Trends and Technologies Shaping the NZ & Global Food Markets

What we heard - the current state in NZ and globally

New Zealand’s scale and role in global food markets creates a strong opportunity to modernise. As the world’s 15th largest agricultural exporter and the second largest dairy exporter, F&B accounts for roughly 46% of New Zealand’s goods and services exports. That position brings both opportunity and obligation: exporters must meet rising regulatory, traceability and customer-experience expectations while improving efficiency and protecting margins.

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Key findings from an international survey of 500+ F&B customers (USA, Canada, UK & Ireland)

• AI adoption is accelerating: businesses are prioritising optimisation where rich data is available.
• Labour and skills shortages persist across the sector.
• Regulatory change is an increasing concern: 35% of respondents named regulatory and legislative changes a “significant concern” (up from 19% the previous year).
• Traceability remains a top challenge: end-to-end supply chain traceability often requires rethinking legacy processes and systems.
• Customer expectations continue to rise: delivering consistently high customer satisfaction is a top business priority.

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AI - what the numbers are showing

• 77% of F&B companies are using or implementing AI (up from 39% last year).
• 58% report being mostly or completely automated - and automation is strongly linked to higher revenue and profit growth.

Download the full reports:

• North America

• UK & Ireland

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Why this matters for New Zealand

For NZ producers and exporters, the combination of strong global demand and tighter regulatory and customer expectations means technology investments are no longer optional. The right tools can reduce manual work, strengthen traceability, improve planning and help teams do more with fewer people.

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Introducing AppCentral - Aptean’s AI-powered operations platform

Theta is a premier partner of Aptean.

‍AppCentral is Aptean’s platform built for manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers with complex supply chains, regulated goods and production environments. It’s designed to:

• Break down data silos and centralise operational insight.
• Automate routine tasks and accelerate decision-making.
• Simplify management of apps, users and data across sites.

Practical examples of AI agents in AppCentral (specific to organisations using Aptean Food and Beverage in Dynamics 365 Business Central)

• Inventory agent: identifies expiring lots, creates prioritised action lists and suggests discounting strategies.
• Recall RCA agent: investigates non-conformances, surfaces root causes and recommends follow-up actions.
• Production order agent: assists with finishing and closing production orders.
• Production planning agent: suggests production schedules based on scenarios and product attributes.

See AppCentral in action - virtual product tour.

Or to see more on how AI agents work, schedule a demo with us at Theta.

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Next steps – how Theta can help

If your organisation operates in New Zealand’s F&B sector and you’re looking to streamline processes, improve traceability or unlock value from automation and AI, talk to us.

We can:

• Review and upgrade your current ERP and operational systems.
• Implement dedicated F&B software like Aptean’s Food & Beverage
• Implement AI tools such as AppCentral.
• Deliver a phased roadmap that balances quick wins with long-term transformation.

Contact us to arrange a consultation or a demo of Aptean’s solutions, including AppCentral - our team is ready to help you identify the right technology for your food and beverage business.