20 | A major new contract at Washdyke Kinsman Contracting operates alongside Kinsman Potatoes and South Canterbury Potatoes. Kelly Deeks RURAL PEOPLE » Kinsman Potatoes Kinsman Potatoes has come off a record spud storage season across South Canterbury and Mid Canterbury, completing a high volume of work in a shorter timeframe and strengthening what South Canterbury Potatoes general manager Sloan Westwood says is an increasingly efficient operation. He says the result reflects steady improvement across the business, alongside the demands of a major new contract at Washdyke. “This is quite a big achievement for us, not tonnage wise but time wise,” Sloan says. “We have had a short season but we have done the same amount of work in a shorter time frame.” He says efficiency gains have been driven by investment in systems, equipment, and people, particularly since taking on a large McCain Foods storage and handling contract at Washdyke leading to the founding of the South Canterbury potatoes business just over a year ago. Kinsman Contracting operates alongside Kinsman Potatoes and South Canterbury Potatoes, with the potato operation originally developed as a seasonal opportunity within the wider contracting business. Owner Grant Kinsman established the spud side of the business after being offered early work in Ashburton, initially supporting Talleys and using it to complement quieter periods in silage contracting. Sloan has been with the business for about nine years, initially doing seasonal spud truck driving then coming on board full time as the Kinsman Potatoes transport manager. He still continues that role after also taking on the role as general manager of South Canterbury Potatoes. Between Grant managing harvesting operations in the paddock and Sloan handling the transport and storage through peak harvest, they employ more than 100 staff. Today, Kinsman Potatoes supplies and services two main processors, Talleys in Ashburton and McCain Foods at Washdyke, as well as several smaller contracts, with a network of growers supplying both systems. The business has grown from a single shift digger 20 years ago to two harvesters operating 22 hours a day across Timaru and Ashburton districts. Fleet growth has followed a similar trajectory, from subcontracted cartage to a dedicated fleet of 10 trucks, with an eleventh currently being built for on site loading and shedding work. “These latest trucks are ex-Fonterra milk tankers that we have modified with larger bins so we can move higher volumes more efficiently,” Sloan says. “They are designed specifically for on site work, moving potatoes out of storage sheds and back into supply.” He says health and safety requirements have also shaped innovation, particularly around handling systems. “With McCain being a corporate company they are very focused on safety, so we had to develop systems that remove manual handling and make sure there is no risk around loading.” A large part of the Kinsman Group’s strength comes from its internal capability, including an in-house workshop with engineering, mechanical, panel beating, and painting services. “We never really buy anything brand new,” Sloan says. “Everything comes through the workshop and is rebuilt or modified to suit our environment and our purposes. For all your engineering, fabrication, machining, hydraulic and transport needs • Precision Engineering • Transporter Service • Crane Truck Service • General Engineering • Retail Store • Hydraulic hosing • Farm on-site Maintenance 55 Springfield Road, Temuka | 03 615 8035 | 027 447 2594 admin@millarengineering.co.nz | store@millarengineering.co.nz By the time it leaves, it is basically a new machine.” Despite challenging seasons across the wider agricultural sector, Sloan says potato production remains resilient, particularly under irrigation. “We just work with what we get and adapt as we go,” Sloan says. “The goal is always to keep improving and be the best we can at what we do.” PROUD TO SUPPORT KINSMAN POTATOES a: Cnr North & Latter Streets, Timaru Central | 25 Seadown Road, Washdyke, Timaru p: 03 684 4888 | e: sales@indeng.co.nz www.indeng.co.nz
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