McDonald’s annual New Zealand shopping list has been released, showing a record amount spent on ingredients for their much loved menu items.
In 2022, $214 million was spent on local ingredients for New Zealand restaurants, while a whopping $384 million of produce was exported to other McDonald’s markets. That took the total spend with Kiwi producers to an all-time high of $598 million, $52 million more than in 2021.
Macca’s shopping list looks like an average Kiwi’s weekly shop – just a few more zeroes added on the quantity. If you’re curious about what you can get for $214 million here are some highlights:
- 6.9 million litres of fresh milk was sourced from dairy farmers – that’s the equivalent of 246 Fontera milk tankers, and enough to fill Kelly Talton’s Stingray Bay acquarium tank 19 times.
- 1.9 million kilograms of cheese and other dairy products was produced, along with 11.6 million kilograms of cheese exported – the equivalent weight of 6,500 empty shipping containers.
- Over 900,000 kg of lettuces were used by local restaurants – end-to-end that’s enough lettuces to stretch the length of 9000 football fields.
- Nearly 12 million kilograms of potatoes produced for Macca’s fries – the equivalent weight of 5,025 farm tractors.
- Over 108 million buns, muffins, rolls and bagels made by Arytza on Auckland’s North Shore – laid out next to each other that would reach from Auckland to Sydney five times.
McDonald’s sources produce from farmers, growers, bakers and fishers across Aotearoa. Potatoes to make the famous fries are grown in the fertile soils of South Canterbury, with local dairy produced into cheese by Fonterra’s expert team in Eltham, Taranaki. Macca’s 100 percent beef patties are made by ANZCO in Waitara from the quality beef sourced from primarily from farms across the central North Island.
New Zealand is also a strategically important supplier to the McDonald’s world. Kiwi produce is exported to McDonald’s markets including Australia, the Pacific Islands, Asia and the United States. Over 29 million kilograms of local beef, and over 11 million kilograms of cheese was exported to other McDonald’s markets in 2022.
“McDonald’s has long recognised New Zealand as one of its top global suppliers of quality beef and dairy. It’s great to be able to supply a local menu where around 90 percent of the ingredients are sourced from across Aotearoa, and to share this quality produce with McDonald’s markets around the world,” says Managing Director NZ and Pacific Islands, Kylie Freeland.
“While we’re a small market in terms of our number of restaurants in the McDonald’s world, New Zealand is amongst the top 10 countries that supply beef to McDonald’s. Globally, we have a number of commitments around sustainable beef production, and the climate, which means we’re working closely with our local suppliers and industries to help encourage continuous improvement, and making a positive impact on the planet.”
McDonald’s heads to Fieldays for the third time this year, giving Kiwis an inside look at its food supply chain, its food producers and specialist areas such as its work with sustainable beef production. Expect some fun and entertainment, with McDonald’s showcasing what goes into their shopping basket.
“When we first turned up at Fieldays it’s fair to say there were some raised eyebrows,” says Freeland. “But the feedback we received from those who visited the stand was really positive. It’s been great to show farmers where some of their produce ends up, and also provide insight into what Macca’s is looking for from the primary industries sector and why, and connecting them to our customers.”
