HISTORY 60 JULY 2017 STILL FRESH AFTER ALL THESE YEARS It’s not every day that a business celebrating 120 years of operation can be called ‘fresh to the core’, but it’s the only word to describe T&G Global. Founded in 1897 under its historic Turners and Growers name, the Auckland company is now called T&G Global to reflect its growing global footprint and recently invited generational growers, customers, suppliers and staff – many of whom have worked for T&G for decades (including one for 63 years) – to a special celebration featuring a menu showcasing the best of the company’s products created by Masterchef New Zealand 2014 winners Karena and Kasey Bird. Founder Edward Turner once said “our industry is vital for healthy living and is essential to mankind and does no one any harm.” That has been the company’s business philosophy ever since, along with keeping fruit and vegetables consistently fresh, and responding to changing consumer needs. “Edward Turner was certainly ahead of his time in many ways, establishing a flourishing fruit and flower business on K Road in Auckland in 1897 with the support of his nine sons, chief executive Alaistair Hulbert says. “Fast forward to 2017, and T&G has a footprint the length and breadth of New Zealand, plus 12 offices offshore delivering the best of New Zealand to Kiwis and the world, and importing what is needed to provide people with fresh produce every day, everywhere. And in an age where obesity and heart disease are rampant, I’m proud T&G provides people with healthy food options. We’re passionate about what we’re doing and possibly one of the many reasons we continue to grow 120 years after our first seed was grown.” More than 1000 local growers are involved with the company, and executive general manager Andrew Keaney says it understands the challenges growers face. It’s been 120 years since Edward Turner and his family arrived in New Zealand from England to establish a fruit and flower shop in Auckland. 1897 Enters a partnership with two other men to become the first fruit importer and auctioneer in New Zealand 1951 Fruit Distributors is formed with Government and private enterprise directors to be sole importer of citrus fruit, bananas and pineapple into New Zealand 1993 Auckland markets move to Mt Wellington, and Turners & Growers Fresh is split into three divisions – Pacific (imports), Markets (domestic produce and distribution) and Exports 1959 Proposes that ‘Kiwifruit’ should be the new name for Chinese Gooseberries, and ships one of the first shipboard refrigerated containers of fruit 1995 Tony Gibbs, a mandarin orchardist, is elected as the first grower to become chairman 2005 Turners & Growers enters joint venture for Inglis Horticulture to become one of New Zealand’s largest orchards of new apple varieties 1890 Edward buys land for an orchard at Huia, near the mouth of the Manukau Harbour 1917 Company is renamed E.Turners & Sons 1921 Turners & Growers is incorporated by the Turner family, which decides to offer a proportion of shares to suppliers. There are 207 supplier shareholders initially. 1939 Turners & Growers Proprietary is formed in Australia 1997 Old Auckland market site at the Viaduct Harbour is sold 1958 Company now has affiliate companies in 13 major towns throughout New Zealand’s North Island 2004 Company formally listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange 2007 Kapiro Orchards are purchased, which makes Turners & Growers one of the largest kiwifruit growers in New Zealand. The company buys a majority share in fruit exporter Delica 2002 ENZA begins commercial plantings of proprietary apple variety 1906 Moves to the new city markets in Customs St West near the Viaduct Basin. By now, Turners is the leading fruit auctioneer in Auckland
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