At a breakfast event in Auckland this morning Anchor and the New Zealand Olympic Committee officially launched their partnership. A partnership which confirms Fonterra's commitment to getting behind our New Zealand Olympic athlete's in Rio this year.
Fonterra hosted New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) officials and some elite athletes at its Fanshawe Street building to mark the sponsorship of the NZ Olympic team to Rio by the Anchor brand of dairy products.
The event featured interviews with 2012 Olympic heptathlete Sarah Cowley and Rio-bound athletes Eliza McCartney, 2012 Olympic gold medal-winning sailor Polly Powrie and trampolinist Dylan Schmidt.
Also speaking were High Performance Sport NZ nutritionist Jeni Pearce, NZOC CEO Kereyn Smith and Fonterra Brands New Zealand (FBNZ) Managing Director Leon Clement.
Leon Clement said the fit between the Anchor brand and the NZ Olympic team felt right from the outset.
“Anchor is all about goodness that provides strength, and leads to self-belief and the willingness to give anything a go. That attitude is hard-wired into the Kiwi psyche. We see it not just in sport but across all the ways we express ourselves in our communities and on the world stage.”
Holding the breakfast with the NZOC was about celebrating this mind-set.
“Olympic athletes need to hard-wire an excellent breakfast into their training regime to make sure they get the right start to the day that will lead to great performance. Unfortunately this same awareness isn’t hard-wired in the minds of all Kiwis. Fonterra Brands is up for the challenge of promoting the importance of breakfast and in particular that dairy is a perfect way to get the nutrition we all need,” says Mr Clement.
Recent research by Fonterra Brands found 11 per cent of people said breakfast was not important, that 20 per cent only eat breakfast sometimes, and that those under 35 were less likely to always eat breakfast.
“This research shows the importance of a protein rich breakfast, not just for athletes but for all Kiwis wanting to get the best kick start to the day.”
New Zealand Olympic Committee CEO Kereyn Smith was also on hand to celebrate the new partnership.
"The alignment between Anchor and the New Zealand Olympic Team is of great benefit to all of our athletes. The support we receive from our commercial partners is invaluable and to have Fonterra and the Anchor brand on board as we prepare for Rio is something we are extremely proud of," said Smith.
With 73 days to go until the Rio Olympic Games,New Zealand's Olympic athletes are well and truly on the road to Rio and Anchor is looking forward to supporting the Team on their journey.