N.Z. to offer lamb at French food fair

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33060, 30 October 1972, Page 2

N.Z. to offer lamb at French food fair

(N.Z.P.A. Staff Correspondent)

LONDON, October 28.

New Zealand will aim to promote lamb sales and at the same time inform the French people of the efforts being made to diversify export markets when the fifth international food fair is held in Paris next month.

The fair is one of Europe’s main trade shows featuring food products, and attracts trade interests, including a significant proportion from other European countries.

It is organised by the Salon Internationale d’Alimentation. The New Zealand display will be in a Governmentsponsored stand covering about 150 sq. ft, half of which will be occupied by the Meat Board. The fair will open on November 13 at a function expected to attract a number of leading figures from Common Market fanning circles. It will run for six days. The senior New Zealand Trade Commissioner in Paris (Mr P. Donovan) said that changing circumstances in the French market had led to the decision for New Zealand to exhibit this year. New Zealand last showed there in 1966. “From the New Zealand point of view there is now more interest in France as a

market for produce,” he said. “This greater interest has largely grown from E.E.C. negotiations involving New Zealand’s case.”

Atlhough the main promotion will be lamb, many other food products will be also on display. “We are aiming to show a wide range of New Zealand goods,” Mr Donovan said. “Although some of them will have no immediate commercial significance here, we do hope to impress with the range of goods which New Zealand produces.” The range even extends to wine—one of the products not expected to attract buyers. There will also be samples of dairy produce, frozen fish, canned foods, and fruit. Among the special treats in store for people who visit the New Zealand stand will be samples of kiwifruit (Chinese gooseberry) flavoured ice-

cream, manufactured for the occasion.

A Meat Board spokesman said a comprehensive range of New Zealand meats and offals would be displayed, and cooked samples would be offered to the public. “We will be cooking primarily with lamb,” he said. “We intend cooking it in a way we think will suit the French taste. In France they tend to prefer their meat cooked not quite as much as New Zealanders like it. They like it *a little rose.’ “We have taken advice from French chefs, arid will be serving it slightly underdone and very hot, accompanied by French sauces. We think we can overcome the sinew problem in underdone lamb quite happily.” The emphasis on lamb is a result of a decision by the French Government to allow a global quota of 2000 tons

of frozen sheepmeat into France this year. “This is the first time that New Zealand lamb has been allowed into France,” the spokesman said. “It is logical to give it some promotion.”

He said that because of the limitations of the quota, promotion on a larger scale was not yet considered necessary.

New Zealand was endeavouring to gain as much of the quota as possible, and had exported more than 1000 tons of frozen lamb to France during the last few months.

Apart from providing samples of cooked lamb, the board would cook kidneys and possibly brains during the fair. The New Zealand stand is on a corner site in the huge exhibition hall, and features an octagonal tower as a link between the Meat Board area and the rest of the stand. The tower is expected to draw attention to the stand. Inside it will be photographs of the 1968 Rugby tests between New Zealand and France in New Zealand. Officials connected with the project say the Rugby photographs will represent the most likely association of New Zealand with France in the minds of Frenchmen.

A proposal to reinforce the association by having members of the All Black team, now in Britain, present was not acceptable to the New Zealand Rugby Union. There will, however, be a Maori concert group at the stand. The London Maori Club will visit Paris to appear at the stand on November 14.