Sept 24, 2024

Final Words from Tony Sayle

After an illustrious career in the horticulture industry, and 22 years as our Managing Director, Tony Sayle is retiring. Before his departure, we had the privilege of interviewing him to gain insights into the significant changes and experiences throughout his remarkable journey. Read the full interview below:

  • Can you share how you first became involved in the horticulture industry and what drew you to it?

Having completed a science degree and living in the Bay of Plenty in the early 1980’s, the kiwifruit idustry represented a great opportunity with its rapid growth and need for people. I was fortunate to be given the opportunity, through a close friend, to join Bay of Plenty Fruit Packers (now East Pack Washer Road) and work in their Research department.

I quickly developed an interest in the export side of the business and joined Fruitfed Export, a division of the Fruit Growers Federation who were one of the 6 licenced exporters of kiwifruit at that time. In those days, the industry was only exporting around 6 million trays of fruit in total…….how far it has come!

When the Industry restructured to form the Kiwifruit Marketing Board in 1989 (the genesis of Zespri), I returned from Fruitfed’s London office to join the board in Auckland.

My move to join Sinclair International and subsequently Jenkins Group was a result of the relationship that I had developed with Peter Briggs, the founding owner of Sinclair and Tony McInness, MD of Jenkins, both of whom I had developed tremendous respect for as one of the industry’s key suppliers.

  • How has the horticulture industry evolved over the 45 years you’ve been a part of it?

In New Zealand, the significant growth in kiwifruit volume and its global market growth has been a key feature and in recent years the ascendency of the Sungold variety following the demise of Hort 16A due to the impact of PSA. Continued development of apple varieties that position NZ as a premium supplier to world markets and growing avocado industry, summer fruits and a developing citrus sector pursuing seedless easy peel mandarin varieties. Our vegetable industry continues to thrive with some very significant producers now with very sophisticated growing and marketing operations.

Growing techniques and post-harvest facilities have come a long way with consolidation and scale enabling the investment required to meet increasing compliance but also enhance efficiency, reduce costs and respond to market needs.

  • What were some of the key trends and innovations in the industry when you first started, and how do they compare to today?

The fledgling kiwifruit Industry was focused on increasing plantings, growing markets, and developing infrastructure. At an early stage it had moved to palletisation and was predominantly using containerisation. Govt subsidies encouraged investment in infrastructure, and I recall in the early 1990s there were around 660 packhouses and 220 cool stores in the industry. In apples, the NZ Apple Board controlled the crop and still shipped predominantly loose cartons in reefer ships moving later to embrace palletisation. The Horizon 2000 program required packhouses to invest to meet on-going compliance requirements and some chose not to do this, which resulted in rationalisation of facilities within the industry. Once again, this enabled introduction of more technology with substantial progress in electronic sizing, and development of vision systems for grading by colour and defects including internal defects as time went on.

During this time, led by the marketers, there was a move from selling what was grown to incentivising growers to grow what was required in terms of fruit varieties and size profiles.

  • Can you discuss any significant changes in industry practices or technologies that have had a major impact on the business?

From a Jenkins perspective, the reduction in packhouse numbers and trend towards larger, electronic, higher speed fruit sizers significantly influenced the way we supported the industry in terms of fruit labelling. This required higher speed labelling systems with electronic interfaces with the sizers themselves. As the marketers required fruit to be labelled at high percentages, our service support also had to be intensified as packhouses could not afford to stop due to equipment or label issues. Increased palletisation opened the way for automation in pallet strapping and now most packhouses have our Sorma strappers supported by our substantial service team. We have also grown our packaging business in sync with the range of equipment we now offer, an example of which is the strapping to run through the strapping systems.

In recent times, availability of labour has become an increasing issue for the industry and this has fuelled the need for greater automation both in orchard and in packhouses. Jenkins have been growing our portfolio of options that we are able to offer to meet this trend. Recent investments in CR Automation Ltd, ABC Software Ltd and our involvement with Robotics Plus, marketing their Aporo, robotic produce packers have all been part of this development.

  • What role has Jenkins Freshpac Systems played in shaping the horticulture industry in New Zealand over the years?

As fruit labelling changed from being a discretionary initiative embraced by some entrepreneurial early adopters such as John Paynter with his Johnny Appleseed and Yummy brand to a mandated requirement by the marketing boards, Jenkins was required to make labelling accessible to all packers. This in itself resulted in packhouse operators thinking carefully how they would deploy labelling equipment and this did have an influence on sizer configurations. Sizer companies themselves started incorporating space on their sizers and interfaces for Sinclair labelling systems, which prior had not featured in their layouts.

As mentioned, Jenkin’s introduction of strapping machines has changed operations at the end of sizers and with increased automation around them, we are seeing less staff required to attend to these functions.

Our ongoing introduction of new retail ready packaging options with the equipment and service to go with them is continuing to evolve. We are now working with customers to provide solutions to meet the growing requirement for more sustainable packaging options. Compostable, cellulose based netting ,100% r-PET punnets, linerless labels and printers and compostable fruit labels are a number of products that are beginning to feature more strongly as our range of solutions grow.

The development of RPL’s Aporo produce packer and our associated D-Nest solution has moved the paradigm for customers who have embraced this, not only in New Zealand but internationally. CR Automation and ABC Software are also featuring as innovators, working with customers to shape post-harvest operations of the future.

  • Are there any particular challenges the industry has faced that stand out in your memory, and how did the company navigate them?

