Business South November 2021

28 | “We’re exploring how we can do more around converting other ranges in plastic to more sustainable options. We’re also stepping up our efforts to control emissions and reduce waste by working smarter. For example, we’re using husks and dust by-products as a fuel in the furnaces.” REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Otago: Harraways Back to the roots of healthy eating T Kim Newth Harraways Oats come in a range of flavours and varieties. M ore than 150 years after oats were first milled at Green Island in Dune- din, Harraways is still operating at the same site from New Zealand’s only remaining commercial oat mill. This iconic company with a proud history is fast adapting to changing times and investing wisely for future growth. Harraways employs a team of 55 in Dune- din and has strong working relationships with local farms and businesses going back half a century or more. The brand’s success owes much to the re- gion’s quality, local growers such as Gardyne’s Grain Ltd – a key farming supplier of the mill’s raw oats. “Oats grown here in Otago and Southland are up there with the best in the world,” says Peter Cox, Harraways’ Marketing and Product Innovation Head. “The deep south is at a fairly similar latitude to Scotland (also a leading oat region) and our peaty soils and climatic conditions are also ideal for growing oats. “On top of that, we use the traditional Scottish method for rolling and processing oats. The quality, taste and sensory attributes of what comes out of our mill are second to none in my view.” This leading food producer is very con- scious of its corporate responsibilities for people, community and the environment. Around two-thirds of product is now sold in recyclable packaging. Harraways has also introduced a ‘less waste’ packaging approach within its Harraways’ oat sachet range. “We’re exploring how we can do more around converting other ranges in plastic to more sustainable options. “We’re also stepping up our efforts to con- trol emissions and reduce waste by working smarter. For example, we’re using husks and dust by-products as a fuel in the furnaces,” Peter says. Last year’s COVID-19 lockdown put a lot of pressure on many Dunedin households. Harraways responded to that need, con- tributing to the Salvation Army’s food relief efforts. Harraways is strongly committed to opti- mising Kiwi health and well-being. The company has entered a long-term partnership with another heritage NZ brand, Whānau Āwhina Plunket which works so hard to make a difference for Kiwi families. Consumers can help support the vital work of Whānau Āwhina Plunket by picking up a Harraways 800g Rolled Oats, 850g Scotch Oats, 1.5kg Rolled Oats or 1kg Wholegrain Oats instore with each pack showcasing the ‘Pick Me Help Plunket’ logo. This year, Harraways also partnered with the Highlanders. This partnership also aligns very powerfully with the company’s values around educating Kiwi kids on healthier eating to boost perfor- mance. Harraways is also looking to grow its healthy oats legacy into the future through product innovation into the functional health market. A good example of this is their fortified oats product, Harraways Oat-activ® that combines beta glucan found in rolled oats with plant sterols creating a double action to lower high LDL blood cholesterol. “We did a consumer study on it which found there was a nine per cent reduction in LDL (low-density lipoprotein, or ‘bad cholester- ol’) for people using this product over four to eight weeks. That’s pretty compelling.” Consumers can expect more from Harra- ways in this vein, including new products and new ranges in the convenience space such as new, lower sugar alternatives. Co-production is also opening up exciting new markets for Harraways. The Harraways brand is currently gracing tubs of a Killinchy Gold Dairy Free ice cream range, (recipes contain its oats). “Using partnerships to develop new con- cepts is exciting. Oat-based craft beer and oat milk are among other areas of interest for us,” says Peter. Investment in mill machinery and infrastruc- ture in recent years has fuelled production growth. Coupled with investment in land, Harraways is well placed to expand both mill and warehousing space as needed. Pter says that last year was a bumper sales year for Harraways as people spent more time at home and bought more oats for home cooking. “With its unique blend of tradition and innovation, Harraways is in a strong position to build on momentum and continue to grow sustainably into the future. Oj i Fibre Solut ions Packaging 03 349 4434 | oj ifs.com Providing Harraways with quality corrugated packaging, made from renewable, sustainably harvested forestry and recycled wood fibre. Proud to be supporting Harraways We are pleased to have provided structural engineering services for Harraways