ever before, consumers are conscious of the 
role nutrition plays in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 
Once, protein powders were seen as nutrition for elite 
athletes, but as people live longer and populations age, 
advanced adult nutrition is becoming more important 
and mainstream.

As consumer awareness of the role of nutrition in 
health rises, demand for sports and medical nutrition 
will continue to grow, across both the developed and 
developing world. This will be an area of significant focus 
for us in meeting our V3 targets. 

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OUR 
POTENTIAL

POTENTIAL 
OF OUR PEOPLE
Fonterra has accelerated  
its performance culture 
through new programmes 
with people, diversity and 
innovation at their core.

Selective investments in milk growth
Globally, demand for dairy nutrition is growing each year 
by more than 25 times New Zealand’s ability to sustainably 
grow supply.

Idea generation and the creation of 
a performance culture
This year has seen the acceleration of our performance 
culture in Fonterra with a strong focus on value creation.

The high quality milk supplied by our New Zealand farmers 
is and always will be the essence of our Co-operative 
but, as demand grows, our ability to supplement our 
New Zealand milk supply from other sources will be key.

Over recent years, we have invested in supplementary milk 
sources in Australia, Chile, China and the Netherlands, 
allowing us to keep growing sustainably. Our presence 
in these markets also brings us closer to our customers.

To support our New Zealand Ingredients, our goal is 
to reach 30 billion litres of milk around the world by 
2025, something we are well positioned to achieve.

INNOVATIVE CO-OPERATIVE
We already have a strong history of innovation within 
our Co-operative and a shift to even more innovative 
value creation will be needed to set us up for success 
in a rapidly changing world.

Our new markets will be defined by fast-moving trends, 
immediacy of consumer behaviour and unprecedented 
technology change. To keep pace with this market 
evolution will require businesses to be increasingly 
agile in their operation and service to both customers 
and consumers.

Through a number of programmes that drive innovation 
we have brought a more entrepreneurial approach to parts 
of our business, accelerating our most promising ideas 
through incubators. 

With support from the business and a mandate to ‘win or 
fail fast’, this environment encourages our people to back 
their ideas and bring in the resources to help them succeed. 

Velocity and VelocityNXT
Velocity has turned the focus of all our people across 
each of our global markets, to accountability and a bias 
to action. To date, the programme has been responsible 
for uncovering significant value in our business across 
working capital, earnings and Milk Price. Over the last 
two years, more than 3,600 initiatives have been 
completed by employees in every part of our business 
around the world – an exceptional strike rate.

Building on Velocity, VelocityNXT takes the next step into 
true innovation, harnessing emerging technologies that 
will streamline our business, improve processes and ensure 
Fonterra is well set up to capture value in new ways. 

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

AN 
INNOVATION 
CULTURE
VelocityNXT is part 
of Fonterra’s drive to 
create sustainable 
returns through future-
focused solutions.

Through VelocityNXT, we have created an internal 
incubator enabling our people to go after the big, exciting 
changes that may have previously been seen as too difficult 
because we did not yet have the necessary capabilities.

Supported by a venture capital board, and internal and 
external coaches, our people are taking their game 
changing ideas for the future of Fonterra through from 
concept to delivery. 

VelocityNXT and our own people will be responsible for 
many of the big changes you will see in Fonterra in the 
coming years, as we adopt the technologies that will make 
us a sustainable, future-proofed Co-operative.

Disrupt
Disrupt is a platform that challenges our people to create 
new sources of revenue for our Co-operative, and 
leverages the diversity and creativity of our global 
business to deliver the best results.

Disrupt has involved 1,400 people contributing their ideas 
– aged from 21 years to 60, split almost evenly between 
males and females and with at least eight languages and 
around 27 different nationalities and ethnic backgrounds.

This is the strength of our global business – the diversity 
of thought we can tap into is one of our biggest assets 
in idea generation.

Since Disrupt launched last year, our people have 
generated 189 ideas for potential new consumer and 
customer-facing business models. Of these, two have 
received investment and have been launched as major 
ventures, with a number more currently in the pipeline.

In the first six months of trading, $3.4 million in revenue 
was generated from the two successful ideas, which are 
projected to deliver further returns in the coming years.

Tomorrow’s innovation in what we do today
Through these new ideas, trends and ventures, we are 
developing and embedding the right capabilities in our 
Co-operative to keep up with the rapid pace of change 
around us.

We have the opportunity to innovate right along our 
value chain, from on-farm technology and automation, 
such as robotics and sensor systems, to highly automated 
and data-driven production, resulting in precise, efficient 
operations more aligned to our customers’ needs – 
allowing our people to spend more time focusing on 
customer experience and preferences. This will form part 
of our drive towards generating truly sustainable value 
across our Co-operative.

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FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

PROTECTING 
OUR FUTURE
Fonterra farmers 
have invested more 
than $1 billion into 
environmental care 
and improvements.

INNOVATION STARTS 
AT THE SOURCE
New technologies will be 
at the forefront of sustainable 
value creation across our 
entire value chain.

TRUST IN 
SOURCE
Through a constant 
focus on maintaining 
the highest standards 
of food safety and quality, 
our consumers know 
they are receiving dairy 
nutrition they can trust 
for them and their families.

Digital consumers
Consumers are now more connected than ever and are 
increasingly looking for highly tailored, personalised, 
seamless experiences. They are able to research and 
compare products in an instant, shop globally for the best 
range and price, and embrace new channels as they look 
for the products to meet their needs.

To ensure we are present in the places where these 
consumers are buying their dairy, our business is becoming 
more mobile, connected 24/7, and constantly looking 
for new opportunities and different ways to understand 
and interact with our customers. Anticipating needs and 
delivering innovative solutions that put the customer 
and consumer at the centre of everything we do must 
be our biggest driver and will be the key to success for 
organisations competing for visibility in the digital age.

Central to this will be our ability to meet the ‘convenience’ 
needs of our consumers. Shopping is becoming increasingly 
connected with our everyday environment and technology. 

We know that health solutions will become one of 
the biggest selling points for these consumers, with 
personalised nutrition and foods based on genomics setting 
the trend. Genomics allows people to choose what they eat 
based on their specific DNA and predisposition to certain 
illnesses and diseases or performance goals. Foods that 
are proven to improve their health through new product 
development and nutrient enrichment are already emerging 
and will be a focus for our business in the coming years.

SUSTAINABLE CO-OPERATIVE
The Sustainable Co-operative considers the long-term 
challenges and shifts we face as a global food producer. 
It ensures we are acting and planning today with 
a long-term view, managing the risks and identifying 
the opportunities to deliver a sustainable business.

Our progress towards a Sustainable Co-operative started 
many years ago. It’s been demonstrated through our 
farmers’ investments in on-farm environmental care and 
improvements, which is more than $1 billion in New Zealand. 
A sustainable future for our Co-operative is now an integrated 
part of the core strategy, and how we create long-term value 
as an organisation for our future generations.

Our future operating context
The world’s population is currently 7.5 billion, and is projected 
to increase to almost 10 billion by 2050. With limited 
opportunities to increase food production through 
traditional means, this presents a phenomenal challenge 
for global food production which requires transformational 
thinking to overcome.

Further disruption to food production will be likely through 
changes in climate and increased climate variability. Food 
production must play an immediate role in long-term 
emissions reductions. 

As populations grow, the link between nutrition and health 
is a growing focus. Diseases caused by poor diet and 
lifestyle are now the leading cause of death in all regions 

except Africa. These health challenges will become a major 
driver of product innovation.

We already see consumers taking greater interest in 
social and environmental factors when making purchase 
decisions. Trends towards natural foods, higher standards 
of animal welfare, or lower environmental impacts are 
already being demonstrated by consumers who are willing 
to pay more for products which create broader value to 
society. With this in mind, we expect shifts towards diets 
with lower environmental footprints.

Leading the future of sustainable, 
responsible dairy products
Access to affordable nutrition is a significant health issue 
in many developing countries. As we export to more than 
100 countries, we have an opportunity to address this 
health problem by delivering affordable nutrition for those 
who are not wealthy enough to access ‘everyday nutrition’. 

We will achieve affordability through innovation in 
nutritional formulation, product manufacturing and 
distribution and working with the right partners. This has 
the potential to also provide local employment, adding 
further value to communities. An early example is our 
Anchor™ fortified milk-based drink in Ethiopia, created 
in consultation with the Food and Nutrition Society of 
Ethiopia to address local nutritional needs. This is blended 
and packaged in partnership with a local company. 

Over-nutrition is a significant challenge in many markets, 
with health concerns increasingly influencing consumer 
preferences and regulation. To take a lead in nutrition, and to 
ensure the relevance of our products in a health-conscious 
market, we are already taking steps to reformulate products 
to address concerns such as added sugars. 

Creating long-term value for stakeholders
Our ability to produce nutritious food from a healthy 
environment into the future rests upon a thriving, 
responsible and sustainable dairy industry. A commitment 
to a strong Co-operative that provides financial returns for 
reinvestment in innovation, sustainable infrastructure, and 
our communities is key. As a Sustainable Co-operative we 
will deliver value to our stakeholders in the widest sense.

For our farmers it’s about a healthy income, not just to 
operate their farms but to continue their investment in 
the activities supporting on-farm innovation – to improve 
productivity, quality and environmental impact and deliver 
regional economic development through the generations.

Our own people must be fit to face these future 
challenges and that means building a great place to work, 
with a diverse, capable and engaged workforce.

Generating prosperity in rural communities, supporting 
dairy development in emerging markets and providing dairy 
nutrition around the world in an environmentally and socially 
responsible way will create our Sustainable Co-operative. 

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TRUSTED 
GOODNESS
Our Trusted Goodness™ quality 
seal is at the heart of our promise 
to provide trusted, high quality 
dairy nutrition.

NZMP LAUNCHED 
GRASS-FED AND NON-GMO 
FARM PRACTICE CLAIMS 
WITHIN THE LAST YEAR 
TO DELIVER EVEN 
GREATER VALUE TO 
OUR CUSTOMERS.

Through this programme, NZMP has so 
far delivered US$4.7M price achievement, 
with further growth projected into the 
future – a clear demonstration of the 
value of pure, New Zealand dairy.

32

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FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017 
FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

GROUP 
OVERVIEW

Delivery of our strategy to optimise our 
farmers’ New Zealand milk by moving more 
volume into higher value products has led to 
a solid operating and financial performance 
by the Co-operative, alongside a higher 
Farmgate Milk Price.

$745M

NET PROFIT 
AFTER TAX
With stable 
dividend per share.

HIGHLIGHTS

 > Significant growth in Consumer and 

Foodservice – additional 576 million LME

 > Advanced Ingredients LME growth of 

473 million, an increase of nine per cent
 > $745 million net profit after tax, delivering 

46 cents earnings per share

 > Solid return on capital of 11.1 per cent
 > Further improvement in working capital days
 > Continued strong balance sheet and 

financial discipline

The 2016/2017 season saw a pleasing return to a more 
sustainable Farmgate Milk Price. At $6.12 per kgMS, 
a 57 per cent increase, our farmer shareholders will receive 
over $3 billion additional payments compared to last season. 
Improved prices are a reflection of continued balancing of 
supply and demand in the globally traded dairy market. 
The increase included an additional nine cents per kgMS due 
to changes in the Farmgate Milk Price assumptions. This year, 
an amended methodology for determining revenues delivered 
an additional six cents, with the remaining three cents mainly 
due to lower capital costs.

In the 2017 financial year, Fonterra significantly increased 
its sales volume of higher value products. This includes a 
12 per cent increase in Consumer and Foodservice volumes 
and a nine per cent increase in Advanced Ingredients. 
These increases were achieved despite lower milk collections 
in New Zealand and alongside a significant increase in the 
Farmgate Milk Price. 

Lower collections this year contributed to overall sales 
volumes declining five per cent in the Ingredients business. 
An unusually wet spring in New Zealand led to peak milk 
production being around six per cent lower than the previous 
season (and 11 per cent lower than the record volumes in the 
2014/15 season). Conditions improved during the summer 
and into autumn, resulting in collections for the full season 
being down three per cent on the previous season.

SALES  
REVENUE
Revenue grew  
12 per cent on 
the back of 
strong demand.

$19.2B

NZD MILLION

Volume (LME, billion)

Volume (’000 MT)

Sales revenue 

Gross margin

Gross margin percentage

Operating expenses

Reported EBIT 

Normalised EBIT

Net finance costs

Tax (expense)/credit

Net profit after tax

Earnings per share (cents)

Adjusted earnings per share¹ (cents)

Dividend per share (cents)

Adjusted debt to EBITDA2 (ratio)

Gearing ratio3

Return on capital4

Free cash flow

Capital expenditure

YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2017

YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2016

CHANGE

22.9
4,180
19,232
3,264

17.0%

(2,370)
1,120
1,155
(355)
(20)
745
46
47
40
3.5
44.3%
11.1%
670
851

23.7
4,3135
17,199
3,632

21.1%

(2,528)
1,431
1,358
(499)
(98)
834
51
54
40
2.8
44.3%
12.4%
2,184
944

(3%)
(3%)
12%
(10%)
–
(6%)
(22%)
(15%)
(29%)
(80%)
(11%)
(10%)
(13%)
0%
–
–
–
(69%)
(10%)

1  Adjusted earnings per share excludes certain non-cash items.
2  Ratio is economic net interest bearing debt divided by earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA). Both debt and EBITDA are adjusted for the impact of operating leases.
3  Gearing ratio is economic net interest bearing debt divided by economic net interest bearing debt, plus equity, excluding hedge reserves.
4  Return on capital is calculated as normalised EBIT, less equity-accounted investees’ earnings, less a notional tax charge divided by capital employed. Capital employed excludes brands, 

goodwill and equity-accounted investments. Return on capital, including brands, goodwill and equity-accounted investments was 8.3 per cent (2016: 9.2 per cent).

5  China Farms volumes for the 2016 financial year have been restated to aid comparability between segments. Previously China Farms volumes were converted to metric tonnes based on the litres of raw 
milk sold. These volumes are now converted based on weight of milk solids (i.e. fat and protein content) in line with the Ingredients methodology, where 1 litre of milk converts to approximately 0.07 kg. 

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FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017 
FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

GROUP 
OVERVIEW

576 M

LME

INCREASE IN 
VOLUMES
Consumer and 
Foodservice 
sales grew by 
12 per cent.

The overall tighter supply environment, in combination with low 
opening inventories, supported improved pricing through the 
year. Despite the supply constraints, the Ingredients business 
prioritised the sale of higher value Advanced Ingredients, the 
volume of which grew by 473 million LME this year. 

Our Consumer and Foodservice businesses had another strong 
year of sales growth. The 576 million increase in LMEs sold was 
supported by growth in both Consumer and Foodservice, the 
latter increasing 27 per cent this year. The standout performer 
was Greater China, where our successful Foodservice model 
continued to deliver growth in volume and earnings. Robust 
growth was also seen in our Soprole business in Chile, as well 
as in our operations in Sri Lanka.

Normalised EBIT for the Group was $1,155 million, delivering a 
net profit after tax of $745 million, 11 per cent lower than last 
year. Combined with continued strong financial discipline, 
the Co-operative maintained a 40 cents per share dividend. 
Overall, Group return on capital was 11.1 per cent reflecting 
solid earnings generation off a relatively stable capital base. 

Our Ingredients business generated $943 million in normalised 
EBIT, a 22 per cent reduction on last year. This decrease was 
primarily the result of less favourable stream returns, which were 
$180 million lower than last year. Earnings were also impacted 
by changes to the Farmgate Milk Price Manual and the natural 
lag in contracts where pricing is set periodically, as these tend to 
underperform in a rising commodity environment.

LIQUID MILK EQUIVALENT
LME is a standard measure of the litres 
of milk allocated to each product based 
on the amount of fat and protein in the 
product relative to standardised raw milk. 
For example, a 1kg block of cheese equates 
to approximately 6.5 LME.

China Farms had its first full year of production with our two 
hubs fully stocked with livestock. Total sales volume increased 
47 per cent to 335 million LME, driven by larger herds and 
increased on-farm productivity. 

In a year that saw a 57 per cent increase in the Farmgate 
Milk Price, Fonterra delivered a solid earnings performance. 

36   |   OUR PERFORMANCE

Normalised EBIT for Consumer and Foodservice was up six per 
cent at $614 million. This reflects strong growth where higher 
volumes and improved pricing offset the compressed gross 
margins from increased input costs. Our Consumer businesses 
maintained stable gross margins of 29 per cent. Foodservice 
delivered strong gross margins of 22 per cent, a decline from 
last year, primarily due to the significantly higher global prices 
of fat-based products.

At the beginning of the year, responsibility for the sale of China 
Farms’ milk shifted to our Ingredients team in Greater China. 
The operations are now exclusively focussed on producing 
high-quality fresh milk in the most efficient and sustainable 
way, and our Ingredients business is responsible for capturing 
the greatest value from that milk. This is supported by the 
introduction of an internal raw milk price reflective of the 
long-term milk price forecast for high quality milk in China.

44%

GEARING 
RATIO
Significant 
improvement in 
the gearing ratio 
from last year 
maintained.

STANHOPE
First production 
from our new 
cheese lines 
in Australia.

One of the highlights for the year was the performance of 
the Australian business. After a multi-year transformation 
the Ingredients, Consumer and Foodservice businesses are 
performing well, generating sustainable profits while 
paying a competitive milk price to our supplying farmers. 
This turnaround is reflected in our milk collections in Australia, 
where volumes grew by four million kgMS, up three per 
cent for the season despite the country’s overall production 
declining seven per cent. We have also re-opened our facility 
at Stanhope. This plant will produce a range of cheeses for the 
domestic and global markets.

The carrying value of our investment in Beingmate has 
been reduced this year to reflect the impact of the changing 
Chinese market for infant formula prior to a new regulatory 
framework being in place from 1 January 2018. The impact was 
$76 million overall, $41 million in losses reflecting Fonterra’s 
18.8 per cent share of Beingmate’s performance, and a 
$35 million impairment of the value of Fonterra’s investment. 
This was partially offset by the $42 million gain on sale for 
Beingmate’s 51 per cent share of the Darnum site in Australia.

The Group result continues to reflect the benefits of our 
on-going Group-wide business transformation. This is evidenced 
by the further six per cent decrease in Group operating 
expenses, on top of last year’s eight per cent reduction.

Total net profit after tax reflected more favourable finance 
costs and tax expense for the year. Net finance costs were 
$144 million lower than last year due to lower average debt 

through the year and a change in accounting treatment for 
certain non-cash fair value adjustments. Total tax expense 
was 80 per cent lower than last year at $20 million, partly 
due to lower operating profit and one-off capital gains taxes 
recognised last year.

The Co-operative again maintained strong financial discipline 
in a year where earnings performance was more challenging. 
The Group’s gearing ratio remained 44.3 per cent, the same as 
last year. This was the result of an increase of $173 million on 
the equity side of the calculation, which offset the $128 million 
higher closing balance for economic net interest-bearing debt.

Fonterra generated free cash flow of $670 million and again 
lowered working capital as measured in days’ sales, coming 
in at 75 days compared to 77 days last year. Working capital 
efficiency is a strategic focus across the organisation, with a 
particular focus on efficiently managing inventory. Due to a 
54,000 MT reduction in inventory, the value of inventory only 
increased eight per cent, in a year where the average value 
increased 20 per cent per metric tonne due to higher global 
dairy prices. Capital expenditure was down ten per cent 
to $851 million, in line with expectations. 

Another year of strong operating performance and continued 
financial discipline resulted in the Board declaring a full-year 
dividend of 40 cents, the same level as last year. This level 
is consistent with the Board’s policy to pay out 65-75 per cent 
of adjusted net profit after tax over time.

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FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

INGREDIENTS

This includes the global sales 
from our Ingredients businesses in 
New Zealand, Australia and Latin 
America. It also includes the Fonterra 
Farm Source™ rural supplies retail 
chain in New Zealand. 

NORMALISED 
EBIT
Ingredients 
normalised EBIT  
of $943 million,  
a decline of 
22 per cent.

$943M

INVENTORY 
DOWN
Year-end inventory 
was 15 per cent 
down on last year, 
historically low levels.

HIGHLIGHTS

 > Advanced Ingredients LME growth of 

473 million, an increase of nine per cent

 > Normalised EBIT of $943 million, 

down on last year primarily due to lower 
stream returns

 > Increased production for Foodservice 

to support our growth strategy
 > Return on capital of 10.3 per cent
 > Historically low closing inventory levels
 > Australian Ingredients delivering higher 

quality earnings 

VOLUME 
Milk collection across New Zealand for the 2016/17 season 
was 1,526 million kgMS, down three per cent compared 
to the previous season. Farmers experienced wet conditions 
in both the North and South Islands through the peak 
collection months of spring, significantly lowering peak 
production. However, improved conditions in summer and 
autumn resulted in a lift in production in the later part of the 
season. Overall, collections in the North Island were down 
four percent, with South Island collections flat. 

In Australia, milk collection for the 2016/17 season was 
125 million kgMS, three per cent higher than the previous 
season, despite overall milk production in Australia declining 
seven per cent. These volumes include milk collected directly 
and through third parties. Favourable weather conditions 
in autumn and an increase in market share have resulted 
in these higher collection volumes. 

Ingredients sales volumes were down five per cent for the 
year, driven by lower opening inventories, and the lower 
collections in New Zealand. Our total Ingredients sales 
now include 335 million LME from our China Farms, as we 
progressed our strategy of a vertically integrated milk pool 
in China. We transitioned the sale of raw milk to our 
Ingredients sales team in China who are responsible for 
capturing the greatest value from that milk. 

NON-REFERENCE 
PRODUCTS
Gross margin for 
non-reference products 
favoured their production 
over reference products.

NZD MILLION

Volume (LME, billion)

Volume (‘000 MT)

Sales revenue 

Total gross margin

– New Zealand Ingredients

Reference products

Non-reference products

– Australia Ingredients

–  China raw milk1

– Other

Normalised EBIT

Gross margin ($ per MT) – New Zealand Ingredients

Reference products ($ per MT)

Non-reference products ($ per MT)

Return on capital2

YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2017

YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2016

CHANGE

21.3

3,019

15,284

1,489

1,239

428

811

78

(38)

210

943

232

1,165

10.3%

22.4

3,074

13,005

1,862

1,605

634

971

58

–

199

1,204

330

1,348

13.4%

(5%)

(2%)

18%

(20%)

(23%)

(32%)

(16%)

34%

–

6%

(22%)

(30%)

(14%)

–

1  China raw milk gross margin represents the net benefit / (loss) from the sale of milk produced by China Farms and sold to the Ingredients business in China at an internal raw milk price.
2  Return on capital is calculated as normalised EBIT, less equity-accounted investees’ earnings, less a notional royalty charge for use of the Group’s brands, less a notional tax charge, 

divided by capital employed. Capital employed excludes brands, goodwill and equity-accounted investments.

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FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

INGREDIENTS

NEW ZEALAND INGREDIENTS 
REVENUE AND VOLUME1

Production volume (’000 MT)

Reference products

Non-reference products

Sales volume (’000 MT)2

Reference products

Non-reference products

Revenue per MT (NZD)2

Reference products

Non-reference products

YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2017

YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2016

CHANGE

1,837

749

1,841

696

4,262

5,567

1,873

746

1,920

720

3,276

4,972

(2%)

0%

(4%)

(3%)

30%

12%

1  Table excludes bulk liquid milk. The bulk liquid milk volume for the year ended 31 July 2017 was 76,000 MT of kgMS equivalent (year ended 

31 July 2016 was 77,000 MT).

2  Revenue and sales volume exclude Foodservice volumes to China and Latin America. This volume for the year ended 31 July 2017 was 

143,000 MT (year ended 31 July 2016 was 92,000 MT).