The challenges that the kiwifruit industry faced in the late 1980’s led to the formation of the Kiwifruit Marketing Board which then controlled market access under one brand “The World’s Finest Kiwifruit”. We proudly helped refine the design for application on fruit labels and then set about developing commercial terms and labelling systems that could be deployed to all kiwifruit packhouses that supplied fruit for export.

In 2000, the apple industry saw the move from a single desk marketing structure under the New Zealand Apple and Pear Board to a multi-exporter-based system. This required us to unravel the labelling agreement to enable individual packhouses to lease their own equipment and was not without its challenges. Clearly though the most significant event was the outbreak of PSA in kiwifruit in 2011 which saw the decimation of the Hort 16A variety. Jenkins, like the industry had to structure our business based on a substantial drop in income. Our response was to commit to building our new site in Tauriko and move our printing operations closer to our customers. I remember being asked if we were wise to be doing this at such a time and our response was that we have faith in the industry, and this was exactly the right thing to be doing! The subsequent recovery, thanks to great work by the industry, vindicated our decision.

The Corona Virus pandemic was of course another test for us all and I am proud to say, notwithstanding the tremendous disruptions to our supply chain, we didn’t miss a beat with our supply programs to customers and service delivery.

As if the pandemic was not enough, Cyclone Gabriel came hot on its heels and it is a credit to the industry that the recovery has been as remarkable as it has. This along with the pandemic and issues with labour availability has been the catalyst for further investment in automation.

  • What have been some of your proudest moments or achievements in your career within the horticulture industry?

From a personal perspective, my role in development of some of the kiwifruit industry’s new markets in Asia and the Middle East were a satisfying achievement as was my time in the London office of Fruitfed and Apple and Pear Board, which formed the beginning of the industry’s presence in Europe. During this time, I was fortunate to meet Peter Briggs, the founding owner of Sinclair International who later gave me an opportunity to join his growing team as their markets expanded throughout the world. I was proud to become Sinclair’s International Marketing Director and ultimately returning to NZ joining Jenkins Group who were, and still are, Sinclair’s Australasian agent. Working with Tony McInness was an inspiration. Tony had dedicated his time as MD of Jenkins to building the Sinclair business in the region and his success in achieving this is his legacy that endures to this day.

I am extremely proud to have been part of Jenkins's growth and what we now bring to the industry in terms of products and services. We are present in most fruit packhouses throughout New Zealand and Australia and have a growing business in the vegetable sector. I am proud of our great team of people, most of whom have been with us a long time and are well respected for what they bring to the industry within the roles that they carry out.

  • How do you see the future of the horticulture industry, and what role do you think Jenkins Freshpac Systems will play in it?

Short term growth in kiwifruit volumes with continued focus on new varietal development suggests that the kiwifruit industry will continue to be a key foundation of horticultural export derived income .The apple industry will see its future in premium, niche varieties and it is pleasing to see the confidence shown with continued new plantings. In essence, the horticulture industry is a vital contributor to New Zealand’s economy and will continue to be so in its various sectors. As mentioned, reliance on labour needs to reduce, and operations need to be as efficient as possible. We are also seeing global trends towards sustainability and increased compliance and more sustainable practises in all that we do.

Jenkins Feshpac’s future will continue to be based in providing solutions to address these opportunities. We intend to be agile and quick to respond to changing needs and be seen as an authority that customers can rely on.

We intend to grow our partnerships and extend our presence throughout the industry’s supply and value chain with the products and services we provide, both directly and through our partners.

We all have an exciting future ahead.

  • Can you share any memorable stories or experiences that highlight the changes or growth in the industry?

I remember Bay of Plenty Fruit Packers, when I was there in the early 80’s, celebrating the fact that they had packed 1 million trays of kiwifruit. This year, Eastpack, including the same Washers Road site, celebrated 50 million trays packed with the industry overall packing 197 million trays!

I remember joining the bus on which we were taking customers to see the All Blacks play Japan in Hamilton at the 2011 World Cup and a number of people on the bus had just been at an industry meeting to deal with the reality of the PSA outbreak and how it may unfold. It certainly did unfold as it was forecasted to, but what remarkable work a coordinated industry approach achieved and how proud the industry should be when looking back at what has been achieved since!

I remember when the Labour government announced that it was going to include single use fruit labels to its list of products to be banned from use by July 2023 and the impact that this was going to have on the industry and our business. What remarkable work has been achieved by Sinclair, ourselves and the industry to now have a home compostable label that positions us to meet this legislation along with other market requirements.

We all remember the impact that Cyclone Gabrielle had, particularly on segments of the Hawkes Bay. It is remarkable to see the resilience and fortitude exhibited by the industry at large to achieve what they have in the short time since.

I remember when packhouses required hundreds of people ……………………….!!

  • What advice would you give to someone starting out in the horticulture industry today?

You have joined an industry that has proven its resilience and represents a tremendous future. Its contribution to New Zealand’s economy is vital and as the industry moves to meet on going trends, upskilling and a change in focus from traditional methods will be the key to future success.

A commitment to learn new skills and embrace new technologies will see tremendous opportunities as post-harvest operators’ thirst for people with the right talents.

Similar to the growth that was occurring in the early 80’s that soaked up new graduates and anyone that was willing to work hard, when I joined, the introduction of new technologies and processes will provide great opportunities for people that bring the right skills as the industry moves through its current stage of further development.

My parting comment is that your decision to have joined the industry is your best one so far, your next, will be how you continue to upskill and realise the opportunities that the industry will continue to offer.

This post was written by

Tony Sayle