Hon Jim Sutton
Speech Notes
23 April 2002
Managing director Anton Masutti, directors Sarah McCormack and Murray McCallum, ladies and gentlemen: I'm delighted to
be here to present Delica NZ Ltd with a Trade New Zealand Export Award
Delica has won this award for its outstanding foreign exchange growth ? earning $50 million in 2001 with forex projected
to grow again strongly this year.
Delica was set up by Anton and Murray five years ago, and shortly after they were joined by Sarah.
The trio saw a gap in the market to provide consistently top quality fruit and vegetables, as well as service, to
clients and growers.
They thought they could do it better than the competition. And judging from their results to date, they are have.
Delica is a company that recognises that at the end of the day people are the most important factor about succeeding in
business.
Many companies profess to that but Delica certainly seems to walk the talk
To get the best growers on board, you work to maximise their returns, as well as your own. Anton talks about
"win-squared" relationships, always looking for ways to benefit a relationship, whether it's with growers, clients,
suppliers or staff.
I'm told staff are given a lot of freedom and good conditions. As a result, they work hard and deliver for Delica.
The company strives to give excellent service to clients and that includes providing top quality produce.
Delica has part-ownership of at least 50% of its packhouse operations and that gives greater control over supply and
quality.
Unlike its competitors, Delica has multi-lingual agents on the ground in China, Australia and North America who are its
eyes and ears in the market, checking quality and supporting customers.
>From small beginnings five years ago, Delica now market and distributes more than 35 fruit and vegetable products
around the world.
The company has successfully established strong brands in overseas markets all over the world, include Japan, North
America, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Australia.
You are involved in numerous joint ventures in New Zealand and more recently China, you have international offices and
an 80 acre organic orchard. There are plans to diversify, perhaps into meat and seafood.
Delica's approach to export success has been to combine smart business sense with integrity and honesty.
It's an approach that is winning you business all over the world and access to some of the best fruit and vegetables
around.
Congratulations to Anton, Murray, Sarah and all the Delica staff on your outstanding export achievement and your Export
Award win - I know it's a real team effort.
It now gives me great pleasure to present the Delica NZ Ltd Trade New Zealand Export Award (to be collected by Anton
Masutti)
I also have five certificates of appreciation to present in recognition of
an outstanding contribution to Delica's export success.
- International Cargo Express
- Qantas Airways Ltd
- Panmure Orchard
- Gala Gardens
- Katipak Ltd
Office of Hon Jim Sutton