NEW PLANTS
Our Stanhope site in Australia 
reopened and Edgecumbe in 
New Zealand was expanded.

Our product mix shifted towards fat-based products reflecting 
the strong global demand and high prices for these products, 
in particular butter. Our Ingredients business is the main 
supplier of our global Foodservice business, therefore we 
saw significant volume growth in products manufactured 
for this business such as UHT cream, mozzarella and butter 
– demonstrating the important role Ingredients plays in 
supporting our Consumer and Foodservice growth strategy.

NATURAL DEMAND
Global demand for butter is strong 
due to an increased recognition by 
consumers in the benefits of healthy 
and natural foods.

The Ingredients business has always had a focus on product 
innovation to meet exacting customer needs and open up 
new areas of demand. The products that serve these needs 
are called Advanced Ingredients, and generate premium 
pricing. They are differentiated from base ingredient offerings 
through their superior product performance, which is 
supported by Fonterra’s own research and process innovation. 
Sales volumes of Advanced Ingredients, such as medical 
grade lactose, grew nine per cent this year and now make up 
19 per cent of Fonterra’s total external sales volume.

Strong customer demand and ongoing efforts to improve 
working capital meant that we closed the year with historically 
low inventory volume. Levels at our balance date of 31 July 2017 
were 15 per cent lower than last year for Ingredients.

VALUE
Total normalised EBIT for the Ingredients business was 
$943 million, 22 per cent lower than last year’s record level, 
primarily driven by lower gross margins in our New Zealand 
Ingredients business. The Ingredients business achieved 
manufacturing efficiencies, as well as reduced operating costs 
over the year. However, these benefits were more than offset 
by changes to the Farmgate Milk Price Manual, the impact 
of the natural lag in contracts with periodic pricing and the 
significant impact of stream returns.

Operationally our New Zealand sites delivered further 
improvements in yields and managed cost of quality to similar 
levels to last year despite tightening standards. The lower peak 
milk production, combined with additional processing capacity, 
ensured there were no costs associated with peak processing 
again this year. The unusual profile of milk collections over the 
season provided some challenges to operational planning, in 
particular the timing of late season production and sales.

The Farmgate Milk Price that informs our cost of milk for 
New Zealand production is calculated according to the 
Farmgate Milk Price Manual.  The manual provides for Fonterra 
to retain an amount of earnings to generate a specified return 
on capital on an assumed asset base. These earnings are 
referred to as the regulated return. At the start of each season, 

40   |   OUR PERFORMANCE

the manual is updated to reflect the latest revenue and cost 
assumptions. In 2017, lower assumed interest rates decreased 
the modelled return on capital, which lowered the regulated 
return across our New Zealand Ingredients portfolio. This 
negatively impacted gross margins in our Ingredients business.

stream returns of $40 million, a decline of $180 million 
relative to last year. Non-reference product margins were 
also impacted by the structural changes to the milk price 
and a lower regulated return but these were offset by 
operational improvements.

In addition to this, the manual was amended to include prices 
from spot sales of WMP, SMP and AMF. This change was 
driven by Fonterra’s constitutional requirement to pay the 
maximum sustainable milk price and regulatory requirements 
to pay an efficient, competitive milk price. This added an 
additional six cents per kgMS to the Farmgate Milk Price.

Our New Zealand Ingredients business manufactures five 
commodity products that inform the Farmgate Milk Price. 
These are called reference products, while all other products 
are non-reference products.

Gross margins for reference products were $428 million, 
$206 million lower than last year. This was a result of 
structural changes to the milk price model, a lower regulated 
return, lower margins from the natural lag in contracts with 
periodic pricing, which underperform in a rising commodity 
price environment, and lower sales of prior season inventories.

For non-reference products, gross margins were $811 million, 
$160 million down on last year. This was primarily due 
to significantly lower stream returns. Stream returns are 
the relative difference between reference product and 
non-reference product prices. This relative gap narrowed 
significantly, reflected in the 30 per cent increase in revenue 
per metric tonne for reference products versus a 12 per cent 
increase for non-reference products. This resulted in negative 

The Australia Ingredients business delivered a strong 
performance. While normalised EBIT of $62 million was the 
same as last year, the quality of the earnings has improved. 

INCREASED SHIPPING
With the introduction of a regular 
big-ship service from Tauranga, 
we now have weekly shipments 
on vessels with capacities of around 
10,000  standard containers.

Last year’s result included one-off gains such as the sale of 
Dairy Technical Services, whereas this year’s result is largely 
sustainable earnings, and is on course to improve next year 
with the commissioning of the Stanhope cheese plant.

The Ingredients gross margin was also impacted by a $38 
million loss representing the difference between the domestic 
milk price and the internal raw milk price paid to China Farms. 

Our Global Operations team tightly managed capital expenditure 
through the year by focusing on value added products, efficiency 
gains and sustainability improvements. This year saw significant 
investment at our Edgecumbe site, the commissioning of 
Lichfield, and our $149 million rebuild of Stanhope.

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FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017 
 
FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

CONSUMER AND 
FOODSERVICE

This comprises our Consumer 
brands and Foodservice businesses 
in Greater China, Latin America, Asia 
and Oceania.

$614M

NORMALISED 
EBIT
Despite significantly 
higher input costs 
earnings increased 
six per cent.

HIGHLIGHTS

 > An additional 576 million LME moved into 

higher-value products

 > Foodservice volume growth of 27 per cent 
and Consumer volumes up three per cent
 > Normalised EBIT of $614 million, an increase 

of six per cent

 > Return on capital of 47.2 per cent
 > Successful product launches across 

every region

VOLUME
This year we continued to deliver on our strategy to move 
more volume into higher value Consumer and Foodservice 
products. We achieved volume growth of 12 per cent, selling 
5.5 billion LME, an additional 576 million LME compared to last 
year. This increase was largely driven by strong Foodservice 
sales in Greater China, as well as strong growth out of Soprole 
and Sri Lanka. Overall volume growth for Foodservice was 
27 per cent. 

 > Greater China: significant volume growth of 46 per cent, 

an additional 402 million LME this year, largely due to strong 
performance in China Foodservice.

 > Latin America: strong growth of 18 per cent, due to 

another good performance by Soprole, with increased 
sales of yoghurts, liquid milk and desserts.

 > Asia: volumes were up 153 million LME, a ten per cent 

increase, driven by double-digit growth in both 
Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

 > Oceania: volumes were down five per cent, reflecting the 
sale of businesses in non-core categories in Australia. 

FOODSERVICE 
GROWTH
Our Global Foodservice 
sales grew by 27 per cent 
this year.

NZD MILLION

Volume (LME, billion)

Consumer

Foodservice

Volume (‘000 MT) 

Sales revenue 

Gross margin

Gross margin (percentage)

Consumer

Foodservice

Normalised EBIT

Return on capital1

YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2017

YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2016

CHANGE

5.5

3.2

2.3

1,783

6,517

1,744

27%

29%

22%

614

47.2%

4.9

3.1

1.8

1,800

6,296

1,808

29%

29%

27%

580

41.7%

12%

3%

27%

(1%)

4%

(4%)

–

–

–

6%

–

1  Return on capital is calculated as normalised EBIT, less equity-accounted investees’ earnings, less a notional royalty charge for use of the Group’s brands, less a notional tax charge, divided by 

capital employed. Capital employed excludes brands, goodwill and equity-accounted investments.

NORMALISED EBIT: KEY PERFORMANCE DRIVERS
NZD MILLION

Normalised EBIT prior year

Volume

Price

Cost of goods sold

Operating expenses

Other

Normalised EBIT

YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2017

YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2016

580

116

64

(176)

53

(23)

614

408

120

(210)

251

(3)

14

580

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CONSUMER AND 
FOODSERVICE

CONSUMER AND FOODSERVICE PERFORMANCE

LME (BILLION)

NORMALISED EBIT ($M)

YEAR ENDED 
31 JULY 2017

YEAR ENDED 

31 JULY 2016 CHANGE

YEAR ENDED 
31 JULY 2017

YEAR ENDED 

31 JULY 2016 CHANGE

Consumer and foodservice

Greater China

Latin America

Asia

Oceania

5.5

1.3

0.7

1.7

1.7

4.9

0.9

0.6

1.6

1.8

12%

46%

18%

10%

(5%)

614

209

103

201

101

580

131

108

244

97

6%

60%

(5%)

(18%)

4%

VALUE
Our Consumer and Foodservice businesses delivered a solid 
result considering the pressure that was placed on margins 
by increased input costs this year. Normalised EBIT was 
$614 million, a six per cent increase compared to last year.

This increase was largely a result of higher volumes, improved 
pricing and reduced operating expenditure, partially offset by 
increased input costs as set out in the key performance drivers 
table. Overall our Consumer business maintained margins, 
with a gross margin of 29 per cent, the same as last year, 
reflecting a strong focus on strategic pricing and product range 
management. However, higher input costs were not able to 
be fully passed through in Foodservice, where gross margins 
compressed to 22 per cent from 27 per cent last year, due to 
a combination of competitive pressure and substitution risk.

 > Greater China: delivered significant normalised EBIT 
growth of 60 per cent driven by increased volumes, 
particularly in Foodservice, and continued cost control.

 > Latin America: strong earnings growth in Soprole driven 

by higher volumes through new product launches, however 
offset by the challenging economies of Brazil and Venezuela.

 > Asia: normalised EBIT of $201 million, however higher 

input costs meant it was an 18 per cent decline.

 > Oceania: normalised EBIT growth of four per cent, as our 

successful turnaround of the Australian business continues 
to deliver value. 

REGIONAL UPDATE

Greater China
Greater China continues to deliver both volume and value 
growth, with an additional 402 million LME this year and 
normalised EBIT of $209 million, up 60 per cent on last year.

NEW UHT FLAVOURS 
Our Anchor™ UHT range 
expanded, including a new 
‘Golden Kiwi’ flavour.

The China Foodservice business delivered another strong 
performance, with sales volume growth of 48 per cent this 
year, as our Anchor™ Food Professionals™ model continues 
to build momentum in Mainland China. We increased our 
geographic reach, expanding into a further 20 cities, and 
enhanced our value proposition by operating in-market 
warehouses to enhance our service offering to customers 
and maximise cost-to-serve efficiencies.

SOPROLE 
BRAND
Our Soprole 
brand in Chile 
was relaunched 
this year.

Our Consumer brands businesses in Hong Kong and Taiwan 
performed well with both volume and value growth.  Anchor™ 
has become the number one imported UHT brand in 
Mainland China for e-commerce sales this year, reflecting our 
strong commitment to this sales channel. 

Our success in both the Consumer and Foodservice segments 
is in large part driven by ongoing development of innovative 
new products and solutions specifically tailored to Chinese 
consumer tastes, for example, the cream cheese tea macchiato 
in Foodservice and Anchor™ UHT milk in golden kiwi flavour.

The Greater China result has been normalised to exclude the 
$76 million impact of losses relating to, and an impairment 
on, our 18.8 per cent investment in Beingmate, our strategic 
partner in China. While these impacts are disappointing, it 
reflects the industry-wide disruption in the infant formula 
category in China leading up to the introduction of stricter 
regulation from 1 January 2018. Beingmate is well positioned 
for the new regulatory environment, having had 12 products 
approved in the first group of approvals from the Chinese 
regulatory body.

Latin America
Our Latin America business delivered a good result with 
volumes up 18 per cent on last year. However, normalised 
EBIT has declined, down five per cent for the year, due to the 
impact of weak economies in Brazil and Venezuela, offsetting 
strong earnings growth in Soprole.

MARKET LEADERSHIP 
Six million servings of Soprole 
products are consumed every day 
in Chile.

Our Soprole business in Chile continues to perform strongly 
with total gross margin up 12 per cent on last year, as sales 
of desserts, liquid milk and yoghurt increased on the back 
of the successful relaunch of the Soprole brand, as well as 
the reformulation of products to meet higher nutritional 
standards introduced by the government. Although the 
business faced rising input costs, our pricing strategy and 
operational efficiencies allowed us to deliver both volume 
and revenue growth as well as increased market share. 

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FOODSERVICE
Our Foodservice 
business grew in all 
our four regions.

The economy in Brazil remains challenging, with overall 
market volumes in the chilled dairy category shrinking 
significantly this year. While total volumes in our business 
have decreased as well, continued focus on our cost base 
and product innovation has enabled us to gain market share, 
as well as increase revenue on last year. Despite this, high 
milk prices throughout most of the year, combined with high 
inflation, have put pressure on our gross margin. However, 
the business remains well positioned for when improved 
economic conditions return to Brazil.

In Venezuela, the adverse economic situation continues, 
however Fonterra’s exposure to earnings risk is limited due 
to the relatively small scale of our business there and our 
local sourcing strategy.

Asia 
We continued to grow volumes in our Asia Consumer and 
Foodservice business with significant volume growth of 
ten per cent, or 153 million LME. However, earnings were 
significantly impacted by increased input costs, which placed 
pressure on margins.

INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS
In Thailand, we have a partnership 
with 7-11 to develop new food solutions 
for the leading convenience store chain.

Volume growth was driven largely by Sri Lanka where our 
‘Goodness Feeds Greatness’ campaign and Ratthi festival 
promotions delivered successful results with increased sales 
of full cream milk powder, UHT and cream. Vietnam also 
performed well, with double-digit growth in Foodservice 
volumes as our chef-led approach expanded into cafes and 
bakeries across Vietnam. In the Foodservice business, we 
achieved volume growth across most of our markets, including 
Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. 

Despite the growth in volumes, the $201 million of normalised 
EBIT was $43 million lower this year as increased milk prices 
had a significant impact on our input costs, particularly fat 
based products such as butter. Normalised EBIT was also 
impacted by an $18 million unfavourable currency translation 
movement from strengthening Asian currencies, and difficult 
trading conditions in the Middle East. Tight cost control led to 
savings in some markets, partially offsetting the higher costs. 

AUSTRALIA  
MARKET 
LEADERSHIP
Fonterra products 
are number one by sales 
in the cheese and butter 
categories in Australia.

Oceania
Our Consumer and Foodservice businesses in Australia and 
New Zealand have delivered an increase in normalised EBIT, 
up four per cent to $101 million this year. Excluding the impact 
of businesses that are no longer part of ongoing operations 
in the region, sales growth was down one per cent and 
normalised EBIT was up six per cent.

STAR PERFORMER
One pack of Western Star™ butter, 
which turned 90 this year, is sold 
every second in Australia.

Our New Zealand business, including exports to the 
Pacific Islands, was impacted by poor summer weather, 
increased milk prices and strong competition in high value 
product categories such as ice cream and cheese. This put 
significant pressure on prices and margins, which were also 
impacted by higher short term operating costs associated 
with moving to new distribution facilities.

We have had a number of successful new product launches 
this year, with the release of eight different flavours of 
Kapiti™ ice cream tubs and Kapiti™ Single Farm Organic 
fresh white milk and cream, as well as our Anchor™ Protein+ 
range of high protein milk, yoghurts and smoothie boosters. 
Two of our key brands (Mainland™ and Tip Top™) were 
also voted within the top 20 most loved brands in 
New Zealand this year.

The turnaround in the Australian business has generated 
good results despite lower volumes and higher input costs. 
The business has focused on creating value in key product 
categories such as cheese and butter where consumer 
demand is strong and we have a competitive advantage 
with our strong brands. This year saw the completion of the 
transformation strategy by exiting less profitable product 
lines and businesses. 

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X

GROWTH RATE
Our Anchor™ Food 
Professionals Foodservice™ 
business grew at 10 times 
the market growth rate for 
foodservice volume over 
the past 12 months.

$1 OUT OF EVERY $6 SPENT 
ON FOODSERVICE IS 
DAIRY RELATED.

We are on the ground in more 
than 50 markets, giving us a 
remarkable level of insight into 
our customers’ needs. We sell 
to more than 10,000 bakeries 
each year, and this gives us 
a deep understanding of how 
that business operates and 
how to optimise it.

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CHINA 
FARMS

This comprises our farming 
operations in China producing 
high quality fresh milk as part of 
our integrated China strategy.

335 M

LME

COST 
REDUCTIONS
Operating costs 
reduced by six per 
cent or 0.21 RMB 
per litre.

HIGHLIGHTS

 > Significant volume growth with both 

hubs fully operational

 > Improved performance through on-farm 

efficiencies and cost management

VOLUME
Our farming operations in China comprise two completed 
hubs, which produce high quality fresh milk. Yutian, our most 
established hub, consists of three single farms and one double 
farm, with 19,200 milking cows. Our second hub, Ying, is now 
complete and consists of one single farm and two double 
farms, with 15,700 milking cows.

RAISED LOCALLY
All cows added to our operations 
going forward will be born and raised 
on our farms.

Sales volume increased by 47 per cent to 335 million LME this 
year. The significant increase in volume is largely a result of 
the Ying hub being operational for the full year, with fresh milk 
sales volume from Ying increasing more than 70 per cent this 
year. Production per cow has also improved, up five per cent 
year-on-year. Milk volume will continue to build as our herd 
progresses to full year-round production. When at full capacity 
our farms will be able to produce a combined volume of 
around 380–400 million LME. 

DOWNSTREAM 
VALUE
Milk from our farms 
is now being used under 
the Anchor™ brand 
in cafés in China.

We are continuing our progress on the Joint Venture hub with 
Abbott, which leverages our expertise in dairy nutrition and 
farming, and Abbott’s continued commitment to business 
development in China. Construction of the first farm was 
completed in late 2016 and the farm is now fully operational. 
Construction of the second farm began in early 2017 and is 
due for completion in late 2017.

VALUE
Our strategy for China Farms is to produce high quality 
fresh milk from scale, efficient and sustainable operations. 
From the start of this year, the responsibility for driving the 
greatest value from the raw milk produced in China now sits 
with the Ingredients team. This allows Fonterra to deliver 
value through integrating the sale of our milk into our 
Ingredients business and by developing high-value products 
for our Consumer and Foodservice businesses in Greater 
China. This year saw the first such product, with trial sales 
volumes of specially formulated Anchor™ barista milk for 
use in Chinese cafés. 

This strategic focus enables China Farms to focus on 
production volumes and operational efficiency, without being 
impacted by fluctuations in milk price. The internal raw milk 
price between China Farms and our Ingredients business 
reflects the long-term milk price forecast for high quality 
milk in China. As a result, the China Farms financial result 
has improved significantly this year despite the on-going 
challenges of the low domestic milk price environment. 

NZD MILLION

Volume (LME, billion)

Volume (‘000 MT)1

Sales revenue 

Normalised EBIT

YEAR 
ENDED 
31 JULY 2017

YEAR 
ENDED 

31 JULY 2016 CHANGE

0.3

26

269

1

0.2

16

183

(59)

47%

55%

47%

–

1  China Farms volumes for the 2016 financial year have been restated to aid comparability 
between segments. Previously China Farms volumes were converted to metric tonnes 
based on the litres of raw milk sold. These volumes are now converted based on weight of 
milk solids (i.e. fat and protein content) in line with the Ingredients methodology, where 
1 litre of milk converts to approximately 0.07 kg.

Normalised EBIT has improved from a $59 million loss last 
year to a $1 million profit this year, due to our ongoing efforts 
to reduce costs through operational efficiencies, milk volume 
growth and the impact of the market based internal raw milk 
price. We delivered a 0.21 RMB per litre or six per cent reduction 
in operating costs this year, largely due to more efficient fixed 
cost recoveries and a focus on efficient management of effluent. 
This enabled us to reduce effluent costs by 19 per cent despite 
the 17 per cent increase in production volumes.

With our own farm development programme now complete, 
capital expenditure for the year was significantly lower than 
last year. Costs incurred this year covered the completion 
of our effluent investments as well as business-as-usual 
maintenance and animal rearing costs.

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50 FRESHWATER 

CATCHMENTS

THIS YEAR WE 
ANNOUNCED A BOLD 
NEW AMBITION. 
We will lead the regeneration 
of 50 freshwater catchments 
across New Zealand.

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With the world’s population expected 
to grow to an estimated 9.7 billion 
people by 20501, our Co-operative 
is well placed to play an important 
role in helping meet their nutritional 
needs in a sustainable way. 

JEREMY HILL 
SIGNING DAIRY 
DECLARATION

DAIRY 
DECLARATION
Dr Jeremy Hill, 
IDF and Dr Ren Wang, 
FAO sign the 
Dairy Declaration.

THE IMPORTANT 
CONTRIBUTION OF 
THE DAIRY SECTOR IN 
ACHIEVING A RANGE 
OF SUSTAINABLE 
DEVELOPMENT GOALS 
IS RECOGNISED IN THE DAIRY 
DECLARATION OF ROTTERDAM, 
SIGNED IN OCTOBER 2016 
BY THE INTERNATIONAL 
DAIRY FEDERATION AND THE 
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 
ORGANISATION.

OUR COMMITMENT
The dairy sector’s contribution to achieving these sustainable 
development goals includes the role of dairy nutrition in 
balanced healthy diets, its contribution to employment, 
livelihoods and economies, and the improvements that are 
required in the management of the environment. 

It links closely to our Sustainable Co-operative strategy 
framework and we have a strong commitment to build on 
our progress so far.

Operating sustainably includes listening to our stakeholders, 
taking ownership for the impacts of our decisions on society 
and the environment, and contributing to development within 
our communities. 

As our products are delivered right around the world, we aim 
to make a difference to global health through dairy’s natural 
goodness, providing nutritious, delicious and accessible food. 
At the same time, we are creating positive livelihoods for our 
farmers, our employees and their communities. By respecting 
human rights and providing good working conditions, we offer 
safe and meaningful employment, development opportunities 
and income generation which flows into the communities we 
operate in right around the world.

We know that to achieve long-term value we need to respect 
the environment and we achieve this through efficient and 
responsible farming, manufacturing and distribution. 

1  UN World Population Prospects (2015) - 

https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/publications/files/key_findings_wpp_2015.pdf

54 |  SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

HEART-PLUS™
Anlene Heart-Plus™ 
has been launched 
in Malaysia, helping 
to combat nutrition-
related health issues.

PROTEIN+
Anchor™ Protein+ 
range launched to 
help consumers 
spread their protein 
intake across the day.

OUR APPROACH
Building on the core values of our people right throughout 
our farm to consumer supply chain, our approach is guided 
by best practice. 

In 2014, we adopted ISO26000, the international guidance 
standard for operating in a socially responsible way, and 
established a process allowing us to analyse what is important 
to our stakeholders, assess our current performance and 
prioritise areas for improvement. This year we have also adopted 
the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards and will be 
issuing a standalone sustainability report to complement 
this annual review later this year.

HEALTH AND NUTRITION
As a provider of dairy nutrition to the world, we are using the 
power of dairy to make a difference in the lives of two billion 
people by 2025. Through our scale and expertise, we have an 
opportunity and a responsibility to help address the complex 
challenge of malnutrition: under-nourishment, micro-nutrient 
deficiencies and over-nutrition. 

We have launched Anlene Heart-Plus™ in Malaysia – a new 
formulation which adds vital nutrients to Anlene’s ‘nutrition 
for mobility’ heritage, helping to combat nutrition-related 
health issues such as high cholesterol and diabetes. Anlene 
Heart-Plus™ was awarded the Healthier Choice logo by 
the Malaysian Ministry of Health, a trust mark showing 
consumers which products are healthier than others in the 
same category.

Improvements to our nutrition portfolio like this are 
developed based on sound science and are guided by our 
rigorous internal food and nutrition guidelines, which this 
year have been independently endorsed by the New Zealand 
Nutrition Foundation. 

