Hansells Masterton has had a reasonably successful first year under its new ownership regime, according to the firm's executive chairman, Alan Stewart.
Mr Stewart said the outlook for the next year suggested it was going to be harder because the new company, established mainly by money invested by Wairarapa investors, could not look forward to the same level of help from Hansells Support Group in Auckland as it had in its first year.
"But we have managed to pick up new customers for our milk powder products and our yoghurt mixes have been selling successfully overseas," he said.
Mr Stewart said the company was aware that expanding its milk powder products brought with it the need to be mindful of the high standard of quality control demanded by food safety regulations.
The new business arrangement for Hansells came into being in March last year with Wairarapa investors sought to ensure the food manufacturer stayed in Masterton, where it started in 1934.
