SealesWinslow's upgraded Wanganui stock feed mill is up and running following a multi-million redevelopment.
The animal nutrition producer has celebrated the new site with a quick sales win, supplying 1,350 tonnes of feed to keep dairy cows in peak condition en route by boat to China.
SealesWinslow General Manager, Graeme Smith, says the site puts the company in the box seat to better serve its existing customer base of dairy, sheep and beef farmers in the Taranaki, and a rapidly expanding new customer group from the Wanganui, Manawatu, East Coast and Wairarapa regions.
"This is a great growth region for red meat and dairy and we're here to support New Zealand farming in every way possible. With our key ingredients mainly sourced from local suppliers, we're also supporting a stronger arable sector."
He says the 'source in New Zealand' policy has seen local grain contracts secured, and SealesWinslow is geared up to buy thousands of tonnes more grain from farmers in the area as it grows.
"For our local customers, there's the added benefit of knowing that the bulk of their feed is locally produced."
Earlier this year SealesWinslow became 100% owned by farm nutrient company Ballance Agri-Nutrients. Ballance Chief Executive Larry Bilodeau says bringing the business into full ownership will supports its growth, and the Wanganui expansion is a good example.
"What is also pleasing is that many of our farmer shareholders are now providing grain to our animal nutrient division, which is good for them and for the economy."
With the mill now in production, nine staff are in work and there's the potential to double the workforce during seasonal demand peaks.
Graeme Smith says the production team is supported by the SealesWinslow technical sales team, who specialise in on farm analysis and tailoring feed solutions to maximise profitable production.
"In animal feed terms, it's the equivalent of a person getting sound, science backed diet advice from a qualified nutritionist, rather than relying on the health claims made on food packaging. You are always going to get better results when you consult an expert," says Mr Smith.
SealesWinslow Operations Manager, Chris Brown, says the company can formulate and custom blend to customer specific nutritional requirements and the plant can produce blends and pellets, as well as kibbling maize.
With production reaching 12 to 15 tonnes per hour, the Wanganui mill is the biggest and fastest of the SealesWinslow plants. It also utilises state-of-the-art control systems to manage product integrity and quality control.
Feed from the mill will be available direct and through local rural merchants, PGG Wrightson, RD1, Farmlands, Wanganui Farm Supplies and Ruapehu Farm Supplies as well as selected Ballance service centres.