In New Zealand, Fonterra has committed to the Ministry of 
Health’s Healthy Kids Industry Pledge which aims to reduce 
rates of obesity in Kiwi children. We recognise a big factor 
in making healthy eating choices is clarity of labelling and, 
in supporting the pledge, we are continuing to improve 
product labelling to help families make healthy choices for 
their children. As we refresh our packaging in New Zealand 
we are rolling out the health star rating on all of our everyday 
products, something we have already delivered on almost 
half of applicable products2.

In a survey of New Zealand consumers on protein consumption, 
we found half of respondents say they get most of their 
protein in their evening meal while scientific evidence says 
that protein intake should be spread throughout the day to 
support optimal muscle health. To help Kiwis better balance 
their protein needs we have launched Anchor™ Protein+, 
a range of products designed to help spread protein intake 
across the day, supported by education material on the role 
of protein in healthy diets.

2   Applicable products are those intended for everyday consumption in New Zealand and 
where the packaging is not also used for export to regions where the health star rating 
is not accepted.

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FOR FUTURE 
GENERATIONS
Five years since 
Milk for Schools 
was launched, 
participation is still 
strong with more 
than 1,450 schools.

Nutrition programmes
We aim to demonstrate our co-operative spirit by making 
a difference for our communities through the way we conduct 
ourselves and by investing in specific nutrition programmes.  
For example, in New Zealand we are caring for Kiwi kids 
through our in-school nutrition programmes; Fonterra Milk 
for Schools and KickStart Breakfast (see page 23).

TRUST IN SOURCE
Fonterra is committed to our promise of “Safe Food, Safe 
People, World Class Quality”, delivering what matters most to 
our customers and consumers throughout our entire supply 
chain. This includes commitments to animal welfare, milk 
quality and on-farm management in New Zealand and all 
over the world. 

Food banks 
Joining forces in 2007, our Australian business supports 
Foodbank, Australia’s largest hunger relief organisation, who 
provide meals to charities and schools around Australia. 
To celebrate ten years of partnership, the relationship will 
now see Fonterra become the exclusive supplier of fresh milk 
for Foodbank’s Milk Program in Victoria. 

This programme distributes fresh milk to Australian families 
and individuals who need access to food. In 2016, Fonterra 
Australia donated fresh milk and other dairy foods equivalent 
to nearly 350,000 meals. Based largely on health and 
education outcomes, Foodbank has estimated a social return 
value of AU$4.4 million (NZ$4.66 million).  

We also support other similar food bank initiatives throughout 
the world, including five food banks in the Auckland region, 
such as the Salvation Army and the Auckland City Mission; 
and also further afield with Red Alimentos in Chile.

Achieving benchmark standards
Two years ago, we set a target for all our manufacturing 
facilities to be certified to globally recognised benchmarks3 
by 2019; demonstrating they have robust Food Safety 
Management Systems. More than 80 per cent are now at 
this level. In addition, our own farming operations in China 
have also achieved this benchmark this year. 

KICKSTART BREAKFAST
In partnership with Sanitarium, 
Kickstart Breakfast serves breakfast 
to more than 29,000 children and 
young people every week.

3   Independent certification to standards recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative. 

80%

BENCHMARK 
STANDARDS
In the last two years, 80 per cent 
of our manufacturing facilities 
have been certified to globally 
recognised benchmarks.

PRODUCT 
AUTHENTICATION
Our product authentication 
solution uses unique QR 
codes that allow consumers 
to check Anmum™ products 
are authentic.

Thinking and living food safety and quality
To ensure we deliver on our promise, we always focus on 
strengthening our food safety culture, knowing that with 
any improvement in the supply chain, everyone wins.  

HELPING SET STANDARDS
Through participation in the GFSI’s* 
Food Safety Culture Working Group 
we encourage new industry standards. 
* GFSI = Global Food Safety Initiative

Independent research in 2017 shows the success of these 
efforts, with Fonterra employees better understanding their 
individual responsibilities as part of a food company. With this 
knowledge, they are empowered, encouraged and enabled to 
make decisions that ensure protecting food safety and quality 
is their first priority. 

New and innovative thinking around food safety and quality 
has included turning procedural training activities into an 
interactive board game, customised to build engagement 
with its audience. The game has positively impacted food 
safety behaviours, and it won the New Zealand Association 
of Training and Documentation Learning Innovation of 
the Year 2016.

Global food defence – product authentication
We continue to deliver on our food traceability strategy, 
improving our capability to track all batches of product and 
the ingredients that went into them – from raw milk right 
through to the consumer. Our external traceability, or product 
authentication solution, uses a unique QR code that allows 
consumers to check the product is authentic, either pre or post 
purchase, as well as giving real time product status information. 

This product authentication solution was launched in 2017 
across our Anmum™ paediatric and maternal range in 
New Zealand.

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OUR 
PEOPLE

TOTAL RECORDABLE INJURY FREQUENCY RATE

DISRUPT
Our entrepreneurial 
programme involving 
1,400 employees 
from 16 countries.

19%

KEEPING OUR 
PEOPLE SAFE
Our employee injury rate 
continues to improve, down 
19 per cent on last year.

20

15

10

5

0

F10           F11           F12            F13            F14           F15           F16           F17

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DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
We believe having diverse and inclusive teams is hugely important 
to both our long-term success and to our communities. When we 
embrace different perspectives we know we are more innovative, 
make better decisions, and improve performance.

We have made good progress in this space, and we recognise 
there is more we can do to embed diversity and inclusion in 
our culture. To help achieve this we are engaging with our 
people to better understand what diversity means to them 
and supporting initiatives that foster diversity and inclusion 
across their networks. 

Disrupt is an entrepreneurial programme enabling us to 
harness the diversity and talent of our people to create value, 
with cross-market and cross-functional teams developing and 
implementing new business models. Since launching last year, 
Disrupt has involved around 1,400 employees aged 21 to 60 
from 16 countries.

As an example of our global activities, in Saudi Arabia we have 
worked with local government and developed our site facilities 
to meet the cultural requirements for female employees. Our 
manufacturing team in Saudi Arabia has gone from having no 
women in 2015, to women now making up eight per cent of 
the workforce. 

Flexible working is a strategy we have adopted to promote 
a diverse and inclusive culture. By encouraging and supporting 
our staff when they need to work from different locations, 
or at different times, we can help with work-life balance and 
retain staff if circumstances change. 

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We don’t do it alone – we also partner with organisations to 
further enhance diversity and inclusion. In New Zealand, these 
include the Whakaterehia Ma–ori Leadership Programme, a 
partnership with ASB to develop Ma–ori leaders for the future; 
–
Nga–ti Wha–tua O
ra–kei on leadership development and cultural 
elements of diversity and inclusion; First Foundation, which 
offers young people ‘a hand up’ irrespective of socio-economic 
status; and Global Women, with more than 35 of our female 
leaders taking part in their development programmes.

LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Learning and development are essential building blocks of our 
Co-operative and, through a tiered development programme, 
we are offering our operators pathways to recognised4 
qualifications. DAIRYCRAFT is our entry-level technical training 
programme currently available for our processing and packing 
operators in New Zealand Powder, Cream and Cheese plants 
and delivered through a partnership with the Primary Industry 
Training Organisation. The programme is voluntary and 
self-paced, with coaching provided by a team of Fonterra staff. 
So far, 146 staff have completed the qualification and another 
259 are in progress. 

At the highest tier for operators, our Dairy Diploma 
programme is facilitated by a combination of staff from 
a local tertiary institute and our own experts. This year our 
second cohort started and we have 57 participants in total. 
Globally, we have continued to expand our Leadership 

4   Recognised by New Zealand Qualifications Agency at level 3 and/or 4.

Fundamentals programme, training 160 internal facilitators 
to deliver the face-to-face sessions in 16 countries. 

his role in maintaining the safety of more than 1,600 tanker 
drivers travelling more than 90 million kilometres per year. 

This year we have also launched our new MYFONTERRA 
learning platform to give us increased ability to plan and record 
learning. As part of our annual policy compliance assessment, 
this enabled almost 2,000 staff around the world to complete 
12 essential e-learning modules in their preferred language.

HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELLBEING
Health, safety and wellbeing are integral to how we operate 
because we want all of our people to go home from work 
healthy and safe every day. 

WELLBEING CHALLENGE
Ninety per cent of those participating 
in this year’s Eat, Move, Sleep Challenge 
said they’d keep the positive change going.

In Sri Lanka, the team was recognised by the Prime Minister 
and awarded silver at the National Occupational Safety and 
Health Excellence Awards. 

Barry McColl, our General Manager of Transport and 
Logistics, was named the Road Risk Manager of the Year at 
the Australasian Fleet Safety Awards. This award recognises 

There were no fatalities at any of our sites and serious harm 
injuries5 have continued to decrease to 17, our lowest ever 
recorded level. We also reduced our employee injury rate 
to 5.2 total injuries per million hours worked, a reduction 
of more than 70 per cent since 2010. This is good progress, 
but we will never rest when it comes to having our people 
go home safely every day.

For the second year, our global wellbeing challenge was 
“Eat, Move, Sleep”. Competing in teams, staff were encouraged 
to eat five servings of fruit and vegetables, move for more 
than 30 minutes and sleep for at least seven hours daily. 
Almost 20 per cent of all global staff participated and 85 per 
cent of staff surveyed afterwards felt it had a positive impact 
on their health. 

Around the world our people have been significantly impacted 
by natural disasters such as the Kaiko–ura earthquakes, flooding 
in Edgecumbe and Sri Lanka; and by major civil unrest in 
Venezuela. Ensuring we protect the health and wellbeing 
of people is our first priority when any significant incident 
occurs.  We are grateful to report that all our staff remained 
safe following these events and we have been able to provide 
assistance for them and the wider communities impacted. 

5  Serious harm injuries are injuries that cause temporary or permanent loss of body 

function and include both employees and contractors.

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TUITION 
IN CHINA
Fonterra Scholarship 
students from 
Shanxi Agricultural 
University provide 
tuition to rural children.

AUSTRALIA 
GRASS 
ROOTS
We helped three 
pre-schools 
establish gardens, 
to learn about 
healthy eating.

LIVELIHOODS AND INCOME CREATION
We are committed to generating sustainable employment 
and income creation opportunities for our communities.

While international dairy prices were low, we sought creative 
ways to help alleviate the financial impact on our farmers, their 
employees and the wider communities they live in. Loans, which 
were interest free for two years have started to accrue interest 
but at a preferred rate. Our farmers benefited from discounts 
during FY17, both through our Farm Source™ stores and from our 
partnership vendors. They also earned Farm Source™ Rewards 
Dollars that can be used for on-farm purchases or for purchases 
for the family. 

Approach to tax 
Over the last few years there has been significant interest from 
regulators and politicians on how multi-nationals approach tax. We 
see our social responsibility commitments as extremely important 
and collecting and paying tax is part of that responsibility. We pay 
our fair share of tax in all jurisdictions, ensure legal compliance 
wherever we operate and do not avoid our tax responsibilities. 

Co-operatives and corporates are very different and this is 
accommodated from a tax treatment perspective. Our tax law in 
New Zealand reflects this and, like most co-operatives, we pass 
income6 directly to our farmer shareholders for them to pay tax 
rather than Fonterra paying tax directly and then passing those 
tax credits on to shareholders (the way a corporate would do). 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The Fonterra Grass Roots Fund
In New Zealand, Australia and Sri Lanka, our Grass Roots Fund 
financially supports initiatives that help to strengthen our 
dairy communities by bringing them together, caring for the 
environment and promoting safe and healthy lifestyles 
(see pages 22–23). 

Greater China 
In Greater China, our community care focusses on vulnerable 
or disadvantaged groups, both in the rural villages where we 
have farming operations and in some major cities. In addition 
to on-going activities, this year we introduced two new 
education programmes for primary-aged children from villages 
near our farms in the Ying county Shanxi Province. 

Since 2010, nearly 900 university students have benefited from 
a Fonterra Scholarship and this year we established a summer 
holiday programme for them to return as teachers. Some 
students, from Shanxi Agricultural University, volunteered their 
time to provide extra tuition to around 70 children each day. 

We have also funded lectures by influential NGO Girls’ 
Protection to provide “protect your body” guidance to more 
than 100 children. The course seeks to help the children 
protect themselves against harassment. 

6   Being approximately NZ$10 billion this year.

60   |   SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

EMISSIONS 
EFFICIENT
Pasture-based 
dairying, is among 
the most emissions-
efficient in the world.

LATAM
In Chile, in addition to supporting school sports and free 
education theatre for children, Soprole has backed the 
national Teletón since it started in 1978. Teletón is a charitable 
foundation committed to the rehabilitation and inclusion of 
disabled children in society. After almost 40 years, the annual 
Teletón event has become a flagship for national unity and 
collective community support for the development of these 
children and their families.  

SUSTAINABLE DAIRYING

Supporting our farmers around the world
In all regions where we collect milk, we provide services 
specifically tailored to help our farmers build on existing 
good practices and make best use of on-farm innovations. 
In New Zealand, services are primarily provided through 
our Tiaki Sustainable Dairying Programme, in Australia 
it’s through SupportCrew™ and in other countries support 
comes via our Supplier Relationship Officers.

Climate – carbon footprint
The main contributor to our overall carbon footprint is 
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from dairy production 
systems, primarily from our cows. We continue to invest 

in research and development7 and improving productivity 
on-farm remains our priority. This is achieved by looking 
after cows so they stay healthy and produce high quality milk, 
supported by growing high quality feed and optimising other 
farm inputs. 

This year, in addition to analysing our New Zealand milk 
supply for the full on-farm carbon lifecycle, we have also 
considered our Australian and China footprints for the 
2015/20168 seasons using a similar approach.

Continuing a trend downwards over the past five years, 
our footprint in New Zealand has reduced and our milk is 
among the most climate efficient in the world - most of our 
raw milk supply is at less than half of the global estimated 
average. We are committed to continuing this progress 
through increased productivity and investment into research, 
science and technology.

Launched this year, Dairy Action for Climate Change was 
spearheaded by Dairy New Zealand in partnership with 
Fonterra and supported by the Ministry for Primary Industries. 
Among other activities, this will see farmers on 100 pilot 
farms given an indication of their specific footprint and how 
it changes over time. We will learn a lot through this pilot, 
which we can later apply at scale.

7  Our investment in research and development in this area is primarily through the Pastoral 

Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium (PGgRc).

8   Due to data availability lifecycle analysis to the farm gate can only be reported for the 

prior season and not that just completed.

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LOREM IPSUM
Ut wisi enim ad 
minim veniam, quis 
nostrud exerci tatio 
ullamcorper suscip, 
lobortis is.

98.4%

CARING FOR OUR 
WATERWAYS
98.4 per cent of significant 
waterways on dairy 
farms across the country 
are fenced.

Water
We are fully committed to helping develop strong, sustainable 
ecosystems that can support profitable farms alongside 
healthy land and fresh water. This view has underpinned our 
farmers’ active adoption of new farming practices, which both 
protect our waterways and support the production of high 
quality dairy products.

Our farmers have been working and investing in farming 
improvements for many years. 

NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT
More than 95 per cent of farmers 
completed comprehensive nitrogen 
management assessments this year.

They have taken major steps to care for the land and their 
efforts to keep cows out of rivers and streams is a good 
example of this commitment. By fencing 98.4 per cent of 
significant waterways on dairy farms across the country and 
by ensuring that 99.8 per cent of regular water crossings now 
have a bridge or culvert, they are keeping their promise to 
care for the land. 

Our next priority is for all New Zealand farmers to have a 
documented Riparian Management9 plan in place by 2020. 
The launch of the new Tiaki Sustainable Dairying Programme 

in FY18 will support on-farm adoption rates, with a target 
of implementing 1,000 Farm Environment Plans over the 
next 12 months. 

We know that science and technology will play a key role in 
meeting our commitment to swimmable waterways in New 
Zealand. Our farmers’ investment in, and adoption of, new 
technology is accelerating our on-farm efforts to improve rivers, 
lakes and streams. Using the detailed information our farmers 
collect, our nutrient management service uses OVERSEER®10,  
a nutrient software application, and our own systems to provide 
specialised reporting to our farmers. This information supports 
more informed decisions about nutrient management, helping 
to identify opportunities to reduce the risk of nitrogen leaching 
and improve efficiency. This year more than 95 per cent of our 
farmers completed an assessment for their farm.

Addressing water quality in New Zealand requires a localised 
approach. We are working proactively with Regional Councils 
to set environmental limits for water, looking at the land and 
water science, and determining the social, economic and 
environmental expectations of the communities they represent. 

We have come a really long way, but of course we want to do 
more. Initiatives through our Innovative Co-operative strategy, 
tapping into the latest science and technology, will further help 
us make the transition to leading sustainable farming practices.

9  Management of the strip of land adjacent to the waterways including suitable planting 

to reduce erosion, capture nutrients and provide shade.

10 OVERSEER® is owned by the Ministry for Primary Industries, the Fertiliser Association  

and AgResearch.

LIVING WATER
Identifying solutions 
that can be adopted 
at scale.

PARTNERSHIPS IN ACTION

Living Water
Living Water is our 10-year partnership with the Department 
of Conservation (DOC) connecting our farmers with iwi, hapu–, 
scientists, councils and community groups to demonstrate 
that sustainable dairying and healthy fresh water systems can 
thrive together. Combining DOC’s conservation expertise with 
Fonterra’s Sustainable Dairying Programme, we are trialling 
solutions that will scale to improve freshwater systems on 
farms across New Zealand. The following are examples of 
some solutions we’ve tested this year:
•  An ecosystem services report commissioned by Living 
Water identified detention bunds, which slow down the 
release of flood and storm water. These are now seen as 
a potential solution for improving catchment resilience.  
Living Water is trialling two affordable detention bunds 
in the Wairua catchment to assess their ability to reduce 
peak flows and capture sediment. 

•  Following on-farm biodiversity assessments in Te Waihora, 
we started “re-battering” and planting banks. Re-battering 
of steep banks prevents slips and reduces sediment. 
With the inclusion of fast-growing native plants, it quickly 
provides shade to inhibit aquatic weed growth and cool 
the water which helps the development of beneficial 
aquatic organisms.  

50 Catchments
We recognise we have an important role in addressing water 
quality and this year we announced a bold new ambition 
to restore 50 freshwater catchments across New Zealand. 
Our immediate focus will be on working with our farmers, 
communities, Government and other key partners to identify 
the catchments and develop a framework and improvement 
action plan.

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16%

REDUCING 
OUR IMPACT
We have achieved a 
reduction of more than 
16 per cent in energy 
intensity since 2003.

SUSTAINABLE MANUFACTURING
This section focuses on our manufacturing footprint in 
New Zealand and Australia which together represent more 
than 95 per cent of our raw milk supply.

We have environmental management systems in place to 
ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and high 
standards of environmental performance.

For our sites, this means third party certification to the 
international standard ISO14001 and we are transitioning to 
the later 2015 version. In New Zealand, our five sites which 
make local consumer products such as fresh milk, yoghurt 
and ice cream have all achieved Enviro-Mark Diamond Status. 
This is the highest level of Enviro-Mark certification and 
equivalent to IS014001:2015. 

The Fonterra Brands team was recognised for its 
environmental performance at the Enviro-Mark Solutions’ 
Environmental Excellence Awards this year. 

SAVING WATER
The recently completed 
Lichfield powder plant 
expansion increased 
production 80 per cent 
while using 18 per cent 
less water.

Climate and energy in manufacturing
Fonterra has a number of commitments in place addressing 
intensity11 of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions across 
our business operations, underpinned by our desire to move 
towards cleaner energy sources. 

In our New Zealand operations we have achieved more than 
a 16 per cent reduction in energy intensity since 2003, against 
a target of 20 per cent by 2020.12 With milk volumes down over 
the season, running plants as efficiently as in previous years has 
proved challenging and this has contributed to a flattening in 
progress this year. This applied across both countries increasing 
our overall energy use per tonne of production to 8.26 GJ/tonne. 

An independent assessment of efficiency improvements made 
during the Pahiatua site upgrade identified significant benefits 
from the new dryer’s heat recovery loop. Through energy conscious 
re-engineering, steam demand was reduced by 7.5 per cent. 

Energy efficiency continues to be our main focus for greenhouse 
gas reduction but we are also committed to a transition to 
lower emission energy sources in our manufacturing activities. 
In 2016/17, we sought improvements in our greenhouse gas 
emission intensity by a shift in fuel mix quantity from coal  
to gas. At our Brightwater site we also completed a trial of 
co-firing coal with biomass and plans to develop this further 
are being progressed. 

11  ‘Intensity’ is the amount of energy used or greenhouse gas emissions produced per tonne 

of production.

12 Improvement is from a 2003 baseline and applies to New Zealand.

AOTEA MAERSK
One of a new generation of 
vessels that now regularly 
visits Port of Tauranga.

Water in manufacturing
Water use in manufacturing decreased for a second year 
to 14.4 cubic metres of water per tonne of production and 
reflects our increased focus in this area and investment in 
resource-efficient plants. 

In its first full year of operation, our Pahiatua site increased 
production almost 90 per cent on FY15 while using almost 
40 per cent less water. Expansion at the Lichfield site was 
commissioned this year and we have increased production 
by almost 80 per cent while using 18 per cent less water. 
In both cases we are capturing and cleaning the water 
evaporated from drying the milk so it can be re-used.

After using water we also need to dispose of it, with 
minimised impacts on the environment and working towards 
all manufacturing plants treating wastewater to a leading 
industry standard by 2026. 

To help achieve this we are installing more biological 
treatment plants. These treatment plants also generate a 
waste product which is an excellent fertiliser for use on-farm. 
This fertiliser is an alternative to nitrogen and phosphorus 
fertilisers and contains matter which can also improve the 
water retention and structure of soil. 

SUSTAINABLE DISTRIBUTION
Our land transport logistics partner, Coda, opened an 
intermodal freight hub at Savill Drive in Auckland this year 
and it’s one of the largest in New Zealand. 

Through the development of an end-to-end logistics model 
enabling visibility of broader import, export and domestic 
movements within the North Island’s freight network, Coda 
is able to consolidate freight, reducing moves of empty space, 
by filling trucks and trains in both directions, saving fuel and 
reducing carbon emissions. 

Innovative 25-foot curtain-sided containers have been created 
to support this strategy. These containers can be used on both 
road and rail, and are specifically designed with extra internal 
height to allow the double stacking of products. 

Thermally-insulated curtain sides support efficient loading for 
fast moving consumer goods in the domestic market. Special 
features such as rivet-free internal surfaces help protect 
products from damage and reusable airbags secure the cargo 
while minimising waste. 

The new era of larger ship visits, made possible through 
Kotahi’s collaboration with export partners, Maersk Line and 
Port of Tauranga, is another key milestone. New generation 
vessels are more fuel efficient on a per-container basis and 
coupled with Coda’s freight strategy we have more efficient 
and sustainable export logistics.

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CORPORATE 
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CONTENTS

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

FONTERRA MANAGEMENT TEAM 

67

78

80

The Board and Management of Fonterra 
consider that strong governance plays a 
critical role in the success of our Co-operative 
and are committed to achieving the highest 
standard of corporate governance 
and leadership.
To support this our Board has developed 
governance systems that reflect Fonterra’s 
unique characteristics and requirements as a 
significant New Zealand based co-operative 
competing in the global dairy market.

Fonterra continuously reviews its Governance 
and Representation to ensure they reflect best 
practice for our Co-operative.
In October 2016, Fonterra’s farmer 
shareholders voted to adopt a number of 
recommendations to enhance Fonterra’s 
Governance and Representation including 
a reduction in the number of farmer elected 
Directors on Fonterra’s Board and a change 
to the way Farmer Directors are elected.  

