An upgrade to its recently-acquired Northland post-harvest operation is Seeka’s latest move in a string of strategic investments and offsets.
The Australasian fresh produce company will spend NZ$18m on the Kerikeri facility over the next three years.
The development works are set to begin later this year with the construction of a new packhouse and the installation of new grading machinery, which are set to be operational in time for the 2019 harvest.
Seeka will also transform the information systems on site before the construction of additional cold storage later next year.
Seeka chief executive, Michael Franks, said the investment would significantly lift the capacity of the business and give growers better harvest timing across all varieties handled – kiwifruit, avocados and citrus.
“We are here for the long-term. This investment will provide world class facilities in the heart of Northland,” said Franks.
“We are investing to support our existing growers along with the tremendous support of new growers choosing Seeka as their post-harvest service provider.”
Seeka acquired the Kerikeri operation from T&G Global earlier this year. The sale also included approximately 80ha of kiwifruit orchards in the Kerikeri area, which forms part of the property portfolio Seeka put on offer earlier this month.
The investment in the Kerikeri business was partially offset by Seeka’s move to sell some of its shares in single desk kiwifruit marketer Zespri in April.
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