McDonald's spends half billion dollars on NZ ingredients

McDonald’s New Zealand has released its annual shopping list, revealing the total amount spent on ingredients for its burgers, sides, desserts and breakfast items. In 2021, an impressive $175 million was spent on ingredients ordered from New Zealand’s primary industries to serve to Kiwis. A further $325 million of produce was exported, bringing the total spend with Kiwi producers to a record $498 million – an increase of $118.6 million from 2020.

If you’re wondering exactly what $175 million dollars can get you:

• Over 98 million units of buns, muffins, rolls and bagels were purchased, enough to travel the length of New Zealand six times;
• 6.8 million litres of milk was sourced from dairy farmers - enough to fill nearly three Olympic-sized swimming pools;
• 10.6 million free-range eggs were used last year - that’s enough to stretch the length of 5,300 rugby fields;
• 1.6 million kilograms of cheese & other dairy products was produced by Fonterra for local restaurants, along with 11.6 million kilograms of cheese exported - the equivalent weight of 88 blue whales (the largest animal on earth).

Whether it’s sourcing tomatoes from Pukekohe’s perfect horticultural climate, special varieties of potatoes from Canterbury to make New Zealand’s favourite menu item, fries, or handpicking apples from the Hawkes Bay to make delicious apple pies, it’s McDonald’s policy to work with the country’s top suppliers and deliver the very best quality food for Kiwis, the company says.

Big year for beef 

Last year was also a record year for beef with a whopping 60.7 million kilograms exported globally to other McDonald’s markets - an increase of 35.4 million kilograms from 2020. In addition, 6.5 million kilograms was used locally for Macca’s 100 percent beef patties.

‘New Zealand is one of the top 10 countries that supplies quality beef to McDonald’s globally, and is working within the industry and alongside government agencies such as AgResearch to develop more sustainable methods of farming,’ explains McDonald’s Managing Director David Howse. 

‘New Zealand suppliers were able to meet record demand for quality beef from international McDonald’s markets in 2021, with other beef export countries struggling due to a variety of issues, including recovering from droughts and the pandemic.’

‘New Zealand farmers and meat companies are proud to be able to offer high-quality grass fed sustainable beef grown and processed to the highest standards,’ says Sirma Karapeeva, Chief Executive of the Meat Industry Association.  

‘Companies are listening to what consumers both in New Zealand and globally are seeking and this is reflected in their product offering. Being part of the McDonald’s supply chain adds real value to New Zealand’s red meat sector.’

Supplying McDonald's overseas

‘We’re proud to be supplying a menu where nearly 90 percent of ingredients are sourced locally from hard working farmers up and down the country, and we’re even more proud to be sharing this quality produce with McDonald’s markets across the globe,’ says Howse.

Overseas, McDonald’s markets throughout the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa purchased an additional $323 million of produce right from New Zealand’s backyard, an increase of $100.5 million from 2020. Along with grass-raised beef and cheese, this exported produce also includes 93,000 kilograms of potatoes from Canterbury, 89,000 kilograms of chicken from the Waikato, and 523,000 kilograms of fish from Motueka-based Talley’s.

‘McDonald’s value the long-standing partnerships we have built with local businesses since 1976 and it’s something we will continue to support and grow for years to come,’ says Howse.

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