CHANGES TO THE FONTERRA BOARD
There were a number of changes to the Fonterra Board during 
the financial year ending 31 July 2017: 
•  In August 2016, Mr John Waller, an Appointed Director, 

retired. In November 2016. Mr Scott St John was appointed 
by the Board to fill this vacancy. 

•  In December 2016, Mr Malcolm Bailey and Mr Ian Farrelly, 

both Farmer Directors, retired from the Board and Ms Donna 
Smit was elected to the Board as a Farmer Director. 
•  In January 2017, Mr Michael Spaans resigned from the 
Fonterra Board due to ill health. Mr Ian Farrelly was 
appointed by the Board to fill the vacancy created by Mr 
Spaans’ resignation. Mr Farrelly’s appointment is effective 
until the 2017 Annual Meeting on 2 November 2017. 
•   In June 2017, it was announced that Mr David Jackson, an 
Appointed Director, would be retiring from the Board in 
November 2017. Mr Bruce Hassall has been appointed by the 
Board to fill this vacancy with effect from 2 November 2017. 

In line with the changes approved by farmer shareholders in 
October 2016, from 2 November 2017 the number of Directors 
elected by farmer shareholders (Farmer Directors) on the 
Board will be seven, with four Directors appointed by the 
Board (Appointed Directors). 

COMPLIANCE WITH BEST PRACTICE 
GOVERNANCE STANDARDS
The Fonterra Board’s governance framework takes into 
consideration contemporary standards in New Zealand and 
Australia, including the principles in the NZX Corporate 

Governance Code which comes into effect for reporting 
periods from 1 October 2017 (NZX Code). Fonterra has 
elected to report against the NZX Code.  However, because 
it has elected to do this before it is required to do so, in certain 
instances Fonterra is not yet in compliance with all of the 
recommendations of the NZX Code.  

We focus on governance in a way 
that promotes: 
 > the interests of our farmer shareholders, unitholders and 

other key stakeholders

 > Fonterra’s Co-operative philosophy, which is largely 
expressed through our Co-operative principles

 > transparency, giving our farmer shareholders, unitholders 

and other stakeholders the information they need to assess 
our performance

 > effective risk management and compliance to ensure that 
Fonterra meets its business objectives and all legal and 
reporting requirements

 > an appropriate balance between the roles and 
responsibilities of the Board and Management
 > communication with important stakeholder groups, 

including farmer shareholders, employees, customers, 
unitholders, debt investors, governments and the 
communities Fonterra works in.

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Principle 1: Code of Ethical Behaviour 
Code of Ethics 
A culture of honesty and integrity is integral to Fonterra’s 
reputation and commitment to become the world’s most 
trusted source of dairy nutrition. Fonterra expects its Directors, 
officers and employees to maintain high ethical standards 
and is committed to the use of global best management and 
business practices to ensure we operate ethically and legally 
in the countries where we do business.
Fonterra’s Code of Business Conduct - The Way We Work, 
the Board Charter and the Group Ethical Behaviour Policy 
comprise Fonterra’s code of ethics. These policies set clear 
expectations for our Directors and employees in matters 
relating to ethical behaviour which includes honesty and 
integrity, dealing with conflicts of interest, the use of corporate 
information and assets and property, giving and receiving 
gifts, procedures for whistle blowing and managing breaches. 
All three of these documents are required to be reviewed 
and approved annually.
Fonterra’s values are at the core of Fonterra’s commitment 
to acting ethically. These values are referenced in The Way 
We Work. This document provides straight forward, practical 
guidelines on how to apply Fonterra’s values in everyday 
work situations and when working with customers, farmer 
shareholders, suppliers and the wider community. 
The Group Ethical Behaviour Policy and The Way We Work 
are published in multiple languages and are available to 
all employees on Fonterra’s internal website. As with other 
Fonterra Group Policies, employee training is included 
within Fonterra’s global induction programme and annually 
refreshed. Individuals are assessed to ensure understanding 
of Group Policies and an annual certification process 
promotes compliance. 
Fonterra has an established independently operated telephone, 
email, mail and web-based hotline. This provides individuals 
with a confidential channel to report concerns about unethical 
behaviour or any other action that they are concerned does 
not meet the standards of behaviour set in The Way We Work. 
This hotline is available in all regions that Fonterra operates 
within. In the 2017 financial year, 35 disclosures were made 
globally to the hotline. All were fully investigated, appropriate 
action taken and timely updates made available to the whistle-
blower. An awareness campaign of the hotline was launched in 
2017 and will be annually refreshed. 
Fonterra operates a Conflict of Interest Register where 
employees must enter all actual or potential conflict of 
interests. Corporate gifts given or received, and hospitality 
and entertainment with third parties must also be reported 
in Fonterra’s Gift & Entertainment Register.
The Way We Work, the Board Charter and the Group Ethical 
Behaviour Policy are available on www.fonterra.com. 

Securities Trading Policy
Fonterra has adopted a Securities Trading Policy that details 
the rules for trading in shares, capital notes, retail bonds, units, 
milk price futures and options traded on the NZX and other 
listed securities of Fonterra or the Fonterra Shareholders Fund 
from time to time. The policy applies to Directors, officers, 
employees and contractors of the Fonterra Group (globally) 
and members of the Shareholders’ Council and Milk Price 
Panel, and is additional to legislative requirements for trading 
securities in New Zealand and Australia. 
The Securities Trading Policy is available, along with other 
key Group Policies on www.fonterra.com.
All Directors comply with the legislative requirements for 
disclosing interests in listed voting securities of Fonterra and 
its related companies. 

Principle 2: Board Composition 
and Performance
Board Charter 
The Board Charter includes details about the Board 
composition and procedures including the Chairman’s 
election and role, the Board’s relationship with Management 
and Incident Management engagement, training provided 
to Directors, and the process for assessing the Board’s 
performance. 
The Charter is reviewed annually and was last updated in 
June 2017. The Board Charter and the Charters of the Board 
Committees are available on www.fonterra.com.
Board Appointments
The Constitution of Fonterra provides for not more than 
12 Directors until the conclusion of the 2017 Annual Meeting 
and not more than 11 Directors thereafter and sets out how 
they are appointed. 
In accordance with the Constitution, presently not more than 
eight Directors are elected by farmer shareholders from the 
shareholder base (Farmer Directors), and not more than four 
Directors are appointed by the Board (Appointed Directors). 
Following the 2017 Annual Meeting this will change to not 
more than seven Farmer Directors, and not more than four 
Appointed Directors. 
The Board is committed to building capabilities and 
maintaining the highest standards of governance. The Board 
also considers it important that there is a good balance of 
experience on the Board. A list of attributes that all Directors 
must be able to demonstrate has been developed by the Board 
and is reviewed annually. The Board has also developed a list of 
skills that the Board believes are required to effectively govern 
a complex, international co-operative, operating in multiple 
markets, answering to diverse stakeholders. The skills list is 
reviewed annually and, if required, updated. The Board then 
develops a ‘Skills Matrix’ by assessing the required weighting 
of each skill against the aggregate skills of the current Board. 

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

The Skills Matrix is used to identify the skills to be targeted in 
each year, through the Farmer Director election process and 
the Appointed Director process. The list of attributes and skills, 
the Skills Matrix and the Board’s targeted skills are published 
each year as part of the Farmer Director election process to 
assist potential candidates in assessing their suitability and to 
assist voting shareholders when assessing the candidates put 
forward for election.
The Nominations Committee appoints an ‘Independent Selection 
Panel’ to recommend to it appropriate candidates to be put to 
shareholders for their consideration to be elected as Farmer 
Directors. In addition to candidates recommended by the 
Nominations Committee, there is a ‘self-nomination process’ 
where candidates can propose themselves for election as Farmer 
Directors with the support of 35 shareholders. The Farmer 
Directors are elected by postal ballot by farmer shareholders. 
The elections are overseen by the Shareholders’ Council.
The People, Culture and Safety Committee oversees the 
process for identifying and recommending potential Appointed 
Directors. Prior to appointment by the Board, the Fonterra 
Shareholders’ Fund is consulted. The Appointed Directors are 
ratified by farmer shareholders at the next Annual Meeting. 
Appointed Directors are selected to enable the Board to access 
a full complement of skills and competencies needed to lead 
an enterprise of Fonterra’s size, global reach and complexity. 
They bring to the Board perspectives, experience and skills 
to augment the attributes and skills (including dairy industry 
knowledge) provided by the Farmer Directors.
Director Independence 
The rules of the Fonterra Shareholders’ Market (FSM Rules) 
require Fonterra to have a minimum of two Independent 
Directors or if there are eight or more Directors, three or 
one-third of the total number of Directors of Fonterra, 
whichever is greater. With Fonterra’s current Board of twelve 
Directors, four must be Independent Directors. 
In order to be an Independent Director, a Director must not be an 
executive officer of Fonterra, or have a ‘disqualifying relationship’. 
A Director has a disqualifying relationship where he or she 
has a direct or indirect interest or relationship that could 
reasonably influence, in a material way, the Director’s decisions 
in relation to Fonterra. The FSM Rules contain specific 
examples of what may give rise to a disqualifying relationship. 
Appointed Directors cannot be shareholders and are expected 
to maintain independence for the length of their term. 
Farmer Directors must be qualified as farmer shareholders 
under section 12.3 of the Constitution and are therefore not 
considered Independent Directors.
As at 31 July 2017, Clinton Dines, Simon Israel, David Jackson, and 
Scott St John each did not have (and continue not to have) any 
disqualifying relationship in relation to Fonterra and were therefore 
Independent Directors. John Waller was an Independent Director 
until his resignation with effect from 31 August 2016.
John Wilson, who is a Farmer Director, is the Board-elected Chairman. 

Disclosure 
Information about each Director (including experience, length of 
service, independence and ownership interests) is disclosed at 
the end of this section or in the statutory information section of 
this Annual Review, and is also available on www.fonterra.com.
Diversity Policy
We believe that a culture of diversity and inclusion better equips 
Fonterra to deliver its ambition. Respecting, leveraging and 
embracing the unique skills and diverse perspectives of our people 
is consistent with what we stand for to all our stakeholders, and 
reflects a core Fonterra value to ‘Do What’s Right’. 
Fonterra’s People Management Policy requires that all policies, 
standards and guidelines support the intent of diversity and 
inclusion. Over and above this, we have developed a Group 
Diversity and Inclusion Policy which sets out what people who 
work for and with Fonterra can expect around diversity and 
inclusion and how it will help Fonterra to deliver its ambition.
Fonterra develops and implements strategies and initiatives 
to build more diverse and inclusive teams. As part of Rautaki 
Ma–ori (our Ma–ori Strategy), we are active participants in the 
Whakaterehia programme which is identifying and developing 
Ma–ori leaders for the future. We are a major partner of Global 
Women and are heavily involved in the New Zealand-based 
Champions for Change initiative. We also focus our attention 
on how to attract and select a more diverse group of graduates 
for both our business and technical graduate programmes.
Fonterra has committed to early adoption of the Champions 
for Change Reporting Framework to collect diversity data for 
New Zealand for the 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018 reporting 
year. Although the framework specifically asks for age, 
ethnicity and gender data, subject to compliance with local 
laws, we will also look to use this as an opportunity to gather 
additional data over time that will enable us to have a more 
comprehensive view of our diversity globally. 
As at 31 July 2017, the gender composition of the Board 
comprised 9 male Directors and 3 female Directors (2016: 11 
male Directors and 2 female Directors). Of eight officers who 
reported directly to the Chief Executive at 31 July 2017, 6 were 
male and 2 were female (2016: 5 male and 3 female).
Ongoing Training
Following appointment to the Board, Directors undertake 
an induction programme to familiarise themselves with the 
Group. Areas covered include:
•  business strategy and planning
•  an overview of key financial metrics to monitor business 

performance

•  an overview of material areas of the Fonterra business, 

including through meetings with key executives

•  Fonterra’s Constitution and other governance systems.

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Directors are expected to keep themselves abreast of changes 
and trends in the business and in Fonterra’s environment 
and markets, and trends in the economic, political, social and 
legal climate generally. As a group, the Board holds several 
workshops on relevant subjects each year, and Directors are 
also expected to keep up to date with governance issues.
Assess Performance 
Directors formally assess the performance of the Board 
each year. A regular programme of peer review of individual 

Directors also occurs as part of an ongoing Director 
development programme. The Shareholders’ Council reviews 
the Board’s Statement of Intentions against the performance 
and operation of the Group and reports on this to farmer 
shareholders annually. The Board is also responsible for 
reviewing the Chief Executive’s performance.
Division of Roles
The Chairperson and Chief Executive roles at Fonterra are not 
exercised by the same individual.

Principle 3: Board Committees
Fonterra has a number of permanent Board Committees, as 
detailed in the table below. Additional Board Committees 
will be formed when it is efficient or necessary to facilitate 
efficient decision-making by providing for a sub-group of 
Directors to focus on particular areas or issues and to develop 
recommendations to the full Board. 

The Board Committees have standard ‘Terms of Reference’ 
and each committee has a charter, which defines the scope 
and responsibilities of that committee and is approved by the 
Board annually. The minutes for each of the Board Committees’ 
meetings are supplied to the Board for review. 

COMMITTEE OR GROUP  MEMBERSHIP AS AT 31 JULY 2017

PURPOSE

Audit and Finance 
Committee 

David Jackson (Chair 
and Independent)
Ian Farrelly

People, Culture and 
Safety Committee 

John Wilson (Chair)
Ashley Waugh
John Monaghan
Simon Israel 
(Independent)

Scott St John 
(Independent)
Nicola Shadbolt
Donna Smit

Clinton Dines 
(Independent)
David Jackson 
(observer)

Co-operative Relations 
Committee 

John Monaghan (Chair)
David MacLeod
Ian Farrelly

Leonie Guiney
Ashley Waugh

Nominations Committee David Jackson (Chair 

Risk Committee 

and Independent)
Clinton Dines 
(Independent)
Nicola Shadbolt

Nicola Shadbolt (Chair)
David Jackson 
(Independent)
David MacLeod

John Wilson 
Duncan Coull 
(SHC observer)
Greg Kirkwood 
(SHC observer)

Leonie Guiney
Clinton Dines 
(Independent)

To assist the Board in fulfilling its governance responsibilities in 
relation to Fonterra’s financial reporting, audit activities, treasury 
matters, financial risk management and internal control frameworks.

To assist the Board in fulfilling its governance responsibilities in 
relation to the recruitment, retention, remuneration and development 
of Directors, executives and other employees, and to promote a safe 
and healthy working environment.

To assist the Board in fulfilling its governance responsibilities 
in relation to the supply of milk from Fonterra suppliers, and to 
seek to resolve supplier complaints before reference to the Milk 
Commissioner.

To recommend to the Board candidates for election as Farmer 
Directors.

To assist the Board in fulfilling its corporate governance 
responsibilities relating to Fonterra’s management of key enterprise 
wide risks. This includes strategic and operational risks, through 
Fonterra’s risk management framework, the behaviours required of its 
people and its guidelines, policies and processes for monitoring and 
mitigating enterprise-wide risks.

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

Board and Committee Attendance

BOARD

AUDIT & FINANCE 
COMMITTEE

CO-OPERATIVE 
RELATIONS 
COMMITTEE

MILK PRICE 
PANEL

NOMINATIONS 
COMMITTEE

RISK COMMITTEE

PEOPLE, CULTURE 
& SAFETY  
COMMITTEE

Eligible 
to attend

Attendance

Eligible 
to attend

Attendance

Eligible 
to attend

Attendance

Eligible 
to attend

Attendance

Eligible 
to attend

Attendance

Eligible 
to attend

Attendance

Eligible 
to attend

Attendance

John Wilson

Malcolm Bailey

Clinton Dines

Ian Farrelly

Leonie Guiney

Simon Israel

David Jackson

David MacLeod

John Monaghan

Scott St John

Nicola Shadbolt

Donna Smit

Michael Spaans

John Waller

Ashley Waugh

23

12

23

21

23

23

23

23

23

14

23

11

14

2

23

23

10

21

21

20

16

22

22

22

14

21

11

10

1

22

2

–

–

5

4

–

6

–

–

5

3

3

3

–

3

2

–

–

5

4

–

6

–

–

5

3

3

2

–

3

–

3

–

2

6

–

–

6

6

–

–

–

3

–

6

–

3

–

1

6

–

–

5

6

–

–

–

2

–

5

–

–

1

–

–

–

7

–

–

5

–

–

2

–

5

–

–

1

–

–

–

7

–

–

5

–

–

2

–

4

–

–

1

–

–

–

1

–

1

–

1

–

–

–

–

–

–

1

–

–

–

1

–

1

–

1

–

–

–

–

–

2

2

–

2

–

4

4

–

–

4

–

–

1

–

–

1

2

–

2

–

4

4

–

–

4

–

–

–

–

15

–

15

8

–

15

15

–

15

–

–

–

–

–

6

15

–

14

8

–

15

15

–

14

–

–

–

–

–

6

Audit and Finance Committee
There is an established Audit and Finance Committee as 
described above. 
The Audit and Finance Committee comprises two Appointed 
Directors and three Farmer Directors. The committee is chaired 
by David Jackson, who is an Independent Director and a Fellow 
of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Employees attend Audit and Finance Committee meetings 
at the invitation of the Committee. 
Takeover Offer
Given its co-operative structure and the thresholds on share 
ownership in the Constitution, the Board does not believe that 
it is necessary to establish protocols for a takeover offer. 
Majority Independent Directors – Audit and Finance 
Committee, Nominations Committee and People, 
Culture and Safety Committee
The Audit and Finance Committee, Nominations Committee 
and People, Culture and Safety Committee committees do 
not comprise a majority of Independent Directors. 
There is currently no ‘headroom’ for Fonterra, based on it 
having 12 Directors, to have more than 4 Independent Directors 
(as prescribed by the FSM Rules), as the Farmer Directors fill 
each of the 8 positions open to them (and as noted above, the 
Farmer Directors are not considered Independent Directors). 
Given this, it is very difficult for Fonterra to appoint a majority 
of Independent Directors to these committees without 

excluding Farmer Directors or significantly increasing the 
workload of the Independent Directors. 
Fonterra does not consider that this is a significant issue, as 
both the Audit and Finance Committee and the Nominations 
Committee are chaired by Independent Directors, with the 
People, Culture and Safety Committee chaired by the Chair 
of the Board. In addition, under the FSM Rules, the Audit and 
Finance Committee is not required to comprise of a majority 
of Independent Directors. 

Principle 4: Reporting and Disclosure
Disclosure Policy 
Fonterra is committed to promoting a well-informed and 
efficient market in its shares, units issued by the Fonterra 
Shareholders’ Fund and debt securities. The Board has approved 
a Group Disclosure Policy to ensure compliance with the FSM 
Rules regarding disclosure. The Group Disclosure Policy governs 
Fonterra’s communications with investors and market participants, 
and the disclosure of information relevant to Fonterra.
Fonterra has established a Disclosure Committee that holds 
regular and ad hoc meetings to oversee Fonterra’s continuous 
disclosure obligations. The members of the Disclosure 
Committee are the CEO, CFO, Managing Director Corporate 
Affairs, Director Capital Markets and the Company Secretary. 
The Disclosure Committee has a Charter which states that 
the committee has responsibility for overseeing Fonterra’s 
continuous disclosure obligations and reviewing, monitoring 

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and implementing the Group Disclosure Policy. The Committee 
maintains a register of continuous disclosure matters and 
also ensures a consistent and high standard of communication 
with farmer shareholders, investors and market participants 
on a timely basis. 
The Chairman of the Board, the Chairman of the Audit and 
Finance Committee and the Chairman of the Milk Price Panel 
attend the Committee’s meetings to review and approve the 
release of the Interim and Annual Reports.
Fonterra and the Manager of the Fonterra Shareholders’ 
Fund have entered into an arrangement to co-operate with 
each other and take all steps reasonably required to ensure 
that information to be disclosed by either of them under 
the FSM Rules and the listing rules of the NZX or the ASX 
(as the case may be) is disclosed simultaneously to the 
Fonterra Shareholders’ Market, the NZX Main Board and the 
ASX. Fonterra simultaneously discloses relevant information 
on ASX on behalf of the Fonterra Shareholders Fund.
Website Disclosure
At present Fonterra has the following documents available 
on www.fonterra.com: 
•  Board Charter
•  Co-operative Relations Committee Charter
•  Risk Committee Charter
•  Audit and Finance Committee Charter
•  Environmental Policy
•  Nominations Committee Charter 
•  People Culture and Safety Committee Charter
•  The Way We Work (Code of Business Conduct)
•  Group Disclosure Policy
•  Group Ethical Behaviour Policy
•  Group Securities Trading Policy
•  Group Diversity and Inclusion Policy
Fonterra does not have a Director Remuneration Policy or 
a Management Remuneration Policy for the reasons noted 
under the heading ‘Remuneration’.
Financial Reporting 
The Audit and Finance Committee reviews the financial 
statements and recommends approval of the financial 
statements to the Board. The Committee considers whether 
the financial statements are complete, whether they reflect 
appropriate accounting policies, any major judgement areas, 
any legal matters that may significantly impact the financial 
statements and any complex transactions. 
The CEO and CFO provide the Board with management 
representations that Fonterra’s financial statements give a true 
and fair view, in all material respects, of Fonterra’s financial position 
and financial performance for each financial reporting period.
Milk Price Panel
The Board has created the Milk Price Panel for the purpose 

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of providing assurances as to the governance of the Farmgate 
Milk Price and the proper application of the Farmgate Milk 
Price Manual and the Milk Price Principles. 
The Panel does not determine the Farmgate Milk Price, as this 
is a decision for the Board.
The Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001 (New Zealand) 
requires that the Chair and a majority of the members of the 
Panel (including the Chair) are independent. The Panel consists 
of two Appointed Directors, one Farmer Director and two 
appropriately qualified persons nominated by the Shareholders’ 
Council, at least one of whom must be independent. The Chair 
must be one of the Appointed Director members. The Panel is 
currently chaired by Scott St John. Other Board members are 
David Jackson and Ashley Waugh. The Shareholders’ Council 
appointees are Andrew Wallace and Bill Donaldson. The Board 
confirmed that at 31 July 2017, Scott St John, David Jackson and 
Andrew Wallace are considered to be Independent Members 
of this Panel. 
Non-Financial Reporting
Fonterra is guided by international best practice and agrees that 
adoption of internationally recognised reporting frameworks 
is a good way of allowing users of our disclosure information 
to more easily compare it with others. For this reason we have 
adopted the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines.
In this Annual Review, we provide coverage of both financial 
and non-financial matters. Non-financial reporting includes 
coverage of progress on strategy in the ‘Our Potential’ section. 
High-level consideration of material environmental, social and 
governance (ESG) factors and practices are included in the 
‘Sustainability and Social Responsibility’ section.
Later this year we intend to issue our first separate 
Sustainability Report based upon GRI guidelines to further 
expand our non-financial disclosure for this financial year.

