ZIWI acquires freeze-dried pet food company
The New Zealand manufacturer aims to achieve “sustainable innovative growth” with the investment in Hastings-based Freeze Dried Food (FDF).
The company will have access to FDF’s freeze-drying technology, a method of drying frozen pet food inside a vacuum at extremely low temperatures, maintaining the products in their original uncooked state and offering a high level of nutrients for the animal.
“ZIWI and FDF share similar core values of teamwork, integrity and a relentless customer focus, which are fundamental to any successful business partnership,” highlighted FDF founder Brian Edwards.
ZIWI managing director Richard Lawrence claimed that this investment builds on the manufacturer’s “successful brand strategy” of owning and investing in processing technology to meet strong global demand for our premium product range.
The pet food company also acquired FDF’s subsidiary Kiwigarden in the same operation for an undisclosed amount.
The takeover arrives just after KIWI started production on a new state-of-the-art production kitchen at Awatoto Napier, which will provide processing capability and technology to support the development of new product lines. The manufacturer plans to reach full production by late 2022.