NZKS keeps focus in Covid-19 outbreak

New Zealand King Salmon will not lose focus on its Cook Strait plans amid the ‘‘massive disruptions’’ of a coronavirus pandemic, its boss says.

‘‘Our message to the Marlborough District Council is that we have all the face masks, gloves, smocks, if it comes to that, to enable a hearing to go ahead,’’ NZKS chief executive Grant Rosewarne said.

As hot summers cause salmon to die in their Marlborough Sounds pens, the company has looked to open ocean sites. Resource consent hearings begin on June 22.

NZ King Salmon was exploring ‘‘every scenario’’ to make sure the hearings could safely go ahead, whether that was via video, or in person, Rosewarne said. ‘‘Covid-19 is a terrible threat but we already have a serious threat with hot summers. We have got to make sure we still counter the threat of climate change while dealing with this immediate situation of Covid-19.’’

Climate change had helped the company diversify its business across different products like fine-dining, supermarkets and pet food. It also exported to 20 countries, he said. ‘‘That diversification has really assisted us to weather not only the situation with climate change but also Covid-19.’’

Rosewarne said closures of cafes, bars and restaurants in its ‘‘biggest market’’ – the

United States – was the latest blow felt by the company.

However, it was mitigating the effects through its retail business, and was still on track to hit the end-of-year financial target. ‘‘What people aren’t buying in restaurants, they are buying in supermarkets,’’ Rosewarne said, with retail purchases ‘‘strengthening’’ in both domestic and international markets. ‘‘In the scheme of things, because people still need to eat, we are in a relatively good place.’’

King Salmon’s supply chain team was finding new opportunities, juggling flights, airlines and freighting companies which they had never used before, he said. ‘‘There will be massive disruptions and we are coping ... but so far we are still managing to connect up with those end customers.’’

NZ King Salmon’s Chinese market continued to ‘‘recover’’ after reopening two weeks ago, following a six-week closure.