Principle 5: Remuneration
Director Remuneration
Fonterra’s remuneration framework is designed to attract, 
retain and motivate high quality Directors and senior 
management. 
The Constitution modifies the discretion of the Board to 
set remuneration of Directors. In accordance with the 
Constitution, farmer shareholders elect an independent 
committee of six farmer shareholders (the Directors’ 
Remuneration Committee) to consider and make 
recommendations to the Annual Meeting on remuneration for 
Farmer Directors, which is approved by farmer shareholders.
The members of the Directors’ Remuneration Committee 
as at 31 July 2017 were David Gasquoine (Chair), Murray 
Holdaway, Scott Montgomerie, Stephen Silcock, Philip Wilson 
and Gerard Wolvers.
The Board has full discretion over the remuneration of Appointed 
Directors with such remuneration not being approved at 
the Annual Meeting. The Board has historically remunerated 

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

Appointed Directors at the same level as Farmer Directors in line 
with Directors’ Remuneration Committee recommendations.
Given the arrangements outlined above, Fonterra does not 
have a specific policy for remuneration of Directors. 
The details of the Directors’ remuneration are contained 
on page 52 of the Annual Financial Results for the year ended 
31 July 2017. 
Management Remuneration
The People, Culture and Safety Committee governs the 
remuneration of management. There is no specific policy for 
management remuneration, but Fonterra has a framework 
which outlines relative weightings of remuneration 
components and relevant performance criteria. 
Remuneration Framework
A well-designed remuneration framework helps the Co-operative 
attract and retain talent, and both motivates and recognises the 
role our people play in the success of the Co-operative.
Fonterra’s remuneration framework for salaried staff is based 
on a ‘total remuneration’ approach, which is consistent 
with best practice globally. This includes fixed remuneration 
(salary), benefits (superannuation and insurance), and variable 
remuneration (incentives).
The amounts we pay to our employees are benchmarked 
against comparable companies in relevant markets, using 
information obtained from independent remuneration 
consultants. Adjustments to packages may occur on a cyclical 
basis, such as an annual salary review, or on an as-needed basis 
to recognise additional responsibilities. 
The framework is designed to take into account budget 
targets and restraints, market conditions, internal equity, and 
governance factors such as local legislation, as well as taking 
into account individual performance.
Fonterra’s incentive programmes are designed to drive the Co-
operative’s performance by:
•  Focusing on the Co-operative’s primary objective of 
maximising returns for its farmer shareholders;

•  Promoting collaboration and a one team approach to 

achieve Fonterra’s goals;

•  Establishing targets which are challenging yet achievable; 
and linked to team (such as business unit) and group 
performance.

At the end of each financial year, performance is reviewed and 
incentive payments are approved by the People, Culture and 
Safety (“PCS”) Committee at its discretion. The Committee 
retains absolute discretion in respect to payments for all 
incentive schemes.
Fixed Remuneration
Under our total remuneration approach for salaried positions, 
Fonterra aims to pay at the median rate in the markets in 
which we operate. Remuneration for employees who are on 

collective agreements is negotiated and agreed in partnership 
with Fonterra’s employee representative organisations.
Fixed remuneration for salaried and waged employees who are 
not covered by a collective agreement is reviewed annually. 
Remuneration for employees on a collective agreement is 
reviewed in line with the schedules agreed with employee 
representative organisations.
Short Term Incentive Plans
The majority of permanent salaried employees in Fonterra 
participate in an annual short term incentive (STI) plan. In FY17 
this incentive covered approximately 5,600 employees.
The STI plan encourages our people to focus on Fonterra’s 
strategic objectives within each financial year. At the beginning 
of each financial year a series of Group and business unit key 
performance indicators (KPIs) are identified and approved by 
the Board’s People, Culture and Safety (“PCS”) Committee. 
The KPIs are established every year, but normally include 
important financial measures (revenue and EBIT), capital 
efficiency (working capital), and measures centred on Safety 
and Quality. 
Some employees eligible for the STI plan have a portion of 
their incentive aligned with their individual performance, and 
others are aligned fully to the relevant Group or business unit 
KPI scorecard.
Other Incentive Plans 
Some business units, both in New Zealand and offshore, use 
sales incentive plans (SIP) for our market facing sales and 
support teams. These are targeted to achieve specific growth 
outcomes in key markets as well as aligning to our Group and 
business unit strategic objectives.
Employees in these plans do not, typically, participate in any 
other short term incentive plans.
Long Term Incentive Plans – Overview
Fonterra offers a Long Term Incentive (LTI) plan for certain 
senior executives. This plan is designed to reward and retain key 
senior executives based on longer-term objectives. The Fonterra 
Management Team (FMT) are eligible to participate, as well as a 
selected number of senior executives who lead large functions 
within our core business units, hold significant profit and loss 
responsibility, or head significant corporate functions. 
Our LTI plan is based on achievement of specified long term 
outcomes for the Co-operative. 
The nature of these Long Term Incentive plans means that 
payments are typically deferred over multiple time periods. 
This means that, in any given year, multiple payments may 
be made for incentives earned in prior years. For purposes of 
clarification, we have summarised the incentive plans that 
result in payments over multiple periods.
FY16 – Velocity Leadership Incentive
The LTI plan in place for FY16 and FY17 is our Velocity 
Leadership Incentive (VLI). The VLI was introduced in FY16 

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as a targeted two-year plan to accelerate and reward the 
Fonterra business transformation, which the Co-operative 
refers to as ‘Velocity’.
Velocity was designed to achieve significant improvement in 
business performance by re-setting our business. It encourages 
a focus on generating cash, operational efficiency and an 
owners’ mindset to commercialise new ideas into additional 
revenue streams, faster than before.
Each of the first two years of Velocity required a significant 
step-change in every aspect of the Co-operative’s business 
performance.
Organisation-wide business transformation goals were set and 
included specific delivery targets for FY16. During the course of 
the year, progress against these targets was monitored by the 
management team, and reported to the Board. All results were 
internally audited and validated.
The PCS Committee governs the VLI plan and approves all 
results and/or payments in respect of the VLI.
The business transformation in FY16 and FY17 delivered 
significant benefits across the Farmgate Milk Price, earnings 
and working capital. In FY17 it also supported a material uplift 
in Fonterra’s organisational health and employee engagement. 
The FMT, selected senior management, and a small number of 
employees who led significant work streams in FY16 in support 
of Velocity were eligible to participate in the VLI. 
The FY16 VLI was paid in cash with 70% paid following the end 
of FY16, and the remaining 30% deferred over two years in two 
payments of 15%. 
On target performance under the FY16 VLI was set at 60% of 
fixed salary for the CEO and ranged from 25% to 50% of fixed 
salary for other participating employees. 
In FY16, Velocity delivered significantly above expectations in 
terms of both financial performance arising from efficiency 
and value creation. This performance significantly exceeded 
global benchmarks for similar business transformations in our 
comparable industry and peer groups.
The Board retains overall discretion in relation to all aspects of 
the FY16 VLI.
FY17 Velocity Leadership Incentive
The FY17 VLI was the second year of the VLI programme, with 
certain changes. The payment schedule was changed to a 
50% payment following the end of FY17, with the remaining 
50% deferred over two years in two payments of 25%. The 
payment of the first deferral was dependent on achievement 
of a stipulated lift in organisational health* to recognise the 
importance of sustainable change.
On target performance under the FY17 VLI was set at 60% of 
fixed salary for the CEO and ranged from 25% to 50% of fixed 
salary for other participating employees. 
The Board retains overall discretion in relation to all aspects of 
the FY17 VLI.

*Fonterra uses the McKinsey OHI measurement system to 
determine organisational health improvement (OHI), and Gallup 
Q12 to measure employee engagement. Both these surveys are 
globally benchmarked and well reputed in industry. Fonterra’s 
FY17 OHI results are acknowledged to have demonstrated global 
best in class improvement over our FY16 performance.
FY18–FY20 Long Term Incentive Overview 
Fonterra has developed a new LTI plan for FY18 to FY20 and 
beyond to replace the VLI plan.
It marks a return to a more traditional LTI programme, as 
the Velocity programme moves into a sustained business 
focus. The new plan has been approved by the Board’s 
PCS Committee. The FY18-FY20 LTI has been designed to 
incentivise the FMT and certain senior executives in relation to 
the achievement of the longer-term strategic objectives of the 
Co-operative.
This LTI uses two core financial metrics to measure 
achievement of the Co-operative’s performance. The metrics 
are Return on Capital (ROC) and Earnings per Share (EPS), 
and are commonly used globally in long term incentive 
programmes. These metrics are important as they directly align 
to the Co-operative’s performance, and therefore returns to its 
farmer shareholders, and are readily measurable.
The FY18-FY20 LTI targets for ROC and EPS have been set by 
reference to the FY20 business plan.
The FMT and selected senior executives are eligible to 
participate. 
The Board retains overall discretion in relation to all aspects of 
the FY18-FY20 LTI.
Remuneration Changes for FY18
Given that the Velocity transformation activities from 
FY16-17 have been successful and the main elements of the 
transformation have been completed, Fonterra has adjusted 
the structure of our Short and Long Term Incentives.
The principle design features that have been applied in FY18 
going forward are:
Link to long term outcomes for owners – our FY18-FY20 LTI 
program has been amended to focus on ROC and EPS. These 
measures are directly aligned to the performance of the Co-
operative that flows through to our farmer owners, namely 
ROC and EPS. These outcomes sit alongside the achievement 
and delivery of a healthy and sustainable milk price.
Our short term incentive programmes now include a reward 
component that is based on the total farmer pay-out for a 
selected group of employees.  
Safety and Quality incentives – Our approach in FY18 is to focus 
and measure on both actions we take, and the resultant outputs 
in respect of Safety and Quality. This approach is taken to 
ensure that we have a safe workplace and maintain the highest 
quality standards. Fonterra will therefore use both “lead” and 
“lag” measure to evaluate actions taken, and the outputs 
experienced, in respect of our Safety and Quality performance. 

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

Benefits
As Fonterra operates a total remuneration approach, benefits 
are provided where required by legislation or where they 
represent typical market practice in that country or region.
Benchmarking
Fonterra adopts a “market median” positon on total 
compensation (base salary + short term + long term 
incentives). 
For the CEO, FMT and certain senior roles, the pay 
benchmarking is conducted using independent third-party 
remuneration advisers appointed by the Board. 
Given the Co-operative’s size and global scale is unique to 
New Zealand, the peer group for these roles is comprised 
of 24 Australian listed companies that are more closely 
matched to the size and complexity and operational scope of 
Fonterra, allowing a more appropriate benchmarking of senior 
remuneration. 
The benchmark also reflects that senior positions within 
Fonterra require global expertise, and are typically recruited 
from competitive global talent markets, particularly Australia 
and Asia.
For our wider employee population, benchmarking is 
conducted using independent third-party advisors as 
appropriate to the market in which our employees work. 
Currently, two principal advisory companies are used, selected 
based on their relative presence in these markets and global 
reach.
Chief Executive Officer – Total Remuneration FY17
The total remuneration of the Chief Executive Officer paid in 
FY17 was $8,320,406, made up as follows:

FY17

PAY FOR 
PERFORMANCE

TOTAL 
REMUNERATION

SALARY

BENEFITS1

STI2

LTI3

$2,462,799

$170,036

$1,832,323

$3,855,248

$8,320,406

Notes and Explanations
1  Company Superannuation contribution
2  Payment of the FY16 STI in relation to performance in FY16
3  Total payments made in FY17 in relation to performance for:

FY16 VLI ($2,482,502) 
FY16 VLI deferred payment ($664,956) 
FY15 LTI deferred payment ($201,950) 
FY14 LTI deferred payment ($505,840)

Principle 6: Risk Management
Risk Management Framework
Fonterra ensures its performance is optimised through the 
identification and management of the most material risks to 
the business. The Board Risk Committee has a broad mandate 
covering all aspects of risk and risk culture. 
Fonterra’s risk framework is based on the three lines of 
defence model with clear responsibilities for business risk 
management, enterprise risk oversight, building risk capability 

and risk assurance. Our risk management approach is aligned 
with international best practice and includes a consistent risk 
management process that:
•  Considers our goals and relevant context
•  Identifies any assumptions or uncertainties (risks) that could 

affect achieving our goals

•  Prioritises control effort through assessing the potential 

consequences of a risk materialising, the likelihood of that 
occurrence 

•  Considers risk drivers 
•  Evaluates current controls, their effectiveness and outcome 

acceptability

•  Introduces new controls or action plans to strengthen our 

position

•  Regularly reviews control effectiveness, context changes and 

resulting exposure.

Fonterra’s risk management policy is supported by a risk 
management standard that outlines our risk principles, 
accountabilities and the requirements for managing and 
reporting risk within the business. At the highest level, the 
most material risks to the business are grouped to reflect our 
focus on people, identity and strategy. 
In the Sustainability and Social Responsibility section, we 
provide more detailed information on our risk management 
approach for Health and Safety, Food Safety and Quality, 
Environmental and Animal welfare risks.
These are reviewed regularly to consider any changes or need 
to adapt control strategies, and are reported to and reviewed 
by the Board Risk Committee at each meeting. We aim to 
deepen the understanding, management and reporting of 
key business risks through the roll out of a risk management 
technical product as part of programmed work. Increasingly 
we are reporting on emerging risk as part of our approach to 
strengthening organisational resilience.
Health and Safety
Fonterra seeks to provide a safe and healthy work environment 
to anyone who is affected by our operations. Continuous 
health and safety improvement is an integral part of everything 
we do. Achieving effective health and safety improvement is 
regarded as essential to our long-term success and an integral 
part of our corporate values and how we run our business. 
We have focussed programmes to address our critical risks and 
our injury reduction ambitions.
Fonterra’s health and safety performance is measured using a 
number of reactive and preventive indicators. These include 
Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR), number of 
serious harm injuries and status of self assurance and internal 
control Audits conducted throughout the business. 
We have made a 19 per cent improvement to TRIFR compared 
to our performance in 2016 and we have achieved 19 per cent 
fewer serious harms in FY17 overall compared to FY16. 

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We remain optimistic of achieving our longer term TRIFR goal 
of five which represents world class within our industry group. 
Our focus is to continue to track our efforts on a broad range 
of health and wellbeing programmes to enhance our people 
care and actively prevent incidents from occurring.

Principle 7: Auditors 
Auditor Framework
One of the roles of the Audit and Finance Committee is 
responsibility for making recommendations to the Board 
regarding the appointment of the external auditor. The auditor 
is appointed by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting.
The Audit and Finance Committee reviews the independence 
of the auditor and reviews the external audit fees, the terms 
of engagement and annual audit plan. 
Fonterra encourages the rotation of the lead external audit 
partner in the relationship in accordance with best practice. 
Fonterra has a Group Audit Independence Policy, for certain 
activities the auditor may undertake for the Group. This policy 
is prescriptive as to the types of activities that the auditor 
may undertake, those the auditor may only undertake with 
the approval of the Audit and Finance Committee, and the 
types of activities that are not permitted. The Audit and 
Finance Committee will not approve the auditor performing 
any tasks that have the potential to create a conflict except 
in exceptional circumstances and then only if appropriate 
safeguards are in place. The Audit and Finance Committee 
monitor the performance of these additional activities 
undertaken by the auditor.
The Audit and Finance Committee Chairman communicates 
regularly with the external auditor and the Audit and 
Finance Committee meet with the external auditor without 
Management at least twice a year.
The Audit and Finance Committee is responsible for ensuring that 
the ability of the auditors to carry out their statutory audit role is 
not impaired, or could reasonably be perceived to be impaired.
The fees paid to Fonterra’s auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers 
are detailed in Note 4 to the Annual Financial Results for the 
year ended 31 July 2017. 
Annual Meeting
The external auditor is required to attend Fonterra’s 
Annual Meeting and be available to answer questions from 
shareholders in relation to the audit. 
Internal Audit
Fonterra’s Internal Audit function provides the Audit and 
Finance Committee and Management with objective and 
independent assurances on the design and effectiveness 
of internal controls. 
Management through the CEO and CFO strongly support 
the need for Internal Audit. A close working relationship 
with Management is critical to ensure Internal Audit remains 
relevant and provides adequate audit coverage.

76   |    CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Internal Audit supports the achievement of Fonterra’s Group 
business objectives by:
•  Evaluating the effectiveness of risk management, controls 

and governance processes

•  Delivering reasonable assurance over key business risks 
to the Audit and Finance Committee and Management 

•  Providing recommendations for control environment 

improvements

•  Executing assignments in compliance with Institute 

of Internal Audit Standards

The approach to internal audit is based on the principle 
of line management responsibility for risk and controls. 
•  Management is responsible for implementing, operating 
and monitoring the system of internal controls to provide 
reasonable assurance of achieving business objectives.

•  Internal Audit is responsible for:

– Delivering a reasonable degree of assurance (as 

determined by the Audit and Finance Committee) over 
business risk

– Assisting the business with special reviews or 

investigations where requested and approved by the 
Audit and Finance Committee

– Complying with the Internal Audit methodology.

Principle 8: Shareholder Rights and Relations
Website
Fonterra has a website (www.fonterra.com) where investors 
and interested stakeholders can access financial and 
operational information and key corporate governance 
information about the issuer.
Shareholders’ Council
One of the Board’s most important relationships is with the 
Shareholders’ Council. The Council, Fonterra’s representative 
body, which is established under the Fonterra Constitution, 
is independent of the Board and as at 31 July 2017 comprised 
35 farmer shareholders elected as councillors, representing 
35 wards across New Zealand. However, with effect from the 
2017 Annual Meeting the number of wards will be reduced 
to 25. The Shareholders’ Council was created to be the 
guardian of the Co-operative Principles which apply to the 
cornerstone activities of the Co-operative. The functions 
of the Council are set out in the Constitution. The Council 
reviews the Board’s Statement of Intentions for the 
performance and operations of the Group and publishes 
an annual report, commenting on these matters. 
The Council, Board and Management have a working interface 
document which sets out the principles to facilitate the 
working partnership between the Board, the Council and 
Management and the way operational issues will be dealt 
with by the Board and the Council.

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

Annual Meeting
The Board views the Annual Meeting of farmer shareholders, 
which is held at a different venue around New Zealand each 
year, as an opportunity to communicate directly with farmer 
shareholders and also ensures that adequate time is provided 
at these meetings for farmer shareholders to raise issues or ask 
questions from the floor. 
Notices of Meetings are sent to farmer shareholders at least 
10 working days before the meeting. 
The Constitution describes the process whereby a farmer 
shareholder can raise a proposal for discussion or resolution 
at the next meeting of farmer shareholders at which the farmer 
shareholder is entitled to vote.
Annual Report
The Group’s Annual Report including financial statements and 
an annual review, together with the half-year reports and other 
material announcements, are designed to present a balanced 
and clear view of Fonterra’s activities and prospects and are 
available on fonterra.com.
Other Disclosures
Information on the Group’s performance, annual and half-
year financial results, Director changes, and other significant 
matters, is advised to the market through the NZX and ASX 
in accordance with the Group Disclosure Policy. Farmer 
shareholders and other stakeholders receive regular updates 
on these and other issues relevant to them and all media 
and market releases are available on fonterra.com.
Voting
Shareholders have the right to vote on major transactions 
(as defined in the Companies Act 1993) as well as other major 
decisions that may change the nature of Fonterra as prescribed 
by the listing rules of the FSM. In particular, FSM Rule 8.1.1 
restricts Fonterra from entering into any transaction (or 
series of linked or related transactions) which would change 
the essential nature of the business of Fonterra or in respect 
of which the gross value is in excess of 50% of the average 
market capitalisation of Fonterra without the prior approval 
of Fonterra’s shareholders.
In accordance with the co-operative nature of Fonterra, 
voting is based on the quantity of milk solids supplied to 
Fonterra, backed by shares and is not on the principle of 
one vote per share. 

   CORPORATE GOVERNANCE    |   77  

The working interface document is available on the Farm 
Source website. 
The Council and the Board meet regularly, as do the 
Chairs of the Board and the Council and the Chairs of their 
respective Committees.
Farmer Communications
Fonterra is committed to maintaining and improving 
communication with its farmer shareholder base to ensure 
that the objectives of both the Group and farmer shareholders 
are understood. An extensive farmer shareholder and supplier 
relations programme is managed by the Chief Operating 
Officer, Farm Source. Channels for electronic communication 
are provided through the fonterra.com and Farm Source™ 
websites and the My Co-op phone application. In addition, 
Fonterra provides farmer shareholders with the ability to 
receive communications (such as the Annual Report) from 
Fonterra electronically.
Fonterra’s communications with farmer shareholders include 
regular face-to-face meetings, Sky broadcasts, a regular Global 
Dairy Update, Farm Source™ magazine publication, My Co-op 
posts and regular emails from the Chairman and Regional 
Heads. As described above, Fonterra releases to the relevant 
stock exchanges all material information, and will comply with 
the listing rules of the Fonterra Shareholders’ Market with 
respect to shareholder communications.
Farmer Meetings
A schedule of regular meetings with farmer shareholders, 
sharemilkers and farm workers is held across the country at 
least twice each year. Often these are run in conjunction with 
the Shareholders’ Council and Farm Source™ regional teams.
Farmer Directors also regularly attend other farmer meetings 
during the year on specific topics.
In addition, the Board consults with farmer shareholders on 
specific issues as they arise.
Fonterra.com and Farm Source™ Digital Tools
Presentations on the development of the business are available 
on the fonterra.com website. The Group also uses email alerts, 
including regular updates from the Chairman and regular 
farmer shareholder updates. 
The Farm Source™ website enables farmer shareholders, their 
employees and business partners to transact online with 
Fonterra and access information and tools on milk production 
and quality, online statements and up-to-the-minute news and 
weather. This site is also used to provide information on the 
business to farmer shareholders.
Fonterra’s My Co-op provides constantly updated news and 
information from across the Co-op and the industry including 
milk price announcements, updates from the Chairman 
and CEO and rural and regional council news. The On Farm 
app provides daily milk production and quality information, 
comparisons against last season volumes, tanker ETA, 
and summary reports of key milk performance information 
for the last 30 days.

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

BOARD OF 
DIRECTORS

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

1.  JOHN WILSON

8.  JOHN MONAGHAN

2.  CLINTON DINES

9.  NICOLA SHADBOLT

3.  IAN FARRELLY

10. DONNA SMIT

4.  LEONIE GUINEY 

11.  SCOTT ST JOHN

5.  SIMON ISRAEL

12. ASHLEY WAUGH

6.  DAVID JACKSON

7.  DAVID MACLEOD

1. JOHN WILSON
BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES Chairman, 
and Chair of the People, Culture and Safety Committee
TERM OF OFFICE Elected 2003, last re-elected 2015 
John Wilson was elected to the Fonterra Board in 
2003 and became Chairman in 2012.  Previously 
he served as the inaugural Chairman of the 
Fonterra Shareholders’ Council. John is a director 
of Turners & Growers Limited and he serves 
on the Executive Board of the New Zealand 
China Council. He is a chartered member of 
the Institute of Directors in New Zealand. John 
lives on his dairy farm near Te Awamutu and 
jointly owns a dairy farming business based near 
Geraldine, South Canterbury.

B.Agr.Sc

2. CLINTON DINES
BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES Appointed Director,  
Member of the People, Culture and Safety Committee and 
Board Risk Committee
TERM OF OFFICE Appointed 2015 
Clinton was appointed to the Fonterra Board in 
2015. Clinton lived and worked in China for 36 
years, 21 of which as President of BHP Billiton’s 
China business. He has extensive experience 
as an executive in businesses in China and Asia 
and has had an active career as a Non-Executive 
Director, currently serving on the Boards of 
North Queensland Airports and Zanaga Iron 
Ore. He was Executive Chairman of Caledonia 
Asia from 2010 to 2013, a venture investment 
group in Asia, and is a Partner in Moreton Bay 
Partners, a strategic advisory firm based in 
Brisbane. He is an Adjunct Professor at Griffith 
University’s Asia Institute and is a Member of 
the Griffith University Council. 

