MG History | MG New Zealand Fresh Produce Group

1923

Established

21, September

Market Gardeners officially registered.

First Auction

05, November

Open for business, the first sale at the Te Aro site.

1944

South Island Expansion

05, September

Christchurch branch opens.

1962

Flower Market Opens

09, July

100 flower growers supported the opening of a separate flower market in Christchurch.

1980

MG Export Company

11, February

Joint Venture to cater to increased export demand.

1984

Marketing Arm extends

03, April

Including Blenheim, Nelson, Westport, Greymouth and Palmerston North branches.

Head Office Moves

02, July

Separation from Wellington Market to a close site in Wellington.

1988

New Trading Name

01, March

Market Gardeners Ltd commences trading as MG Marketing along with a new logo.

1993

New Branches

15, February

Dunedin and Brisbane.

Imports

03, February

MG Commences own imports (away from Fruit Distributors Ltd).

Dole Arrives

04, October

The first shipment of Dole Bananas and Pineapples arrives in Wellington.

1995

Banana Ripening Joint Venture

MG took over management of Chiquita and formed and Joint Venture with Dole to operate all banana ripening room facilities.

1999

New Computer System

02, August

TIMMS system to meet expanding needs.

2001

New Branch

02, July

Hamilton opens.

2002

Sunkist

07, January

Exclusive NZ agency agreement with Sunkist and boost brand’s market share by 200%.

2005

LaManna Bananas

04, April

100% acquisition of Australian Wholesaler and Farmer.

2009

UFG

04, May

New joint venture with Auckland-based United Flower Auctions Ltd, trading as United Flower Growers Limited.

2011

New CEO Takes the Helm

02, September

Peter Hendry replaces Tom Treacy who was MG’s longest-serving CEO, having headed the company for 23 years.

2012

Exports Expand

21, May

MG’s joint venture with Te Mata Exports offering encouraging prospects.

2014

Together.Stronger®

08, September

The launch of new company communication plan.

2015

Growing You®

04, May

The launch of Grower workshops, Director Internship and Graduate programmes.

2016

Australian Merger – LaManna Premier Group

15, February

The merger of MG’s Australian-based the subsidiary, LaManna Group, with Premier Fruits Group resulted in the formation of one of Australia’s leading fresh produce supply chain companies.

IP Business

07, March

MGs purchase a suite of marketing rights and trademarks from Fresh New Zealand for a range of fruit varieties.

2017

UFG acquires FloraMax

31, March

UFG purchases the FloraMax flower auction business from Turners and Growers Fresh Limited.

New Branch

18, September

MG opens in Tauranga.

Chairman Retires

06, November

Brian Gargiulo retires, he served on the Board for 36 years (1981-2017) - 25 as a Chairman.

Citrus Shareholding

04, December

MG acquired a 30% shareholding in First Fresh NZ Ltd.

Acquisition of JSEL

18, December

MG acquires JS Ewers Ltd in Nelson.

2018

Dole Partnership

08, April

25-year anniversary of MG Dole relationship.

2019

Growing Operation Investment

01, July

MG’s joint venture with Kaipaki Berryfruits Ltd - creating efficiencies and category growth. The Cambridge based growing operation went on to become a 100% MG Group owned subsidiary business in April 2024.

2022