46 |
PRODUCTION » Provida Foods
May/June 2016 Business North Central
Provida eyes future expansion Sue Russell Opening a new operations centre in Palmerston North was not only a sound strategic move for family owned refrigerated food distributor Provida Foods but was also a very positive experience, owner Adrienne Hudson describes. “We wanted to place ourselves in Palmerston North given its strategic geographic position. This would allow the company to eventually refocus its whole network of distribution centres with the goal of potentially growing the company long-term in new directions,” Adrienne says. And the reason why the process of firstly determining the site, then planning and eventually constructing the $7.5 million 3000sqm complex on just over one hectare of land in Palmerston North’s NE industrial quarter was such a pleasure, she says, came down to the brilliant team at the Palmerston North City Council. “They were easily the best council I have every worked with. The resource consent was granted within the time frame allocated for the project. The council has this really welcoming progressive attitude to businesses. We have to say a big thank you to the Palmerston North Council. They made it possible for us to do what we did. I really wish more councils were like them!” Adrienne says. For large-scale developments bringing significant benefits to the city such as the Provida Foods project, the council has evolved a specialised in-house multi-disciplinary group to support developers to move through the planning and construction processes in the most seamless and efficient way possible. “You are always dealing with the one person as the point of contact; I can’t really say enough about the difference working with this council made to the whole project. “Peter Eathorne and Grant Rigby always made themselves available for queries. The interesting add on was the council also involved Steve Williams and Craig Nash from Spearhead Manawatu. They wanted to make the project a success.” Unlike other leading food supply businesses Provida Foods is 100 per cent locally owned. Adrienne and late husband Gerald took over complete ownership of the company back in 2001 when it concentrated on food distribution solely
Provida Foods employs around 180 staff across Hamilton, Manukau, Mt Maunganui and Palmerston North and has a fleet of 80 dual temperature trucks. and over the years have successfully expanded the company through a combination of purchasing existing allied businesses, building their own purpose-built facilities and growing their freight business. Daughter Haynie Kent who has a Masters Degree in Business with quadruple majors has served as general manager since 2001. Adrienne says Haynie’s keen business eye and acumen and energy have taken the business from strength to strength, with centres in Hamilton, Manukau, Mt Maunganui and now Palmerston North “We now employ around 180 staff across these centres and have a fleet of 80 dual temperature trucks, distributing to all parts of the North Island and linking with other distributors in the South Island.” The Palmerston North facility opened in 2014 and like Hamilton, which acts as a link between Auckland and the greater Waikato/Central North
Island region, is strategically vital as a hub servicing the lower North and South Island. With three of the four Provida Foods bases already accredited for importing and exporting, Adrienne says this is where future investment in infrastructure will lead to an overall rationalising in the way the company operates. Adrienne says while the company isn’t the largest food and refrigerated freight company operating, it is unique in that it remains a New Zealand owned and operated business and that, she feels, makes all the difference. The profits stay in New Zealand for New Zealanders. “While we are not as large as some other
®
companies in this business, we have a very loyal customer base that enjoys working with the culture that a family-owned business brings.” “There’s a sense of independence and huge pride in what we do and that transmits through to our wonderful Provida team. Our main focus is definitely service.” Graham Poulsen, Palmerston North’s Branch Manager, along with team has continued the “Provida family” culture, treating the business as if it was their own. “We see Palmerston North being a great performer for the future as the Freight and Food Service side of the business continues to grow under his leadership,” Adrienne says..
Thermo King New Zealand Ltd is Proud to be associated with Adrienne, Haynie & the Team at Provida Foods Ltd for All Your Transport Temperature Control New Equipment & Servicing Requirements CALL - 0800 THERMO (843-766) Sales – Neville Cole Service – Mark Hinshelwood or Mathew Parry and also for Anteo Tail LiftsSales & Service
is pleased to be a partner with Provida Foods Limited in the construction of their Chilled and Frozen Storage facility at Palmerston North. McAlpine Hussmann supplied and installed a chilled, frozen and ELA refrigeration system. The system incorporates the latest in energy management and monitoring technology for Provida Foods. This provides energy efficient operations and reduces operating and maintenance costs McAlpine Hussmann Limited Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill Ph 09 526 6800 Email: refrig@hussmann.com www.mcalpinehussmann.co.nz
ROADING AND INFRASTRUCTURE SPECIALISTS
PROUD SUPPLIER TO PROVIDA FOODS Contact our specialist teams for more information or visit us online.
Higgins Contractors - Palmerston North 22 Roxburgh Crescent P: 06 357 1026 E: contractors.pn@higgins.co.nz