BA (Modern Asian Studies, Griffith), CIM, INSEAD 

3. IAN FARRELLY
BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES Farmer-elected Director, 
Member of the Audit and Finance Committee and the 
Co-operative Relations Committee
TERM OF OFFICE Elected 2007, last re-elected 2013, 
retired November 2016, appointed January 2017 
Ian Farrelly was elected to the Fonterra Board 
in 2007. Ian had a 20-year career in the banking 
industry including 15 years as head of ASB’s 
Rural Division. Ian serves on the Board of 
First Mortgage Managers Limited, Spectrum 
Dairies Limited, Fortuna Group Limited and 
Waikato Stud. He owns and runs a 500-hectare 
10,000 animal calf rearing farm in Te Awamutu 
and has ownership interests in dairy farms in 
Canterbury and the Waikato. 

B.Agr

4. LEONIE GUINEY 
BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES Farmer-elected Director, 
Member of the Board Risk Committee and the Co-operative 
Relations Committee
TERM OF OFFICE Elected 2014
Leonie Guiney was elected to the Fonterra 
Board in 2014.  Leonie has worked in the 
agriculture sector for 25 years in a number of 
positions including lecturer of Dairy Production 
at Lincoln University, consultant on the BNZ 
Growth Programme for farmers and has held 
roles with Golden Vale Dairy Co-operative in 
Ireland, LIC and FarmRight South Island.  Leonie 
was the 2014 winner of the low input NZ Dairy 
Business of the Year and the 2006 Canterbury 
Sharemilker of the Year. Leonie began farming 
in Canterbury in 2002 and she is now a director 
and shareholder of five Canterbury farms and 
Bobby Square Limited.

B.Agr.Sc

5. SIMON ISRAEL
BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES Appointed Director,  
Member of the People, Culture and Safety Committee
TERM OF OFFICE Appointed 2013 
Simon Israel was appointed to the Fonterra 
Board in 2013. Simon currently chairs Singapore 
Telecommunications Limited and Singapore 
Post Limited and is a member of the Westpac 
Asia Advisory Board. He was an Executive 
Director of Temasek Holdings for six years 
and President from 2010 to 2011. Simon was 
a director of Fraser & Neave, Neptune Orient 
Lines, Asia Pacific Breweries, Griffin Foods, 
CapitaLand and Frucor Beverage Group. He had 
ten years’ experience in the dairy industry with 
Danone as a Senior Vice President and member 
of the Group Executive Committee. He was 
conferred Knight in the Legion of Honour by 
the French Government in 2007.

Diploma of Business Studies 

6. DAVID JACKSON
BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES Appointed Director, 
Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee and 
Nominations Committee, Member of the Board Risk 
Committee and Milk Price Panel, Observer of the People, 
Culture and Safety Committee
TERM OF OFFICE Appointed 2007 
David Jackson was appointed to the Fonterra 
Board in 2007. David is Chair of Tegel Group 
Holdings Limited and also serves on the board 
of Mitre 10 (New Zealand) Limited. He was 
previously Chairman of The New Zealand 
Refining Company Limited and served on the 
board of Nuplex Industries Limited. David spent 
more than 30 years with accounting firm Ernst 
& Young in a variety of roles, and served as 
Chairman of the board of management for the 
firm in New Zealand from 1999 to 2002.

M.Com(Hons), FCA, FInstD

7. DAVID MACLEOD
BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES Farmer-elected Director, 
Member of the Co-operative Relations Committee and the 
Board Risk Committee
TERM OF OFFICE Elected 2011, last re-elected 2014 
David MacLeod was elected to the Fonterra 
Board in 2011. David also serves on the boards 
of Port Taranaki Limited, Predator Free 2050 
Limited, Matau Technologies Limited and A.J. 
Greaves Electrical Limited. He is Chairman of 
the Taranaki Regional Council. David lives near 
Hawera in South Taranaki and is a director 
of P.K.W. Farms GP Limited, one of Fonterra’s 
largest shareholders. He is a shareholder of 
Far South Farms Limited, which owns a dairy 
farm in Southland.

8. JOHN MONAGHAN
BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES Farmer-elected Director, 
Chair of the Co-operative Relations Committee Chair of 
the Milk Supply Working Group and Member of the People, 
Culture and Safety Committee
TERM OF OFFICE Elected 2008, last re-elected 2014 
John Monaghan was elected to the Fonterra 
Board in 2008. Prior to joining the Fonterra 
Board John was Chairman of the Fonterra 
Shareholders’ Council and the inaugural Chair of 
the Governance Development Programme.. He is 
also a director of Centre Port Limited and Centre 
Port Properties Limited.  He holds a number 
of farming directorships and is a trustee of the 
Wairarapa Irrigation Trust. John has dairy farming 
interests in the Wairarapa and Otago regions. 

9. NICOLA SHADBOLT
BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES Farmer-elected Director, 
Chair of the Risk Committee, Member of the Audit and 
Finance Committee and Nominations Committee
TERM OF OFFICE Elected 2009, last re-elected 2015 
Nicola Shadbolt was elected to the Fonterra 
Board in 2009. Nicola is a Professor of Farm 
and Agribusiness Management at Massey 
University, serves on the Board of the Manager 
of the Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund and 
represents New Zealand in the International 
Farm Comparison Network in Dairying. Nicola 
and her husband live in the Pohangina Valley 
in the Manawatu, which is the base for the five 
farming and forestry equity partnerships they 
run, which include two dairy farms. 

B.Sc(Hons), M.AgrSc(Hons), DipBusStud 
(Accountancy), FNZIPIM (Reg), FAICD

10. DONNA SMIT
BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES Farmer-elected Director, 
Member of the Audit and Finance Committee 
TERM OF OFFICE Elected 2016 
Donna Smit was elected to the Fonterra 
board in December 2016. Donna lives and 
farms at Edgecumbe, and has built and owns 
seven dairy farms in Eastern Bay of Plenty and 
Oamaru. Donna is a Director of Ballance Agri 
Nutrients and Kiwifruit Equities Limited and a 
Trustee of Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre 
(Wairarapa) Trust Board and a Trustee of the 
Dairy Women’s Network. Donna is a Chartered 
Accountant and was a company administrator 
at kiwifruit Co-operative EastPack for 24 years. 

CA

11. SCOTT ST JOHN
BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES Appointed Director, 
Chair of the Milk Price Panel and Member of the 
Audit and Finance Committee
TERM OF OFFICE Elected 2016
Scott St John was appointed to the Fonterra 
Board in 2016 and serves on the Board of the 
Manager of the Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund. 
He was the CEO of First NZ Capital (FNZC) for 
15 years, stepping down from that role in early 
2017. He is now a Non-Executive Director of 
the FNZC Board, and chairs its Audit and Risk 
Committee. Scott has served on the Council of 
the University of Auckland since 2009 and was 
appointed Chancellor in 2017. He is a director 
of Fisher and Paykel Healthcare and chairs that 
Board’s Audit and Risk Committee, and was 
recently appointed to the Board of Mercury NZ 
Limited. He is also Director of NEXT Foundation. 
Previous roles have included Chairman of 
the Securities Industries Association, and 
membership of both the Capital Markets 
Development Taskforce, and the Financial 
Markets Authority Establishment Board.  

B.Com, Diploma of Business 

12. ASHLEY WAUGH 
BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES Farmer-elected Director, 
Member of the People Culture and Safety Committee, the 
Co-operative Relations Committee and Milk Price Panel 
TERM OF OFFICE Elected 2015
Ashley Waugh was elected in 2015. Ashley is 
Chairman of Moa Brewing Company Limited 
and serves on the Board of Seeka Limited and 
the Colonial Motor Company Limited. Ashley 
spent 10 years with The New Zealand Dairy 
Board followed by eight years with National 
Foods in Australia including the last four years as 
Chief Executive Officer. Ashley lives on his dairy 
farm near Te Awamutu and has shareholding 
interests in Puke Roha Limited in Pokuru.

BBS

78   |    CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

   CORPORATE GOVERNANCE    |   79  

 
FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

FONTERRA 
MANAGEMENT 
TEAM

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1.  THEO SPIERINGS

2.  PAUL WASHER

3.  LUKAS PARAVICINI

4.  MILES HURRELL

5.  ROBERT SPURWAY

6.  JUDITH SWALES

7.  KELVIN WICKHAM

1. THEO SPIERINGS
Chief Executive Officer
Theo Spierings sets Fonterra’s overall direction 
and leads the Fonterra Management Team. He 
is focused on building on Fonterra’s strengths 
and securing future growth for the Co-operative. 
Theo joined Fonterra in 2011, bringing with 
him extensive experience from across the dairy 
industry, particularly in Asia, Latin America, 
Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Theo has 
over 30 years’ experience in the global dairy 
industry in a variety of roles including general 
management, operations and supply chain, 
and sales and marketing positions. He was 
previously the acting CEO of Royal Friesland 
Foods, a Dutch dairy co-operative which, in 
2008, he led through a merger with Campina. 
Before taking up his leadership role at Fonterra, 
Theo ran his own company in the Netherlands 
focusing on corporate strategy, and mergers and 
acquisitions, in fast-moving consumer goods 
(FMCG). Theo holds a Bachelor of Arts in Food 
Technology/Biotechnology and a Master of 
Business Administration.

2. PAUL WASHER
Acting Chief Financial Officer
Paul joined Fonterra in 2003. Prior to his 
current role he held a number of senior 
roles across the business including Director 
of Financial Performance and Planning, 
Commercial Manager of Global Sales and 
Marketing, and Commercial Manager of 
Optimisation. 

Paul has been appointed to the role of Vice 
President, Commercial for Greater China, 
effective from 1st February 2018 and leads the 
office of the Chief Financial Officer (oCFO) 
in an interim capacity until this date. Paul has 
more than 25 years’ experience in the functional 
areas of sales, planning and performance, 
treasury, IT and tax. Paul holds a Masters of 
Business Administration from the University 
of Otago, is a Chartered Accountant and 
a member of the New Zealand Institute of 
Directors. 

7. KELVIN WICKHAM
Chief Operating Officer, NZMP
Kelvin Wickham leads the sales and marketing 
of all Fonterra ingredients globally, delivering 
solutions to our global customers, ensuring 
optimisation of supply and demand, commodity 
price risk management, and championing 
the NZMP™ brand. Kelvin has more than 27 
years’ experience in the dairy industry and has 
played a key role in building markets, customer 
relationships and partnerships. His previous role 
of President Greater China and India focused 
on directing the development of Fonterra’s 
business in these expanding markets, during 
which he oversaw a period of rapid growth. 
Prior to that, Kelvin led Fonterra’s Supplier and 
External Relations team, and was Managing 
Director of Fonterra’s Global Trade overseeing 
the launch of GlobalDairyTrade. From 2005 
to 2007 he was the Director of Sales and 
Operations Planning. Kelvin holds a chemical 
and materials engineering degree, a Master of 
Management and a Diploma of Dairy Science 
and Technology. 

3. LUKAS PARAVICINI
Chief Operating Officer, Global Consumer and 
Foodservice
Lukas Paravicini  heads Fonterra’s Global 
Consumer & Foodservice business whose 
11,000 people are committed to bringing dairy 
nutrition to 80 countries across the world. He 
first joined Fonterra as CFO in 2013 after a long 
career with Nestlé where he held a number of 
senior positions including: General Manager 
for Nestlé Professional Europe, CFO of Nestlé 
Brazil, Vice President of Global Business 
Services and CFO of Nestlé Professional, 
and Nestlé’s globally managed Out-of-Home 
business. Lukas’ extensive experience in dairy 
provides him with an in-depth understanding 
of how dairy can deliver people’s needs for 
delicious nutritious food. He has lived and 
worked in some of Fonterra’s most strategically 
important markets. He holds a Business and 
Administration degree from the University of 
Zurich, Switzerland, and speaks five languages.

4. MILES HURRELL
Chief Operating Officer, Farm Source
Miles Hurrell heads Fonterra’s global co-
operative farming strategy which includes 
farmer services and engagement, milk sourcing 
and the chain of 71 Farm Source™ rural retail 
stores throughout New Zealand. Miles’ 17 years’ 
experience in the dairy industry has spanned 
four continents. In his previous role as General 
Manager Middle East, Africa and CIS he led 
a period of sustained growth during a time 
of political unrest across the region. He reset 
the African sales strategy and was a director 
of Fonterra’s joint venture with Africa’s largest 
dairy company, Clover Industries Limited. From 
2006 to 2008 Miles oversaw the streamlining of 
the Co-operative’s European operations before 
moving to the United States to establish new 
offshore partnerships. Miles has completed 
management programmes at INSEAD 
(International Executive Development), London 
Business School (Finance) and Kellogg’s North 
Western University (Global Sales).

5. ROBERT SPURWAY
Chief Operating Officer, Global Operations
Robert Spurway joined Fonterra in 2011. As 
Chief Operating Officer, Global Operations, 
Robert leads Fonterra’s global operations 
business and is responsible for the Co-
operative’s manufacturing and supply chain 
operations in New Zealand and around the 
world. In his previous role he was responsible 
for overseeing milk collection, manufacturing 
and logistics for the Co-operative’s New 
Zealand milk supply. Prior to that, he was 
Fonterra’s South Island Regional Operations 
Manager. In this role, he oversaw the greenfield 
development of the Co-operative’s Darfield site. 
Robert has more than 20 years’ experience in 
the food and dairy industries. After managing 
the Northland Dairy Company’s Dargaville site, 
he moved to Australia in 1999, where he held 
various roles in Goodman Fielder Australia. 
From 2008 to 2011, Robert led two Australian 
food companies before returning to New 
Zealand. Robert holds a Bachelor of Engineering 
(Chemical and Materials).

6. JUDITH SWALES
Chief Operating Officer, Velocity and Innovation
Judith Swales has been with Fonterra since 2013 
and was appointed Chief Operating Officer 
Velocity and Innovation in June 2016. She is 
responsible for driving efficiency across the Co-
operative, bringing increased commercial focus to 
Fonterra’s research, development and technology, 
and taking a strategic view on developing 
game changing business models. Prior to this 
appointment, Judith was the Managing Director 
of Fonterra Oceania, leading the successful 
turnaround of the Australian business and 
overseeing Fonterra Brands New Zealand.

She has extensive experience in senior 
management and business turnarounds, and 
prior to joining Fonterra, Judith was the Managing 
Director of Heinz Australia and CEO and 
Managing Director of Goodyear Dunlop, Australia 
and New Zealand. Before coming to Australia in 
2001, Judith worked for a number of UK retailers 
which culminated in her move to Australia as 
the Managing Director of Angus and Robertson. 
She has served as a Non-Executive Director on 
the DuluxGroup Board since April 2011 and has 
a degree in microbiology and virology.

80   |    CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

   CORPORATE GOVERNANCE    |   81  

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

SUMMARY 
FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS

For the year ended 31 July 2017

CONTENTS

DIRECTORS’ STATEMENT 

INCOME STATEMENT 

STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 

CASH FLOW STATEMENT 

NOTES TO THE SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT 

83 

84

85

86

87

88

89

100

DIRECTORS’ STATEMENT 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2017

The Directors hereby approve and authorise for issue the summary financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2017 presented on pages 84 to 
99. For and on behalf of the Board:

JOHN WILSON 
CHAIRMAN 
23 September 2017 

 DAVID JACKSON
 DIRECTOR
 23 September 2017

Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited (Fonterra or the Co-operative) is a co-operative company incorporated and domiciled in New Zealand. 
Fonterra is registered under the Companies Act 1993 and the Co-operative Companies Act 1996, and is an FMC Reporting Entity under the 
Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013. Fonterra is also required to comply with the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001.

These summary financial statements comprise Fonterra and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the Group) and include the Group’s interest 
in its equity accounted investees after adjustments to align to the accounting policies of the Group. They have been prepared in accordance 
with Financial Reporting Standard No. 43: Summary Financial Statements and have been extracted from the Group’s full financial statements. 
The Group’s full financial statements comply with International Financial Reporting Standards. They also comply with New Zealand Equivalents 
to International Financial Reporting Standards and have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Practice applicable 
to for-profit entities.

The Board has elected to present summary financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2017 as part of the Annual Review sent to Shareholders. 
These summary financial statements include notes setting out key information.

These summary financial statements are presented for the year ended 31 July 2017. The comparative information is for the year ended 31 July 2016. 
These summary financial statements of the Group have been prepared using the same accounting policies and measurement basis as the Group’s 
full financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2017. 

The full financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2017, approved and authorised for issue by the Board on 23 September 2017, have been 
audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers and given an unqualified opinion.

The Group is primarily involved in the collection, manufacture and sale of milk and milk-derived products and in fast-moving consumer goods 
and foodservice businesses. These summary financial statements are presented in New Zealand Dollars ($ or NZD), which is Fonterra’s functional 
and presentation currency, and rounded to the nearest million, except where otherwise stated.

The summary financial statements cannot be expected to provide as complete an understanding of the financial affairs of the Group as the 
full financial statements, which are available from Fonterra’s registered office at 109 Fanshawe Street, Auckland, New Zealand or on Fonterra’s 
website, www.fonterra.com.

82   |    SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS    |   83  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

INCOME STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2017

Revenue from sale of goods

Cost of goods sold

Gross profit

Other operating income

Selling and marketing expenses

Distribution expenses

Administrative expenses

Other operating expenses

Net foreign exchange gains

Share of profit of equity accounted investees

Profit before net finance costs and tax

Finance income

Finance costs

Net finance costs

Profit before tax

Tax expense

Profit after tax

Profit after tax is attributable to:

Equity holders of the Co-operative

Non-controlling interests

Profit after tax

Earnings per share:

Basic and diluted earnings per share

GROUP $ MILLION

NOTES

31 JULY 2017

31 JULY 2016

2

9

19,232

(15,968)

3,264

17,199

(13,567)

3,632

190

(641)

(550)

(810)

(369)

29

7

1,120

34

(389)

(355)

765

(20)

745

734

11

745

266

(703)

(585)

(844)

(396)

7

54

1,431

18

(517)

(499)

932

(98)

834

810

24

834

GROUP $

31 JULY 2017

31 JULY 2016

0.46

0.51

STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2017

Profit after tax

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:

Cash flow hedges and other costs of hedging, net of tax

Net investment hedges and translation of foreign operations, net of tax

Hyperinflation losses attributable to equity holders

Share of equity accounted investees’ movements in reserves

Other reserve movements

Total items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss

Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:

Net fair value gains on investments in shares

Foreign currency translation losses attributable to non-controlling interests

Hyperinflation movements attributable to non-controlling interests

Non-controlling interest other movements

Total items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss

Total other comprehensive (expense)/income recognised directly in equity

Total comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income is attributable to:

Equity holders of the Co-operative 

Non-controlling interests

Total comprehensive income

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

GROUP $ MILLION

31 JULY 2017

31 JULY 2016

745

128

(124)

(1)

–

(2)

1

2

(3)

–

(2)

(3)

(2)

743

737

6

743

834

601

(318)

(16)

5

5

277

–

(84)

(10)

–

(94)

183

1,017

1,087

(70)

1,017

The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.

84   |    SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The accompanying notes form part of these summary financial statements.

   SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS    |   85  

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AS AT 31 JULY 2017

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2017

GROUP $ MILLION

ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY HOLDERS OF THE CO-OPERATIVE

ASSETS

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other receivables 

Inventories

Tax receivable

Derivative financial instruments 

Assets held for sale

Other current assets 

Total current assets

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment

Equity accounted investments 

Livestock

Intangible assets

Deferred tax assets

Derivative financial instruments

Other non-current assets 

Total non-current assets

Total assets

LIABILITIES

Current liabilities

Bank overdraft

Borrowings`

Trade and other payables 

Owing to suppliers

Tax payable

Derivative financial instruments

Provisions

Other current liabilities

Total current liabilities 

Non-current liabilities

Borrowings

Derivative financial instruments 

Provisions

Deferred tax liabilities

Other non-current liabilities

Total non-current liabilities 

Total liabilities

Net assets

EQUITY

Subscribed equity

Retained earnings

Foreign currency translation reserve

Hedge reserves

Other reserves

Total equity attributable to equity holders of the Co-operative

Non-controlling interests

Total equity

The accompanying notes form part of these summary financial statements.

86   |    SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTES

31 JULY 2017

31 JULY 2016

393

2,303

2,593

32

580

–

181

6,082

6,391

887

319

3,115

363

239

446

11,760

17,842

11

1,112

2,117

1,330

34

43

40

44

4,731

5,151

547

148

9

8

5,863

10,594

7,248

5,858

1,637

(552)

192

5

7,140

108

7,248

369

1,625

2,401

13

451

87

145

5,091

6,172

960

342

3,142

410

417

584

12,027

17,118

12

955

2,169

719

18

43

47

35

3,998

5,397

569

152

44

11

6,173

10,171

6,947

5,833

1,384

(428)

64

6

6,859

88

6,947

5

6

5

GROUP $ MILLION

As at 1 August 2016

Profit after tax

Other comprehensive income/(expense)

Total comprehensive income/(expense)

SUBSCRIBED 
EQUITY

RETAINED 
EARNINGS

5,833

1,384

–

–

–

734

–

734

Transactions with equity holders in their capacity as equity holders:

Dividend paid to equity holders of the Co-operative

Equity instruments issued

Dividend paid to non-controlling interests

–

25

–

(481)

–

–

As at 31 July 2017

As at 1 August 2015

Profit after tax

Other comprehensive income/(expense)

Total comprehensive income/(expense)

5,858

1,637

(552)

192

5,814

1,289

(110)

(537)

–

–

–

810

5

815

Transactions with equity holders in their capacity as equity holders:

Dividend paid to equity holders of the Co-operative

Equity instruments issued

Dividend paid to non-controlling interests

–

19

–

(720)

–

–

As at 31 July 2016 

5,833

1,384

(428)

FOREIGN 
CURRENCY 
TRANSLATION 
RESERVE

HEDGE 
RESERVES

OTHER 
RESERVES

NON-
CONTROLLING 
INTERESTS

88

11

(5)

6

–

42

(28)

108

186

24

(94)

(70)

–

–

(28)

88

TOTAL

6,859

734

3

737

(481)

25

–

7,140

6,473

810

277

1,087

(720)

19

–

6,859

TOTAL 
EQUITY

6,947

745

(2)

743

(481)

67

(28)

7,248

6,659

834

183

1,017

(720)

19

(28)

6,947

6

–

(1)

(1)

–

–

–

5

17

–

(11)

(11)

–

–

–

6

(428)

–

(124)

(124)

–

–

–

64

–

128

128

–

–

–

–

(318)

(318)

–

–

–

–

601

601

–

–

–

64

The accompanying notes form part of these summary financial statements.

   SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS    |   87  

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

CASH FLOW STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2017

Cash flows from operating activities
Profit before net finance costs and tax
Adjustments for:
Foreign exchange gains
Depreciation and amortisation
Other 

Decrease/(increase) in working capital:
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Amounts owing to suppliers
Payables and accruals
Other movements 
Total
Cash generated from operations
Net taxes paid
Net cash flows from operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash was provided from:
 – Proceeds from sale of business operations
 – Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment
 – Proceeds from sale of livestock
 – Proceeds from sale of investments in shares
 – Other cash inflows
Cash was applied to:
 – Acquisition of property, plant and equipment 
 – Acquisition of livestock
 – Acquisition of intangible assets
 – Co-operative support loans
 – Advances to and investments in equity accounted investees
 – Other cash outflows
Net cash flows from investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities
Cash was provided from:
 – Proceeds from borrowings
 – Interest received
 – Other cash inflows
Cash was applied to:
 – Interest paid
 – Repayment of borrowings
 – Dividends paid to non-controlling interests
 – Dividends paid to equity holders of the Co-operative
 – Other cash outflows
Net cash flows from financing activities
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash balances
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
Reconciliation of closing cash balances to the statement of financial position:
Cash and cash equivalents
Bank overdraft
Closing cash balances

The accompanying notes form part of these summary financial statements.

