Two of New Zealand’s best known healthcare brands, Healtheries of New Zealand and Comvita New Zealand Limited, will
begin a working partnership early in the New Year to drive growth.
The relationship, which will consolidate sales, service and distribution efforts into retail, will draw on the strengths
of each partner’s channel relationships - grocery for Healtheries, health food and pharmacy for Comvita. Each business
will use its existing sales team to sell and service the other’s products.
Sarah Kennedy, managing director, Healtheries New Zealand says the arrangement makes good commercial sense in an
increasingly competitive marketplace.
“We both have good brand awareness in the heath food and supplements sectors. With a new focus on enhancing the service
we offer our key distribution channels, we can see growth potential,” says Ms Kennedy.
Prior to the new partnership commencing, Comvita and Healtheries sales teams will be fully trained on the current and
new products sold into their respective retail channels. Healtheries is also appointing a new account manager to
streamline the logistics of the combined operation.
Graeme Boyd, CEO, Comvita says: “the partnership will not only increase customer access to both brands, but also improve
channel partner servicing.”
Healtheries holds a 60 per cent share of the supplements market, is the market leader in herbal and green teas (38%),
and in rice wafers (61%). It makes the majority of its sales from grocery.
Comvita’s key revenue comes from distribution into health food, pharmacy and tourism retail, where it distributes the
majority of its range. Comvita is the largest therapeutic bee-products supplier in New Zealand.
Healtheries and Comvita are privately owned by New Zealand interests and both manufacture their products locally.
About Healtheries
Healtheries began as a specialty flour-miller in 1904. Nearly a hundred years later, it has expanded its portfolio to
include a wide variety (750) of innovative products targeting health and well being.
From supplements and herbal beverages, to rice wafers and natural foods, Healtheries is acknowledged as the top personal
care brand in grocery in New Zealand. The excellence of its products is also recognised internationally with exports
going to the UK, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Pacific.
True to its heritage, Healtheries remains New Zealand owned and operated. It employs more than 250 people in
Australasia.
About Comvita
Comvita was founded in 1974 by beekeeper Claude Stratford QSM. Operating from the Bay of Plenty, it pioneered many honey
bee based therapeutics including Propolis and Comvita UMF Manuka Honey.
Thirty years on, Comvita employs over 60 people and makes and markets a comprehensive range of honey and bee-based
products. Comvita also exports to 15 countries including Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom.
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For further information, please contact:
Sarah Kennedy Penelope Barr
Managing Director General manager
Healtheries of New Zealand Ltd Beyond Public Relations
Tel: + 64 573 3730 Tel: +64 9 306 1801
Fax: + 64 573 3731 Fax: + 64 9 302 7169
Mob: 021 965 440 Mob: 025 835 383
Email: sarahk@healtheries.co.nz Email: peneb@beyondpr.co.nz
Graeme Boyd
Chief Executive
Comvita New Zealand Ltd
Tel: + 64 7 533 1426
Fax: + 64 7 533 1118
Mob: 021 386 989
Email: graeme@comvita.com