Zespri's latest forecast holds profit steady; Gold returns dip

Zespri's latest forecast holds profit steady; Gold returns dip
Fiona Rotherham
By Fiona Rotherham Oct. 21 (BusinessDesk) - Kiwifruit marketer Zespri has reiterated its forecast profit range for the 2017 financial year of between $66 million to $71 million despite an expected decline in returns from gold varieties. That figure includes licence revenue of $50.2 million after tax from this year’s release of 400 hectares of the new gold variety, Gold3.  The October forecast approved by the board yesterday shows the total fruit and service payment, across all pools and excluding the loyalty premium, is forecast at $1....