Interesting article this morning stating that for the first time ever, it looks likely that wine export earnings will outstrip wool export earnings this year.
Leaving aside the earnings gained from adding value to wool (taking a raw material, and creating a top end fashion garment from it - a la Untouched World), it is clear that viticulture is an example of a model New Zealand should pursue.
Adding value to what is at essence a simple product, our winemakers have created an industry and a brand that is now known around the world as high quality with all the values and aspirational attributes that achieve higher value sales than otherwise.
Now if only our meat producers could find a model that achieved a similar brand……
Ben Kepes is an analyst, an entrepreneur, a commentator and a business adviser. His business interests include a diverse range of industries from manufacturing to property to technology. As a technology commentator he has a broad presence both in the traditional media and extensively online. Ben covers the convergance of technology, mobile, ubiquity and agility, all enabled by the Cloud. His areas of interest extend to enterprise software, software integration, financial/accounting software, platforms and infrastructure as well as articulating technology simply for everyday users. 
We should get to know each other – in same game.
re branding etc we are interested in whether the new food science exercise at Palmerston North can do wonderful things for your food industry. I did a story on my blog a few days ago.
regards
Rod