Montana plans export drive

Press, 3 November 1981, Page 18

Montana plans export drive

PA . Auckland The tragedy in the adverse publicity given to the wine industry recently was that in most cases it had been fuelled from within the industry, the chairman of Montana Wines. Ltd (Mr D. G. E. Brown) told a well-attended annual meeting yesterday. Mr Brown said he saw a devout responsibility to label products, in such a way that the consuming public was well aware of the particular product he or she was buying. “That has been our steadfast policy,” he said. The Auckland-based

vintner had increased sales 14 per cent in the first quarter of the present year, he said. However, he said that the first quarter of Montana’s trading year was historically a flat period in sales and no real indication of the present year could be gained from such information. Export sales had also jumped, totalling $150,250 in the first quarter, compared with $350,000 for the year to June 30, and $114,390 for the preceding year. "Continuing progress is being made with the company's planned export drive,” he said. Sales were below initial projections because of a deliberate reappraisal of the various market opportunities, he said. ■ “In the first instance our export sales tended to be on an ad hoc basis but experi-

ence has proved that a.more deliberate and structured, approach is necessary for longterm relationships,” Mr Brown announced.the appointment of Mr Edward McDonnell, the president of Seagrams International, to the board, replacing Mr H. FTeldsteel, also of Seagrams. The Canadian distiller, which holds 40 per cent of Montana's equity, has four directors on the board. In answer to a shareholder’s question, it was revealed that Montana’s land and buildings, revalued on June 30 on a going basis, showed a $9.6 million increase in value. In the annual report land value was valued at $7.1 million under a 1976 valuation.

Buildings were valued at $3.8 million, and plant, fittings and vehicles added a further $7.5 million.