Thanks to Chief Executive, John Barnes, for the welcome.
May I also offer a very warm welcome to my other former Parliamentary colleague the Rt Hon Winston Peters. I was pleased to see you here last week supporting our premier Cup and Show Week and very pleased to see you here supporting .
I am extremely proud to be here to support the expansion of Meadows - a company founded by Philip Burdon and Roger Giles back in 1970. I was 10 years old then, which is why it so good to be here, 45 years later. People of my generation have literally grown up with Meadows Mushrooms.
And what a great business it has been, especially in the way it gives back to the community – Lincoln University, Canterbury University, NZ Chefs Association, the CSO, the Royal NZ Ballet, and the NZ String Quartet. This philanthropic commitment comes from the heart of the company and the values that it has always maintained.
Meadows Mushrooms is one of biggest private sector employers in the city with over 500 staff and has committed to investing in cutting edge of agribusiness research and agritech innovations.
It is a testimony to the company’s investment in the latest horticultural practices that it sees itself in the midst of what will ultimately be a $120 million expansion project!
They have replaced over 60% of their company over the last 10 years, including a $20 million refurbishment of their compost yard in Dunsandel, and this new administration building is another firm step towards achieving their goal.
Their commitment to a small environmental footprint sees them utilising agricultural by-products, growing mushrooms over six levels, utilising biodegradable packaging and recycling their waste by giving their own mushroom compost back to Canterbury farmers and growers.
Although the majority of their market remains in the North Island, they have continued to choose to embrace their South Island home.
Thanks to Chief Executive, John Barnes, for the welcome.
A special thanks to Chairman, the Hon Philip Burden, for the invitation to speak today. As a former Parliamentary colleague, from the other side of the House, I can say he has absolutely walked the talk as far as the city of Christchurch is concerned, both before and after the earthquakes. It is an honour to be here.
May I also offer a very warm welcome to my other former Parliamentary colleague the Rt Hon Winston Peters. I was pleased to see you here last week supporting our premier Cup and Show Week and very pleased to see you here supporting .
I am extremely proud to be here to support the expansion of Meadows - a company founded by Philip Burdon and Roger Giles back in 1970. I was 10 years old then, which is why it so good to be here, 45 years later. People of my generation have literally grown up with Meadows Mushrooms.
And what a great business it has been, especially in the way it gives back to the community – Lincoln University, Canterbury University, NZ Chefs Association, the CSO, the Royal NZ Ballet, and the NZ String Quartet. This philanthropic commitment comes from the heart of the company and the values that it has always maintained.
Meadows Mushrooms is one of biggest private sector employers in the city with over 500 staff and has committed to investing in cutting edge of agribusiness research and agritech innovations.
It is a testimony to the company’s investment in the latest horticultural practices that it sees itself in the midst of what will ultimately be a $120 million expansion project!
They have replaced over 60% of their company over the last 10 years, including a $20 million refurbishment of their compost yard in Dunsandel, and this new administration building is another firm step towards achieving their goal.
Their commitment to a small environmental footprint sees them utilising agricultural by-products, growing mushrooms over six levels, utilising biodegradable packaging and recycling their waste by giving their own mushroom compost back to Canterbury farmers and growers.
Although the majority of their market remains in the North Island, they have continued to choose to embrace their South Island home.