New role shocks' Food HB

Food Hawke's Bay is "extremely shocked and disappointed" to discover Business Hawke's Bay has appointed a food industry facilitator, a move which could duplicate the region's efforts to increase and market its food enterprise.

Food Hawke's Bay chairman John McHardy said the role was best placed within the organisation to stop a double-up on services and to prevent confusion for food businesses on where to go for support.

He read out a statement outlining his dissatisfaction with Business Hawke's Bay at a function in Hastings on Thursday night. It came after he learnt Hawke's Bay Winegrowers executive officer Lyn Bevin had been appointed to the role by Business Hawke's Bay.

Ms Bevin has been with the winegrowers group for nine years.

She said she had not started the role and it would be inappropriate for her to comment on Food Hawke's Bay's statement. The facilitator would promote commercial food activities, identifying food company requirements and linking them to technical or commercial resources in the local and New Zealand food network.

Food Hawke's Bay's board put forward its general manager Jane Libby to be on a Food Advisory Group set up by Business Hawke's Bay to work out the role and resource for the new food facilitator.

A story in October reported Food Hawke's Bay supported the creation of the role but this week said its disappointment was because it had expected to fulfil the job. "We declared right from the start of the process that Food Hawke's Bay or its manager was best placed to deliver the role. We have the connections, experience, respect and business intelligence within the Hawke's Bay Food Sector," Mr McHardy said.

Meanwhile Business Hawke's Bay has denied the role will duplicate services provided by Food Hawke's Bay.