| 79 Scott & Ricketts Group BUILDING SUPPLIES “We’ve got awards across two distinctly different parts of the business. I guess it indicates that ethos works across the breadth of the business.” Mitre10 Trade Hawkes Bay Hiab. Whakatu Trade Distribution Centre. In 1963 Bert sold his half share, but the company name was retained and remains in existence today and, trading as Mitre10 Mega Napier and Hastings, is now one of the largest businesses in Hawkes Bay, employing more than 250 people locally. Scott & Ricketts joined Mitre10 in 1975 as one of its first provincial members after Mitre10 was established in New Zealand in 1974. In the early 1980’s Graeme and Stephen joined the business fulltime and over the past 40 years they in driving the business forward. Central to the business’ success has been investing heavily in its people and structure while also identifying strengths, weaknesses and opportunities. The trade distribution centre is a new 5,500 square metre warehouse in an industrial hub at Whakatu, mid-way between Napier and Hastings. It enables bulk deliveries of timber and building materials to be handled much more efficiently and provides for significantly improved storage capacity. The Napier and Hastings stores include large trade drive-throughs. “These gave us the ability to move seriously into the trade business and from that we have significantly grown our trade business; we’ve kept expanding the drive-through facilities to meet growing demand,” Graeme says. The new distribution warehouse is proving a huge asset, he says. “What that’s done is it’s taken enormous pressure off the drive-through’s so they now can operate much more efficiently and we can manage the amount of product that we have there, so it’s a much better experience for our trade customers.” Graeme and Stephen are very proud of this year’s awards which indicate the passion they and their team have for “doing the best that we possibly can”. “It vindicates that and that we’ve got awards across two distinctly different parts of the business. I guess it indicates that ethos works across the breadth of the business.” An important part of that ethos is also Mitre10’ Mega Napier and Hastings community involvement. Mitre10 Park Hawkes Bay is a key community sports, events and cultural hub owned by Hastings District Council on 30 hectares that is supported by the Ricketts family with a significant 10 year sponsorship arrangement, with many other events and organisations also benefiting from the business’ generosity. As Graeme reflects on the past 40-plus years and drawing theoretically closer to retirement age, he says he and Stephen are in no hurry to make a mega change in their lives. “It has been and continues to be a ton of fun. Stephen and I are not really looking to slow down any time soon.” 0800 224 759 | sales@bbi.net.nz | www.bbi.net.nz Plywood Timber Proud partner of Scott & Ricketts Group For more information visit www.unitedsteel.co.nz or call us on 0800 800 649 We are proud to be working with Scott & Ricketts Group
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