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 NZ 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 Fonterra milk tankers and enough to fill Kelly Talton’s Stingray Bay aquarium tank 19 times.
- 1.9 million kilograms of cheese and other dairy products were produced, along with 11.6 million kilograms of cheese exported – the equivalent weight of 6500 empty shipping containers.
- Over 900,000kg of lettuce were used by local restaurants – end-to-end that’s enough lettuce to stretch the length of 9000 football fields.
- Nearly 12 million kilograms of potatoes produced for Macca’s famous fries – the equivalent weight of 5025 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 will also head 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,” Managing Director NZ and Pacific Islands, Kylie Freeland said. “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 connect them to our customers.”
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.
