Leaft Foods co-founders John Penno and Maury Leyland Penno have released a consumer brand and are working on a food ingredient protein. Bringing far more satisfaction for him is taking what New Zealand is good at and making it better or finding new business to earn a living in this world. As if that is not enough, he has just become the new chairman for The NZ Merino Company (NZM). From a distance he observed long-term contracts adding value to customers and farmers through the highs and lows of commodity markets. As a scientist, he worked to help dairy farmers increase their productivity and profit.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 27, 2026 16:02 UTC