88   |    SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTES TO THE SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2017

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

GROUP $ MILLION

31 JULY 2017

31 JULY 2016

PERFORMANCE

1 

SEGMENT REPORTING 

1,120

(1)
526
15
540

(177)
(634)
745
(100)
(48)
(214)
1,446
(70)
1,376

–
105
62
–
51

(690)
(89)
(103)
–
(42)
–
(706)

4,174
13
38

(393)
(3,968)
(28)
(456)
(2)
(622)
48
357
(23)
382

393
(11)
382

1,431

(365)
570
(44)
161

597
485
560
171
(42)
1,771
3,363
(85)
3,278

230
26
35
78
26

(859)
(95)
(85)
(383)
(41)
(26)
(1,094)

4,909
7
–

(415)
(5,815)
(28)
(701)
(7)
(2,050)
134
303
(80)
357

369
(12)
357

During the year, financial information was viewed by the Fonterra Management Team based on two different management reporting structures. 
The first, based on operating segments as presented in section (a); and the second, a strategic platform view as presented in section (b).

a)  Operating segments
The Group has five reportable segments that reflect the Group’s management and reporting structure as viewed by the Fonterra Management Team. 
Transactions between segments are based on estimated market prices.

REPORTABLE SEGMENT

DESCRIPTION

Global Ingredients 
and Operations

Represents the collection, processing and distribution of New Zealand milk, global sales and marketing of New Zealand 
and non-New Zealand milk products (including the Quick Service Restaurant businesses in Asia and Greater China), 
Global Brands and Nutrition, Co-operative Affairs, Fonterra Farm Source™ stores and Group Services.

Oceania

Asia

Represents fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) businesses in New Zealand (including export to the Pacific Islands) and 
all FMCG and ingredients businesses in Australia (including Milk Supply and Manufacturing). It includes foodservice sales in 
Australia and New Zealand.

Represents FMCG and foodservice businesses (excluding the Quick Service Restaurant business) in Asia (excluding 
Greater China), Africa and the Middle East.

Greater China

Represents FMCG, foodservice (excluding the Quick Service Restaurant business) and farming businesses in Greater China.

Latin America

Represents FMCG and ingredients businesses in South America and the Caribbean. 

   SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS    |   89  

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

NOTES TO THE SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2017

1 

SEGMENT REPORTING CONTINUED 

a)  Operating segments continued

GROUP $ MILLION

GLOBAL 
INGREDIENTS AND 
OPERATIONS

OCEANIA

ASIA

GREATER 
CHINA

LATIN 

AMERICA ELIMINATIONS

TOTAL 
GROUP

Segment income statement

Year ended 31 July 2017

External revenue

Inter-segment revenue

Revenue from sale of goods

Cost of goods sold

Segment gross profit

Selling and marketing expenses

Distribution expenses

Administrative and other operating expenses

Segment operating expenses

Net other operating income

Net foreign exchange gains/(losses)

Share of profit/(loss) of equity accounted investees

Segment earnings before net finance costs and tax

Normalisation adjustments

Normalised segment earnings before net finance costs 
and tax

Normalisation adjustments

Finance income

Finance costs

Profit before tax

Profit before tax includes the following amounts:

Depreciation

Amortisation

Normalisation adjustments consist of the following amounts:

Gain on sale of Darnum manufacturing plant¹

Reduction in the carrying value of investment in Beingmate2

Time value of options3

Total normalisation adjustments

Segment asset information:

As at and for the year ended 31 July 2017

Equity accounted investments 

Capital expenditure4

12,510

1,949

14,459

2,458

458

2,916

1,509

142

1,651

1,183

275

1,458

1,572

–

19,232

8

(2,832)

–

1,580

(2,832)

19,232

(13,039)

(2,400)

(1,159)

(1,082)

(1,125)

2,837

(15,968)

1,420

516

492

(170)

(204)

(738)

(1,112)

96

31

49

484

1

(100)

(143)

(154)

(397)

86

1

–

206

(42)

(155)

(35)

(106)

(296)

3

(5)

–

194

–

376

(99)

(11)

(108)

(218)

19

(1)

(46)

130

76

485

164

194

206

(307)

(68)

–

–

(1)

(1)

(51)

(18)

42

–

–

42

215

553

–

188

(11)

(3)

–

–

–

–

–

23

(27)

(1)

–

(76)

–

(76)

662

38

455

(117)

(157)

(88)

(362)

2

3

4

102

–

102

(39)

(1)

–

–

–

–

10

49

5

–

–

15

15

(16)

–

–

4

–

4

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3,264

(641)

(550)

(1,179)

(2,370)

190

29

7

1,120

35

1,155

(35)

34

(389)

765

(435)

(91)

42

(76)

(1)

(35)

887

851

1  The $42 million normalisation adjustment relates to other operating income. 

2  Of the $76 million normalisation adjustment, $35 million relates to other operating expenses and $41 million to the share of profit/(loss) of equity accounted investees.

3   Of the $1 million normalisation adjustment, $18 million relates to revenue offset by $19 million of net foreign exchange losses.

4   Capital expenditure comprises purchases of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, and net purchases of livestock.

GROUP $ MILLION

GLOBAL 
INGREDIENTS AND 
OPERATIONS

OCEANIA

ASIA

GREATER 
CHINA

LATIN 

AMERICA ELIMINATIONS

TOTAL 
GROUP

10,636

1,505

12,141

2,425

439

2,864

1,630

1,008

1,500

–

17,199

171

1,801

13

5

1,021

1,505

(2,133)

(2,133)

–

17,199

(10,343)

(2,362)

(1,213)

(742)

(1,042)

2,135

(13,567)

a)  Operating segments continued

Segment income statement

Year ended 31 July 2016

External revenue

Inter-segment revenue

Revenue from sale of goods

Cost of goods sold

Segment gross profit

Selling and marketing expenses

Distribution expenses

Administrative and other operating expenses

Segment operating expenses

Net other operating income

Net foreign exchange gains/(losses)

Share of profit/(loss) of equity accounted investees

Segment earnings before net finance costs and tax

Normalisation adjustments

1,798

502

(168)

(222)

(778)

(1,168)

145

30

59

864

(96)

(99)

(160)

(205)

(464)

97

1

1

137

23

588

(187)

(38)

(128)

(353)

3

(3)

–

235

–

235

(13)

(4)

–

–

–

–

–

21

279

(132)

(10)

(85)

(227)

27

(5)

(10)

64

–

64

463

(117)

(155)

(74)

(346)

20

(16)

4

125

–

125

(30)

(1)

(37)

(1)

–

–

–

–

763

131

–

–

–

–

9

46

2

–

–

30

30

(26)

–

–

6

–

6

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3,632

(703)

(585)

(1,240)

(2,528)

266

7

54

1,431

(73)

1,358

73

18

(517)

932

(465)

(105)

68

(23)

28

73

960

944

Normalised segment earnings before net finance costs 
and tax

768

160

Normalisation adjustments

Finance income

Finance costs

Profit before tax

Profit before tax includes the following amounts:

Depreciation

Amortisation

Normalisation adjustments consist of the following amounts:

Gain on sale of DairiConcepts investment¹

Disposal and impairment of the Australian yoghurt 
and dairy desserts business²

Time value of options3

Total normalisation adjustments

Segment asset information:

As at and for the year ended 31 July 2016

Equity accounted investments 

Capital expenditure4

(337)

(72)

68

–

28

96

188

632

(48)

(27)

–

(23)

–

(23)

–

114

1   The $68 million normalisation adjustment relates to other operating income. 

2   Of the total $23 million, $4 million relates to cost of goods sold and $19 million to other operating expenses.

3   The $28 million normalisation adjustment relates to net foreign exchange gains.

4   Capital expenditure comprises purchases of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, and net purchases of livestock.

90   |    SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS    |   91  

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

NOTES TO THE SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2017

1 

SEGMENT REPORTING CONTINUED 

c)  Geographical revenue

b)  Strategic platforms
Strategic platforms are organised on a different basis than the Group’s operating segments presented in section a) of this note. The basis of 
presentation is explained in the table below. 

Fonterra considers this information to be useful as it provides more clarity on the financial performance of the ingredients, consumer and 
foodservice, and China Farms businesses.

PLATFORM

Ingredients 

Consumer and foodservice

 – Oceania

 – Asia

 – Greater China

 – Latin America

China Farms 

DESCRIPTION

Represents the Global Ingredients and Operations reportable segment, the ingredients businesses in Australia 
and South America, and excludes the Quick Service Restaurant businesses in Asia and Greater China and 
unallocated costs.

Represents the Oceania reportable segment, excluding the ingredients business in Australia.

Represents the Asia reportable segment and the Asia Quick Service Restaurant business reported in Global 
Ingredients and Operations.

Represents the Greater China reportable segment, excluding China Farms and including the Quick Service 
Restaurant business in Greater China reported in Global Ingredients and Operations.

Represents the Latin America reportable segment, excluding the ingredients businesses in South America.

Represents farming operations in China.

REST OF 

CHINA

ASIA AUSTRALIA

NEW 
ZEALAND

UNITED 
STATES

EUROPE

LATIN 
AMERICA

REST OF 
WORLD

TOTAL

GROUP $ MILLION

Geographical segment external revenue:

Year ended 31 July 2017

Year ended 31 July 2016

3,383

2,394

5,165

4,829

1,592

1,471

2,056

1,939

1,254

1,305

838

745

2,162

2,053

2,782

2,463

19,232

17,199

Revenue is allocated to geographical segments on the basis of the destination of the goods sold.

d)  Non-current assets

GROUP $ MILLION

GLOBAL INGREDIENTS 
AND OPERATIONS

NEW 
ZEALAND

REST OF 
WORLD

OCEANIA

NEW 

ZEALAND AUSTRALIA

ASIA

GREATER 
CHINA

LATIN 
AMERICA

TOTAL 
GROUP

Geographical segment non-current assets:

As at 31 July 2017

As at 31 July 2016

5,479

5,459

347

301

1,285

1,292

840

740

738

779

1,481

1,648

988

981

11,158

11,200

GROUP

31 JULY 2017

INGREDIENTS

CONSUMER AND FOODSERVICE

OCEANIA

ASIA

GREATER 
CHINA

LATIN 
AMERICA

TOTAL

Volume2 (liquid milk equivalents, billion)

Volume2 (metric tonnes, thousand)

21.30

3,019

1.74

636

1.70

310

1.28

237

0.74

600

Sales revenue2 ($ million)

15,284

1,952

1,810

1,277

1,478

Normalised EBIT ($ million)

Capital employed3 ($ million)

Return on capital4 

943

7,950

101

463

201

117

209

22

103

270

10.3% 13.5% 118.4% 680.5% 23.3% 47.2%

5.46

1,783

6,517

614

872

CHINA 
FARMS1

UNALLOCATED 
COSTS AND 
ELIMINATIONS

TOTAL

0.34

26

269

1

789

NA

(4.16)

22.94

(648)

4,180

(2,838)

19,232

(403)

1,155

(518)

9,093

11.1%

For the year ended 31 July 2017 the Group’s return on capital including intangible assets, goodwill and equity accounted investments, was 8.3 per cent.

GROUP

31 JULY 2016

INGREDIENTS

CONSUMER AND FOODSERVICE

OCEANIA

ASIA

GREATER 
CHINA

LATIN 
AMERICA

TOTAL

CHINA 
FARMS

UNALLOCATED 
COSTS AND 
ELIMINATIONS

TOTAL

Volume2 (liquid milk equivalents, billion)

Volume2,5 (metric tonnes, thousand)

Sales revenue2 ($ million)

Normalised EBIT ($ million)

Capital employed3 ($ million)

Return on capital4

22.39

3,074

1.83

698

1.55

292

13,005

2,051

1,944

1,204

7,724

97

489

244

127

0.87

0.62

4.87

0.23

(3.83)

23.66

167

916

131

22

643

1,800

1,385

6,296

108

284

580

922

16

183

(59)

873

(577)

4,313

(2,285)

17,199

(367)

1,358

(127)

9,392

13.4% 10.9% 133.4% 429.9% 23.6%

41.7%

(6.5)%

12.4%

For the year ended 31 July 2016, the Group’s return on capital including intangible assets, goodwill and equity accounted investments, was 9.2 per cent.

1  During the year ended 31 July 2017, the responsibility for the sale of China Farms’ milk was transitioned to the Ingredients sales team in Greater China which has had an 

impact on year on year comparability. The transfer price is reflective of long-term milk price trends in China.

2  Includes sales to other strategic platforms. Total column represents total external sales.
3  Capital employed excludes brands, goodwill and equity accounted investments.
4  Return on capital is calculated as normalised EBIT, less equity accounted investees’ earnings, less a notional royalty charge for use of the Group’s brands, less a notional tax 

charge, divided by capital employed.

5  China Farms volumes for the year ended 31 July 2016 (metric tonnes, thousand), have been restated to align to the same product volume to weight conversion methodology as 
used by the Ingredients business to aid comparability between segments. Previously China Farms volumes were converted to metric tonnes based on the litres of raw milk sold.

Reconciliation of geographical segment’s non-current assets to total non-current assets:

Geographical segment non-current assets 

Deferred tax assets

Derivative financial instruments 

Total non-current assets

2 

COST OF GOODS SOLD 

Opening inventory

Cost of milk:

 – New Zealand sourced

 – Non-New Zealand sourced

Other purchases

Closing inventory

Total cost of goods sold

GROUP $ MILLION

AS AT
31 JULY 2017

AS AT
31 JULY 2016

11,158

363

239

11,760

11,200

410

417

12,027

GROUP $ MILLION

31 JULY 2017

31 JULY 2016

2,401

3,025

9,471

932

5,757

(2,593)

15,968

6,205

944

5,794

(2,401)

13,567

92   |    SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS    |   93  

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

NOTES TO THE SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2017

DEBT AND EQUITY

3 

SUBSCRIBED EQUITY INSTRUMENTS 

Co-operative shares, including shares held within the Group
Co-operative shares may only be held by a shareholder supplying milk to the Company (farmer shareholder), by former farmer shareholders for 
up to three seasons after cessation of milk supply, or by Fonterra Farmer Custodian Limited (the Custodian). Voting rights in the Company are 
dependent on milk supply supported by Co-operative shares.¹

Balance at 1 August 2016

Shares issued under the dividend reinvestment plan²

Shares surrendered

Balance at 31 July 2017

Balance at 1 August 2015

Shares issued under the dividend reinvestment plan²

Shares surrendered

Balance at 31 July 2016

1  These rights are also attached to vouchers when backed by milk supply (subject to limits).

2  Total value of $25 million (31 July 2016:$19 million).

CO-OPERATIVE SHARES  
(THOUSANDS)

1,602,703

4,230

–

1,606,933

1,599,094

3,609

–

1,602,703

The rights attaching to Co-operative shares are set out in Fonterra’s Constitution, available in the ‘About Us/Our Governance’ section of Fonterra’s website.

Units in the Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund 
The Custodian holds legal title of Co-operative shares of which the Economic Rights have been sold to the Fund on trust for the benefit of the Fund. 
At 31 July 2017, 126,047,304 Co-operative shares (31 July 2016: 111,991,937) were legally owned by the Custodian, on trust for the benefit of the Fund.

Balance at 1 August 2016

Units issued

Units surrendered

Balance at 31 July 2017

Balance at 1 August 2015

Units issued

Units surrendered

Balance at 31 July 2016 

UNITS
 (THOUSANDS)

111,992

29,933

(15,878)

126,047

105,480

27,137

(20,625)

111,992

The rights attaching to units are set out in the Trust Deed constituting the Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund, available in the ‘Our Financials/Fonterra 
Shareholder’s Fund’ section of Fonterra’s website.

Capital management and structure
The Board’s objective is to maximise equity holder returns over time by maintaining an optimal capital structure. Trading Among Farmers (TAF) 
allows shares in Fonterra to be traded between shareholders, on the Fonterra Shareholders’ Market (a private market operated by NZX Limited). 
The Fund supports this by allowing investors, including farmers, to trade in units backed by Economic Rights in Fonterra. The Fund also allows 
farmer shareholders to acquire units and exchange them for shares in Fonterra, and to exchange shares for units and dispose of those units on 
the NZX or ASX.

The Group provides returns to farmer shareholders through a milk price, and to equity holders through dividends and changes in the Company’s 
share price. 

The Fund is subject to the issue and redemption of units at the discretion of Fonterra and Fonterra’s farmer shareholders. Fonterra has an interest 
in ensuring the stability of the Fund and has established a Fund Size Risk Management Policy, which requires that the number of units on issue 
remain within specified limits and that within these limits, the number of units is managed appropriately. Fonterra may use a range of measures 
to ensure the Fund size remains within the specified limits, including introducing or cancelling a dividend reinvestment plan, operating a unit 
and/or share repurchase programme and issuing new shares.

4  DIVIDENDS PAID 

The Dividend Reinvestment Plan applied to all dividends in the table below.

DIVIDENDS

2017 Interim dividend – 20 cents per share¹

2016 Final dividend – 10 cents per share²

2016 Interim dividend – 10 cents per share³

2016 Interim dividend – 20 cents per share⁴

2015 Final dividend – 15 cents per share⁵

$ MILLION

YEAR ENDED 
31 JULY 2017

YEAR ENDED 
31 JULY 2016

321

160

–

–

–

–

–

160

320

240

1  Declared on 21 March 2017 and paid on 20 April 2017 to all Co-operative shares on issue at 5 April 2017. 
2   Declared on 18 August 2016 and paid on 9 September 2016 to all Co-operative shares on issue at 1 September 2016.
3  Declared on 16 May 2016 and paid on 7 June 2016 to all Co-operative shares on issue at 30 May 2016. 
4  Declared on 22 March 2016 and paid on 20 April 2016 to all Co-operative shares on issue at 8 April 2016. 
5  Declared on 23 September 2015 and paid on 20 October 2015 to all Co-operative shares on issue at 8 October 2015.

Dividends declared after balance date
On 23 September 2017, the Board declared a final dividend of 20 cents per share, to be paid on 20 October 2017 to all Co-operative shares 
on issue as at 9 October 2017. 

Fonterra has a Dividend Reinvestment Plan, where eligible shareholders can choose to reinvest all or part of their dividend in additional 
Co-operative shares. The Dividend Reinvestment Plan does apply to this dividend. Participation in the Dividend Reinvestment Plan requires 
shareholders to submit an election notice for participation by 9 October 2017. Full details of the Dividend Reinvestment Plan are available 
in the ‘Our Dividends’ section of Fonterra’s website.

5 

BORROWINGS 

Economic net interest-bearing debt
Economic net interest-bearing debt reflects the effect of debt hedging in place at balance date. 

Net interest-bearing debt position

Total borrowings

Cash and cash equivalents

Interest-bearing advances1

Bank overdraft

Net interest-bearing debt

Value of derivatives used to manage changes in hedged risks on debt instruments

Economic net interest-bearing debt

1 

Includes $135 million of Fonterra Co-operative Support Loan repayments relating to the 2016/17 season (31 July 2016: nil).

GROUP $ MILLION

AS AT 
31 JULY 2017

AS AT 
31 JULY 2016

6,263

(393)

(435)

11

5,446

155

5,601

6,352

(369)

(464)

12

5,531

(58)

5,473

94   |    SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS    |   95  

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

NOTES TO THE SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2017

5 

BORROWINGS CONTINUED 

Total borrowings in the table above are represented by:

Commercial paper

Bank loans

Finance leases¹

Capital notes²

NZX-listed bonds

Medium-term notes

Total borrowings

Included within the statement of financial position as follows:

Total current borrowings

Total non-current borrowings

Total borrowings

1  Finance leases are secured over the related item of property, plant and equipment.
2  Capital notes are unsecured subordinated borrowings. 
3  All other borrowings are unsecured and unsubordinated.

GROUP $ MILLION

AS AT 
31 JULY 2017

AS AT 
31 JULY 2016

164

854

137

35

500

4,573

6,263

1,112

5,151

6,263

454

879

143

35

499

4,342

6,352

955

5,397

6,352

Leverage ratios
The Board closely monitors the Group’s leverage ratios, which include the gearing ratio and debt coverage ratios (debt payback and interest 
coverage ratios). The primary debt payback ratios comprise funds from operations divided by economic net interest-bearing debt, and economic 
net interest-bearing debt divided by EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation). Debt pay-back ratios are adjusted 
for the impact of operating leases. The gearing ratio is calculated as economic net interest-bearing debt divided by total capital. Economic net 
interest-bearing debt is calculated in the table above. Total capital is calculated as equity, as presented in the statement of financial position 
(excluding hedge reserves), plus economic net interest-bearing debt. The gearing ratio as at 31 July 2017 was 44.3 per cent (31 July 2016: 44.3 per cent). 
The Group is not subject to externally imposed capital requirements.

Liquidity risk
The Group manages its liquidity by retaining cash and marketable securities, the availability of funding from an adequate amount of committed 
credit facilities and the ability to close out market positions. Fonterra’s funding facilities are reviewed at least annually, which is one of the key 
financial risk management activities undertaken by the Group to ensure an appropriate maturity profile given the nature of the Group’s business. 
At balance date the Group had undrawn lines of credit totalling $3,811 million (31 July 2016: $3,723 million).

WORKING CAPITAL

6  OWING TO SUPPLIERS

The Board uses its discretion in establishing the rate at which Fonterra will pay suppliers for the milk supplied over the season. This is referred to 
as the advance rate. The following table provides a breakdown of the advance payments made to suppliers:

Owing to suppliers ($ million)

Farmgate Milk Price (per kgMS)

Of this amount:

 – Total advance payments made during the year

 – Total owing as at 31 July

Amount advanced during the year as a percentage of the milk price for the season ended 31 May

GROUP

AS AT 
31 JULY 2017

AS AT 
31 JULY 2016

1,330¹

$6.122

$5.21

$0.91

85%

719

$3.90

$3.48

$0.42

89%

1  This amount is after offsetting $135 million Fonterra Co-operative Support Loan repayments relating to the 2016/17 season.

2  Represents the price for milk supplied on standard terms of supply. The Fonterra Farmgate Milk Price Statement sets out information about the Farmgate Milk Price as 
calculated in accordance with the Farmgate Milk Price Manual and the price for milk supplied on standard terms. It can be found in the ‘Our Financials/Farmgate Milk 
Prices’ section of the Fonterra website.

INVESTMENTS

7 

EQUITY ACCOUNTED INVESTMENTS 

The Group’s significant equity accounted investments are listed below. The ownership interest in these entities is 51 per cent or less and the 
Group is not considered to exercise a controlling interest.

EQUITY ACCOUNTED INVESTEE NAME

COUNTRY OF INCORPORATION AND PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS

DMV Fonterra Excipients GmbH & Co KG

Germany

Beingmate Baby & Child Food Co., Ltd

China

Falcon Dairy Holdings Limited

Hong Kong

All investees have balance dates of 31 December.

FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

8 

FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

OWNERSHIP INTERESTS (%)

AS AT 
31 JULY 2017

AS AT 
31 JULY 2016

50

18.8

51

50

18.8

51

Overview
The Group’s overall financial risk management programme focuses primarily on maintaining a prudent financial risk profile that provides 
flexibility to implement the Group’s strategies, while ensuring optimisation of the return on assets. Financial risk management is centralised, 
which supports compliance with the financial risk management policies and procedures set by the Board.

KEY FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

Market risks
The Group uses various derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates 
and commodity prices.

