| 45 Morton Smith-Dawe Proud to support rural processing across New Zealand Arrange a site visit today, rural or city: 0800 55 77 33 aurora-process.com — Packing Consumables & Equipment Servicing — Robotic Palletizing & Wrapping — Bag & Sack Filling & Closing Equipment From single units through to fully automated packing lines R J PRESTON LTD Farm Accountants JAMES GORDON IAN COOKE E-mail: James@rjpreston.co.nz GRANT DAVID McCULLOCH E-mail: Grant@rjpreston.co.nz TELEPHONE: 03 358 5686 www.rjpreston.co.nz 32B SHEFFIELD CRESCENT PO BOX 39065, CHRISTCHURCH 8545 Shelving and Storage Solutions - Garage Shelving - Workshop Shelving - Worksbenches - Commercial Storage Proudly supporting Morton Smith-Dawe Ltd sales@racknstack.co.nz | 03 349 2006 www.racknstack.co.nz REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT T T Emma Bailey You’ll have to be quick! Grant Dawe of Morton Smith-Dawe - the company is the leading supplier of seed potatoes and produce to garden centres and farm servicing stores throughout New Zealand. Seed potatoes are flying off the shelf at Christchurch based family business Morton Smith-Dawe. It is the leading supplier of seed potatoes and produce to garden centres and farm servicing stores throughout New Zealand. With stocks all but sold out in October, much earlier than previous years. “My mother and father (Helen and Clive) started the business in 1986 as Dawes Grain and Produce,” General Manager Grant Dawe says. In 2004 they purchased Morton Smith’s potato business and formed Morton SmithDawe Ltd and they have been supplying seed potatoes throughout New Zealand ever since. As school kids Grant and his sister Rachael helped pack seed potatoes and small goods after school. “After I left school I worked with Mum and Dad a few times. I left and went to England and when I came back I bought into the company in 2004.” After a time his parents sold their share to John and Glenda Stanley which Grant eventually bought out and his parents bought back a nominal interest in the company. The business is currently based in Hornby. His parents own the buildings while he owns the majority of the business. They had the business at Wigram Road when they started then as it got bigger they moved to Halswell Junction Road until Clive and Helen sold off the grain and seed side of the business. After that they moved back to Wigram Road where the original family home was on five and a half acres before eventually moving to 12 Kairua Road, Hornby. Grant says that July through to October is the busiest time for the company. “Garlic comes in around April and then the spuds start kicking off.” They supply most garden centres and farm service stores and have the largest market share in New Zealand by far. He is rightly proud the business has remained in the family. “I’m really pleased we are still a family business. I have always looked up to my father as a businessman. Now my niece Hayley is the store manager. “My sister Rachael comes back and helps out with the business. “She is a trained Montessori teacher which was her passion but she still comes back to help out.” At the peak of the season they have up to 12 staff and have five full time staff. This year has kicked off strongly, especially for potatoes. “We will likely be sold out in November. Last year we didn’t sell out until February. We are always looking for new products and varieties. “We have our own variety Haylo (potatoes) which were bred in Lincoln.” The company has continued to expand. “Now we are doing fertiliser and asparagus and yams and shallots. We also have an extensive list of Maori potatoes.” The seed potatoes and produce are sourced from seed growers throughout the South Island. The company has its own cool store, packing and distribution area that ensures their products are delivered throughout New Zealand in top order.
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