Pet food processing site for sale at Paeroa

The old Hauraki Cool Stores plant could be revived by a manufacturer looking at other primary produce lines. Photo / Supplied

Land and buildings which previously housed one of the Upper North Island's biggest pet food processing plants are for sale.

The 1150sq m pet food rendering facility, along with adjoining offices, is being sold in 'a dormant state' - with the complete sorting and freezing line equipment ready to be recommissioned.

The 9800sq m industrial-zoned site in the Waikato township of Paeroa was previously occupied by pet food ingredient processor Hauraki Cool Stores which employed 10 staff to sort and freeze bulk quantities of meat products for supply to pet food manufacturers,

Hauraki Cool Stores ceased trading in 2013 and the plant was decommissioned soon after. Now the Grey St land, buildings and equipment are being marketed for sale at auction on April 27 by Bayleys Hamilton, with salesperson Josh Smith saying the business was a virtual "turn key" operation waiting to be reinvigorated.

"For any potential purchaser looking for a purpose-built food processing operation, the value of this premises is in its infrastructure and plant," he says.

"The main building comprises a large open plan factory floor with drive-through access via high-stud electric roller doors at either end. Decommissioned equipment on the processing floor includes a hydraulic sorting belt, offal cutter and guillotine, bone breaker, industrial grade mincer, storage bin washer unit, wrapping unit, bulk weight platform scales, and printer.

"To one side of the floor are two 90sq m blast freezers and holding chillers which have the ability to freeze product to minus 28 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile at the end of the building is a 198sq m freezer capable of producing a holding temperature of minus 18 degrees Celsius.

"All the cool store units are supported by multiple 30hp motors and condensers which have the ability to work individually or combined. Constructed in 1992 with steel framed portals and lined with freezer panelling, the building has good bones," says Smith.

The floor of the processing room is in-laid with drainage filtering into fat traps. Wall-mounted foam washers are fitted at either end of the factory floor, which is fully monitored by closed circuit television. Staff amenities include a commercial uniform washer and dryer, male and female toilet and shower facilities, an administration office, and lunchroom.

Additional plant catalogued in the sale includes:

• a trio of 30hp back-up motors;
• two gas-operated Crown forklifts;
• multiple plastic bins ranging in size from 32 to 1000 litres;
• ammonia ice-making plant for salt ice production;
• chiller refrigeration for storing processed ice;
• a 5.5hp compressor; and
• a 500kva electrical transformer.

Smith says the flat Grey St site is accessed from a large metalled yard allowing delivery trucks easy access. When previously operating, the Hauraki Cool Stores plant received sheep, beef and chicken offal from killing chains across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions.

Processed meat product was then transported to pet food manufacturing plants at various North Island and overseas locations.

Smith said Paeroa's strategic location placed it in the perfect position to receive unprocessed raw product and break it down into a state suitable for the next step in the production chain.

"When the plant ceased operation, the intention was to set it aside in a dormant state until new markets could be found for its pet food product.

However, the vendor now realises the time has come to sell up to a food processor or manufacturer who can identify and access such markets, or can add a Waikato/Bay of Plenty division to their existing business," he says.

"Alternatively, the site would be suitable for a food manufacturer looking at other primary produce lines - such as processed pork, venison, or goat smallgoods for human consumption.

"From a supply chain perspective, there is still a considerable amount of base product coming out of the Waikato and Bay of Plenty freezing works.

"With some modification of plant, the site could be converted into a boutique sheep and beef killing operation for whole carcass export out of the Port of Tauranga, which is only 80 minutes drive away."

Smith says the substantial amount of undeveloped land surrounding the building would also suit redevelopment of the site into a logistics or warehousing premises.