Hi everyone,
Our speaker this week was Allan Booth, sharing his experience of manufacturing in 2023.
When Alan brought his business (Starwood Products) in 1997, the main production was Florist pegs for flower arrangements, ice-cream sticks, Hot Dog sticks, toothpicks, and tongue depressors, mostly manufactured from beechwood logs. He has refined it over the years since then, with 800 thousand kebab sticks per day currently being produced for the NZ & Australian market, venturing also into parts of Europe.
At the time Allan took the business on, he continued to employ the previous owner, who worked in the business until age 78. Good people that were capable was important!
During Covid they were deemed an essential service, as the product was deemed a food product – classed as packaging, so challenges with supply of wood and transportation meant evolving and constantly trying to improve, staying relevant and close to clients. As a result of much trialing, they also moved into the production of “Bio Bricks”. Ticking the sustainability goal. Sawdust collected from the manufacture of the food sticks was recycled and pressed into Bio Brick molds, resulting in a very high density block for domestic use – meaning there is no waste product.
Allan is also currently a Timaru District Councilor and owns the piece of land on top of the Bay Hill, where the Hydro Grand Hotel was, which he is still working to develop.
As we move to our trial of two meetings a month, this meeting was our last one until the 12th September – Meetings will be held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month in the main. Remember, this is just a trial, nothing permanent decided.
National Science & Technology Forum: - Bev notified we have five very good applicants, so interviews will be carried out in the next week or so.
ASPECT Trust Tug-O-War event: - this weekend will be the first occasion in a while that we have had the Hot Dog Van in action, and we will also be utilizing the Temuka Transport BBQ as we cater for the crowd and contestants during the evening – a huge THANK YOU to everyone who put their hand up and joined the “team of volunteers” to make this happen, along with the work comes the fun and I’m sure those attending will appreciate seeing us again.
Speakers: - if you have any suggestions for speakers at our meetings, or vocational visits, please contact Lionel.
REMEMBER – NO MEETING 29th August or 5th September - See you all again 12th September.
Catch up again soon,
Lynette Wilson
President
