Hansells 'doing well'

Alan Stewart, chairman of Hansells Masterton Limited, at the Hansells factory, covering the words 'Food Group'. Photo / Lynda Feringa

There will be no fallout for Hansells Masterton Limited as a result of the Auckland-based Hansells Food Group going into receivership, says executive chairman Alan Stewart.

An article that appeared in the New Zealand Herald and Wairarapa Times Age broke the news that Hansells Food Group had been taken over and is now reliant on supplier and Thai rice baron Varapong Supachok, who stepped in to save the company from receivership after bankers withdrew support.

Mr Stewart said the article made no reference to the fact that Hansells Food Group and Hansells Masterton Limited are two separate entities, which has left Hansells Masterton staff and suppliers worried and upset as a result.

"The original Masterton based company that has been here since 1934 is still here, and is still very profitable," he said.

"We just spent a million dollars on expanding, we're sending lots of product over to China - 40ft containers at the rate of one a week by January," Mr Stewart said.

"We're definitely not in receivership, not in any difficulties and are doing very well."

In 2006, the ownership of Hansells changed to Old Fashioned Foods, now known as Hansells Food Group.

Since then, the Masterton-based company was bought back by "local shareholders" and changed its name from Hansells NZ Limited to Hansells Masterton Limited to further distinguish itself from the Auckland-based Hansells Food Group.

"When we bought the Masterton based business back off Hansells Food Group, they kept a 25 per cent shareholding," Mr Stewart said.

"They are one of our many customers but originally were 100 per cent of the business. Since we took back ownership, they're about 60 per cent of the business."

Mr Stewart said Hansells Masterton Ltd now manufactures product for many companies including Wilson Foods and Queen Fine Foods Australia.

"The repercussions of Hansells Food Group going into receivership is that if they stopped paying us for products, we would stop supplying them and instead we would supply Hansells products direct to the shops or other distributors," he said.

"So if Hansells Food Group were to go out of existence, we would carry on without any problem.

"As a result of this situation we may even separate further from them to make sure people know we are two very separate companies."

The Masterton-based company has not changed all signage since being bought back so the entrance sign still reads as Hansells Food Group. Mr Stewart said he would look into changing this.