NZCPR Weekly: Bureaucracy Rules

Dear NZCPR Reader,   

This week, we look into bureaucratic madness both in the UK and here in New Zealand, our NZCPR Guest Commentator Christopher Snowden reflects on the nature of officials who mindlessly apply the letter of the law instead of using their discretion, and this week’s poll asks whether you think the Food Act should be replaced with more practical regulations.

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Brian Gaynor: Changing tastes spur food frenzy

The food sector is undergoing massive changes, as indicated by the recently announced acquisition of Whole Foods Market by Amazon.com and the IPO of Blue Apron, which will list on the New York Stock Exchange. Blue Apron has a similar meal kit business model to the highly successful My Food Bag in New Zealand.

In addition, this week’s a2 Milk profit upgrade demonstrates that companies offering innovative food products can be highly successful: a2’s annual revenue has soared from just $62 million in its June 2012 year to an indicated $545m in the current year.