Liquidity risk
The Group actively manages its minimum on-hand cash facilities, access to committed funds and lines of credit, and the maturity profile of its 
financial obligations.  For further detail refer to Note 5.

Capital management
The Group actively manages its capital structure through leverage and coverage ratios.  The Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund removes the redemption 
risk associated with Co-operative shares. For further detail refer to Note 3.

HEDGE ACCOUNTING
The Group applies hedge accounting to derivatives that are designated into effective hedge relationships.  The hedge accounting rules in NZ IFRS 
9 Financial Instruments align hedge accounting more closely with Fonterra’s risk management activities than the previous accounting standard 
applied.  Therefore, Fonterra elected to adopt NZ IFRS 9 from 1 August 2016.  This means that:

 – Hedge accounting is now able to be achieved for certain interest rate swaps, which was not possible under the accounting standards previously 

applied.

 – Option premium costs and the time value of options are now recognised in other comprehensive income as ‘costs of hedging reserve’, until the 
sales transaction is recognised.  Under the accounting standards previously applied these costs were recorded in the income statement when 
they were incurred.

The adoption of NZ IFRS 9 did not result in any changes to the comparative numbers presented.

96   |    SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS    |   97  

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

NOTES TO THE SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2017

OTHER

9 

TAXATION

Taxation – income statement
The total taxation expense in the income statement is summarised as follows:

Current tax expense

Prior period adjustments to current tax

Deferred tax movements:

 – Origination and reversal of temporary differences

Tax expense

GROUP $ MILLION

31 JULY 2017

31 JULY 2016

97

(25)

(52)

20

108

5

(15)

98

The taxation charge that would arise at the standard rate of corporation tax in New Zealand is reconciled to the tax expense as follows:

GROUP $ MILLION

10  CONTINGENT LIABILITIES, PROVISIONS AND COMMITMENTS

Contingent liabilities
In the normal course of business, Fonterra, its subsidiaries and equity accounted investees, are exposed to claims and legal proceedings that may 
in some cases result in costs to the Group. 

In early August 2013, Fonterra publicly announced a potential food safety issue with three batches of Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC80) 
produced at the Hautapu manufacturing site and initiated a precautionary product recall. 

In late August 2013, the New Zealand Government confirmed that the Clostridium samples found in WPC80 were not Clostridium botulinum and were 
not toxigenic, meaning the consumers of products containing the relevant batches of WPC80 were never in danger from Clostridium botulinum. 

In January 2014, Danone formally initiated legal proceedings against Fonterra in the High Court of New Zealand and separate Singapore 
arbitration proceedings against Fonterra in relation to the WPC80 precautionary recall. The New Zealand High Court proceedings have been 
stayed pending completion of the Singapore arbitration. An initial hearing of the arbitration took place in February 2016 and a final hearing of the 
arbitration took place in June 2016. A decision of the arbitration panel is pending.

Based on current information available and the claims made to date in both proceedings, Fonterra will vigorously defend its position in these 
proceedings. Uncertainty exists regarding the outcome of the proceedings. Fonterra has provided $11 million (31 July 2016: $11 million) in respect 
of the Danone claims, which represents the maximum contractual liability to Danone.

The Directors believe that these proceedings have been adequately provided for and disclosed by the Group and that there are no additional claims 
or legal proceedings in respect of this matter that are pending at the date of these financial statements that require provision or disclosure.

31 JULY 2017

31 JULY 2016

The Group has no other contingent liabilities as at 31 July 2017 (31 July 2016: nil).

Profit before tax

Prima facie tax expense at 28%

Add/(deduct) tax effect of:

 – Effect of tax rates in foreign jurisdictions 

 – Non-deductible expenses/additional assessable income

 – Non-assessable income/additional deductible expenses

 – Prior year under provision

Tax expense before distributions and deferred tax

Effective tax rate before distributions and deferred tax¹

Tax effect of distributions to farmer shareholders

Tax expense before deferred tax

Effective tax rate before deferred tax¹

Add/(deduct) tax effect of:

 – Origination and reversal of other temporary differences

 – Losses of overseas Group entities not recognised

Tax expense

Effective tax rate1

Imputation credits

Imputation credits available for use in subsequent reporting periods 

Tax losses

Gross tax losses available for which no deferred tax asset has been recognised

1  The effective tax rate is the tax charge on the face of the income statement expressed as a percentage of the profit before tax.

765

214

(33)

54

(30)

(25)

180

23.5%

(163)

17

2.2%

2

1

20

2.6%

20

52

932

261

(24)

90

(66)

5

266

28.5%

(170)

96

10.3%

(1)

3

98

10.5%

20

48

11  NET TANGIBLE ASSETS PER SECURITY

Net tangible assets per security¹

$ per listed debt security on issue

$ per equity instrument on issue

Listed debt securities on issue (million)

Equity instruments on issue (million)

1  Net tangible assets represents total assets less total liabilities less intangible assets.

GROUP

AS AT 
31 JULY 2017

AS AT 
31 JULY 2016

6.86

2.57

603

1,607

6.32

2.37

603

1,603

98   |    SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS    |   99  

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2017

STATUTORY INFORMATION  
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2017

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR ON THE SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

CURRENT CREDIT RATING STATUS

TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF FONTERRA CO-OPERATIVE GROUP LIMITED

The summary financial statements comprise:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the statement of financial position as at 31 July 2017;

the income statement for the year then ended;

the statement of comprehensive income for the year then ended;

the statement of changes in equity for the year then ended;

the cash flow statement for the year then ended; and

the notes to the summary financial statements. 

OUR OPINION 

The summary financial statements are derived from the audited financial statements of Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited, including its 
controlled entities (the Group) for the year ended 31 July 2017.

In our opinion, the accompanying summary financial statements are consistent, in all material respects, with the audited financial statements, 
in accordance with FRS-43: Summary Financial Statements issued by the New Zealand Accounting Standards Board.

SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The summary financial statements do not contain all the disclosures required by New Zealand equivalents to International Financial Reporting 
Standards (NZ IFRS). Reading the summary financial statements and the auditor’s report thereon, therefore, is not a substitute for reading the audited 
financial statements and the auditor’s report thereon. The summary financial statements and the audited financial statements do not reflect the effects 
of events that occurred subsequent to the date of our report on the audited financial statements.

THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OUR REPORT THEREON  

We expressed an unmodified audit opinion on the audited financial statements in our report dated 23 September 2017.

That report also includes the communication of key audit matters. Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, 
were of most significance in our audit of the financial statements of the current year.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIRECTORS FOR THE SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Directors are responsible, on behalf of the Company, for the preparation of the summary financial statements in accordance with FRS-43: 
Summary Financial Statements. 

AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITY

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on whether the summary financial statements are consistent, in all material respects, with the audited 
financial statements based on our procedures, which were conducted in accordance with International Standard on Auditing (New Zealand) 810 
(Revised), Engagements to Report on Summary Financial Statements.

Our firm carries out other services for the Group in relation to advisory, other assurance and attestation services. Partners and employees of our 
firm may deal with the Group on normal terms within the ordinary course of trading activities of the Group. These matters have not impaired our 
independence as auditor of the Group.

WHO WE REPORT TO

This report is made solely to the Company’s shareholders, as a body.  Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state those matters 
which we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept 
or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company’s shareholders, as a body, for our audit work, for this report or for 
the opinions we have formed.

Chartered Accountants
Auckland 
23 September 2017

100   |    INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

Standard & Poor’s long term rating for Fonterra is A- with a rating outlook of stable. Fitch’s long and short term default rating is A with a rating 
outlook of stable. Retail Bonds have been rated the same as the Company’s long term rating by both Standard & Poor’s and Fitch. Capital Notes 
which are subordinate to other Fonterra debt issued are rated BBB+ by Standard & Poor’s and A- by Fitch.

EXCHANGE RULINGS AND WAIVERS

NZX Limited (NZX) has ruled that Capital Notes do not constitute ‘equity securities’ under the NZX Main Board/Debt Market Listing Rules 
(‘Rules’). This means that where Capital Notes are quoted on NZX’s Debt Market (‘NZDX’), the Company is not required to comply with certain 
Rules which apply to an issuer of quoted equity securities. 

The Company was issued with a waiver of Rule 11.1.1 to enable it to decline to accept or register transfers of Capital Notes (NZDX listed debt 
securities FCGHA) if such transfer would result in the transferor holding or continuing to hold Capital Notes with a face value or principal amount 
of less than $5,000 or if such transfer is for an amount of less than $1,000 or not a multiple thereof. The effect of this waiver is that the minimum 
holding amount in respect of the Capital Notes will at all times be $5,000 in aggregate and can only be transferred in multiples of $1,000.

The Company was issued with a waiver of Rule 5.2.3 by NZX on 10 April 2015 (for a period of one year from 21 April 2015) in respect of the 
Company’s issuance of $350 million of unsecured, unsubordinated, fixed rate bonds maturing on 20 October 2021 (‘FCG030 Bonds’), to the 
extent that that rule would otherwise require the FCG030 Bonds to be held by at least 500 members of the public holding at least 25% of 
the FCG030 Bonds.

The Company was also issued with a waiver of Rule 5.2.3, as modified by NZX’s ruling on Rule 5.2.3, by NZX on 18 February 2016 (for a period 
of six months from 8 March 2016) in respect of the Company’s issuance of $150 million of unsecured, unsubordinated, fixed rate bonds maturing 
on 7 March 2023 (‘FCG040 Bonds’), to the extent that the rule (as modified) would otherwise require the FCG040 Bonds to be held by at least 
100 members of the public holding at least 25% of the FCG040 Bonds.

The effect of these waivers from Rule 5.2.3 is that the FCG030 Bonds and the FCG040 Bonds may not be widely held and there may be reduced 
liquidity in those bonds.

The Company was issued with a waiver of Rule 7.11.1 by NZX on 18 February 2016 in respect of the Company’s issuance of the FCG040 Bonds, 
to the extent that the rule would have otherwise required the Company to allot the FCG040 Bonds within five business days after the latest date 
on which applications for the FCG040 Bonds closed.

Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited (Fonterra) was issued with a ruling in respect of Rule 1.7.1(d) of the Fonterra Shareholders’ Market Rules 
(Rules) on 27 June 2017 by NZX Limited (NZX). The effect of this ruling was to not preclude the appointment of Mr Bruce Hassall to the position 
of an independent director of Fonterra by virtue of a child of Mr Hassall being employed in a non-decision making and non-senior role at Fonterra. 

Fonterra was issued with a ruling in respect of Rule 5.1.2(c) on 22 November 2016 by NZX. The effect of this ruling is that Fonterra’s internal 
governance resolutions are considered to be matters that do not require the NZX to approve a notice of meeting under Rule 5.1.1. 

Fonterra was issued with a waiver of Rule 3.2.1(c) on 31 August 2016 by the NZX, to the extent that such Rule requires Fonterra to have a minimum 
of two independent directors or, if Fonterra has eight or more directors, three or one-third of the total number of directors, whichever is greater. 
This waiver was granted in connection with the resignation of Mr John Waller and applied for a period ending on the earlier of the appointment 
of a new independent director or three months from the date of the waiver. 

NZX TRADING HALTS

No trading halts were placed on Fonterra securities by NZX Regulation in the financial year ended 31 July 2017.

   STATUTORY INFORMATION    |   101  

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

FIVE YEAR SUMMARY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2017

SHAREHOLDER SUPPLIER RETURNS

Payout 

Farmgate Milk Price (per kgMS)1

Dividend (per share)

Cash payout2

Retentions (per share)3

OPERATING PERFORMANCE

Average commodity prices (US$ per MT FOB)

Whole Milk Powder4

Skim Milk Powder4

Butter4

Cheese5

Average NZD/USD spot exchange rate applying throughout the year6

Fonterra’s average NZD/USD conversion rate7

Revenue ($ million)

Ingredients and other revenue

Consumer revenue

Total revenue

Dairy ingredients manufactured in New Zealand (000s MT)

Total ingredients sales volume (000s MT)8 

Segment earnings ($ million)9

Global Ingredients and Operations

Oceania

Asia

Greater China

Latin America

Eliminations

Segment earnings

Normalisation adjustments

Normalised segment earnings

Profit after tax attributable to shareholders ($ million)

Earnings per share

JULY 2017

JULY 2016

JULY 2015

JULY 2014

JULY 2013

JULY 2017

JULY 2016

JULY 2015

JULY 2014

JULY 2013

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

KEY CAPITAL MEASURES ($ million)

Equity excluding hedge reserve

Economic net interest-bearing debt10

Economic debt to debt plus equity ratio11

Capital employed12

Return on capital13

STAFF EMPLOYED

Total staff employed (000s, permanent full time equivalents)

New Zealand

Overseas

SEASON STATISTICS14

Total NZ milk collected (million litres)

Highest daily volume collected (million litres)

NZ shareholder supply milk solids collected (million kgMS) 

NZ contract supply milk solids collected (million kgMS) 

NZ milk solids collected (million kgMS)

Total number of shareholders at 31 May

Total number of sharemilkers at 31 May

Total number of shares at 31 May (million)

7,056

5,601

44.3%

9,093

11.1%

6,883

5,473

44.3%

9,392

12.4%

7,196

7,120

6,452

4,732

6,830

4,467

49.7%

42.3%

39.6%

9,487

8,493

8,249

8.9%

4.7%

10.5%

21.4

11.7

9.7

17,051

80.1

1,417

109

1,526

10,267

2,722

1,607

21.3

11.4

9.9

17,585

86.9

1,453

113

1,566

10,579

3,098

1,602

22.0

11.9

10.1

18,143

89.7

1,520

94

1,614

10,753

3,379

1,599

18.2

11.4

6.8

17,932

87.1

1,533

51

1,584

10,721

3,398

1,598

17.5

11.2

6.3

16,673

84.8

1,424

39

1,463

10,668

3,449

1,598

10 Economic net interest-bearing debt reflects total borrowings less cash and cash equivalents and non-current interest-bearing advances adjusted for derivatives used to 

manage changes in hedged risks.

11  Economic debt to debt plus equity ratio is calculated as economic net interest-bearing debt divided by economic net interest-bearing debt plus equity excluding hedge 

reserves.

12  Capital employed excludes brands, goodwill and equity accounted investments.
13  Return on capital is calculated as normalised EBIT, less equity accounted investees’ earnings, divided by capital employed. 
14  All season statistics are based on the 12 month milk season of 1 June–31 May.

6.12

0.40

6.52

0.06

2,855

2,216

4,221

3,763

0.71

0.70

12,715

6,517

19,232

2,379

3,019

484

206

194

130

102

4

1,120

35

1,155

734

0.46

3.90

0.40

4.30

0.11

2,111

1,803

2,830

2,766

0.67

0.71

10,903

6,296

17,199

2,466

3,074

864

137

235

64

125

6

1,431

(73)

1,358

810

0.51

4.40

0.25

4.65

0.04

2,639

2,552

3,027

3,477

0.76

0.79

12,144

6,701

18,845

2,753

2,982

673

(156)

192

(5)

256

(18)

942

32

974

466

0.29

8.40

0.10

8.50

–

4,824

4,504

3,920

4,706

0.84

0.81

17,748

4,527

22,275

2,519

3,052

280

31

50

30

111

1

503

–

503

157

0.10

5.84

0.32

6.16

0.14

3,394

3,625

3,550

4,124

0.82

0.80

13,926

4,717

18,643

2,312

2,765

480

93

207

–

137

20

937

65

1,002

718

0.44

1  From the beginning of the 2009 season the Farmgate Milk Price has been determined by the Board. In making that determination, the Board takes into account the 

Farmgate Milk Price calculated in accordance with the principles set out in the Farmgate Milk Price Manual.

2  Average Payout for a 100 per cent share-backed supplier.
3  Retentions are calculated as net profit after tax attributable to Co-operative shareholders at 31 July divided by the number of shares at 31 May, less dividend per share.
4  Source: Fonterra Farmgate Milk Price Statement representing the weighted-average United States Dollar (USD) contract prices of Reference Commodity Products.
5  Source: Oceania Export Series, Agricultural Marketing Service, US Department of Agriculture.
6  Average spot exchange rate is the average of the daily spot rates for the financial period.
7  Fonterra’s average conversion rate is the rate that Fonterra has converted net United States Dollar receipts into New Zealand Dollars based on the hedge cover in place.
8  For the year ended 31 July 2014 the total ingredients sales volume has been restated to reflect Fonterra’s strategic platforms. Figures for the year ended 31 July 2013 have 

not been restated.

9  Represents segment earnings before unallocated finance income, finance costs and tax. For the years ended 31 July 2016, 2015 and 2014, Greater China has been disclosed 
separately in alignment with the disclosures in the segment note. For the years ended 31 July 2013 and earlier, Greater China was part of Asia. The year ended 31 July 2015 
has been restated to reflect changes to the organisation of business units that occurred in the year ended 31 July 2016. The year ended 31 July 2014 has been restated to 
reflect changes to the organisation of business units that occurred in the year ended 31 July 2015. 

102   |    FIVE YEAR SUMMARY

   FIVE YEAR SUMMARY    |   103  

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

NON-GAAP MEASURES

Fonterra uses several non-GAAP measures when discussing financial performance. For further details and definitions of non-GAAP measures 
used by Fonterra, refer to the glossary on page 105. These are non-GAAP measures and are not prepared in accordance with NZ IFRS. 

Management believes that these measures provide useful information as they provide valuable insight on the underlying performance of the 
business. They may be used internally to evaluate the underlying performance of business units and to analyse trends. These measures are not 
uniformly defined or utilised by all companies. Accordingly, these measures may not be comparable with similarly titled measures used by other 
companies. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be viewed in isolation nor considered as a substitute for measures reported in accordance 
with NZ IFRS.

Reconciliations for the NZ IFRS measures to certain non-GAAP measures referred to by Fonterra are detailed below.

Reconciliation from the NZ IFRS measure of profit for the period to Fonterra’s normalised EBITDA

Profit for the period 

Add: Depreciation 

Add: Amortisation

Add: Net finance costs

Add/(Less): Taxation expense/(credit)

Total EBITDA 

Add: Reduction in the carrying value of investment in Beingmate

Add: Disposal and impairment of the Australian yoghurt and dairy desserts business

Add: Restructuring and redundancy provisions

Add/(Less): Time value of options

Less: Gain on sale of Darnum manufacturing plant

Less: Gain on DairiConcepts sale

Less: Gain on Latin America realignment

Total normalisation adjustments

Normalised EBITDA

Reconciliation from the NZ IFRS measure of profit for the period to Fonterra’s normalised EBIT

Profit for the period 

Add: Net finance costs

Add/(Less): Taxation expense/(credit)

Total EBIT

(Less)/Add: Normalisation adjustments (as detailed above)

Total normalised EBIT

GROUP $ MILLION

31 JULY 2017

31 JULY 2016

745

435

91

355

20

1,646

76

–

–

1

(42)

–

–

35

1,681

834

465

105

499

98

2,001

–

23

–

(28)

–

(68)

–

(73)

1,928

GROUP $ MILLION

31 JULY 2017

31 JULY 2016

745

355

20

1,120

35

1,155

834

499

98

1,431

(73)

1,358

Reconciliation from the NZ IFRS measure of profit for the period to Fonterra’s normalised earnings per share

Profit for the period 

(Less)/Add: Normalisation adjustments (as detailed above)

Add/(Less): Tax on normalisation adjustments

Total normalised earnings

Less: Share attributable to non-controlling interests

Net normalised earnings attributable to equity holders of the Parent

Weighted average number of shares (thousands of shares)

Normalised earnings per share ($)

GROUP $ MILLION

31 JULY 2017

31 JULY 2016

745

35

12

792

(11)

781

834

(73)

52

813

(24)

789

1,604,744

0.49

1,600,825

0.49

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

GLOSSARY  

NON-GAAP MEASURES 

Fonterra refers to non-GAAP financial measures throughout the Annual Review, and these measures are not prepared in accordance with 
NZ IFRS. The definitions below explain how Fonterra calculates the non-GAAP measures referred to throughout the Annul Review.

EBIT

EBITDA

means earnings before interest and tax and is calculated as profit for the period before net finance 
costs and tax.

means earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation and is calculated as profit for the 
period before net finance costs, tax, depreciation and amortisation.

Economic net interest bearing debt

means net interest bearing debt including the effect of debt hedging.

Farmgate Milk Price

Gearing ratio

Normalisation adjustments

means the base price that Fonterra pays for milk supplied to it in New Zealand for a season. 
The season refers to the 12 month milk season of 1 June to 31 May.

is calculated as economic net interest bearing debt divided by total capital. Total capital is equity 
excluding the hedge reserves, plus economic net interest bearing debt.

means transactions that are unusual by nature and size. Excluding these transactions can assist users 
with forming a view of the underlying performance of the business. Unusual transactions by nature are 
the result of specific events or circumstances that are outside the control of the business, or relate to 
major acquisitions, disposals or divestments, or are not expected to occur frequently. It also includes fair 
value movements if they are non-cash and have no impact on profit over time. Unusual transactions by 
size are those that are unusually large in a particular accounting period.

Normalised EBIT

means profit for the period before net finance costs and tax, and after normalisation adjustments.

Normalised segment earnings

means segmental profit for the period before net finance costs and tax, and after normalisation adjustments.

Payout

Retentions

Return on capital

means the total cash payment to farmer shareholders. It is the sum of the Farmgate Milk Price (kg/MS) 
and the dividend per share. Both of these components have established policies and procedures in place 
on how they are determined.

means net profit after tax attributable to farmer shareholders divided by the number of shares at 31 May, 
less dividend per share.

is calculated as normalised EBIT less equity accounted investees’ earnings divided by capital employed. 
Capital employed is calculated as the average for the period of: net assets excluding net interest-bearing 
debt, deferred tax balances and brands, goodwill and equity accounted investments.

Segment earnings

means segmental profit for the period before net finance costs and tax.

Working capital

Working capital days

is calculated as current trade receivables plus inventories, less current trade payables and accruals. 
It excludes amounts owing to suppliers and employee entitlements.

is calculated as average period to date working capital divided by external revenue, multiplied by the 
number of days in the period. 

104   |    NON-GAAP MEASURES

   GLOSSARY    |   105  

REGISTERED OFFICE

Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited 
Private Bag 92032 
Auckland 1010 
New Zealand

Fonterra Centre 
109 Fanshawe Street 
Auckland Central 
Auckland 1010 
New Zealand

Phone +64 9 374 9000 
Fax +64 9 374 9001

AUDITORS 

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Auckland 1142 
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Auckland 1142 
New Zealand

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Takapuna 
Auckland 0622 
New Zealand

CAPITAL NOTES REGISTRY

Link Market Services Limited 
PO Box 91976 
Auckland 1142 
New Zealand

Level 11, Deloitte Centre 
80 Queen Street 
Auckland 1010 
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INVESTOR RELATIONS ENQUIRIES

Phone +64 9 374 9000 
investor.relations@fonterra.com

www.fonterra.com

FONTERRA ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

DIRECTORY

FONTERRA BOARD  
OF DIRECTORS

John Wilson

Clinton Dines

Ian Farrelly

Leonie Guiney

Simon Israel 

David Jackson

David MacLeod

John Monaghan

Nicola Shadbolt

Donna Smit

Scott St John

Ashley Waugh

FONTERRA  
MANAGEMENT TEAM

Theo Spierings

Lukas Paravicini

Miles Hurrell

Robert Spurway

Judith Swales

Paul Washer

Kelvin Wickham

106   |    DIRECTORY

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FONTERRA 

DAIRY FOR LIFE

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environmental management system.

ANNUAL REVIEW 2017

FONTERRA CO-OPERATIVE GROUP LIMITED