Friday, March 29, 2024

Rockit unveils new facility

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Rockit Global Limited has unveiled its brand new facility – gifted the name Te Ipu by local iwi Ngāti Kahungunu – giving the board, shareholders, business partners and dignitaries a first look at the technological innovation within its walls.
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Millions of tiny apples will leave the 21,000m2 packhouse, coolstore and global offices, which are located in Irongate, Hastings, this year.

With demand continuing to grow exponentially across the United States, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, Rockit Global chief executive Mark O’Donnell says expansion into a revolutionary, digitally-advanced, fit for purpose facility was a worthy investment.

“This is a magnificent moment for everyone involved with Rockit Global,” O’Donnell said.

“It’s not only a place to call home for our hundreds of growers, investors, staff and industry colleagues, it’s an innovation hub and place of ideating, exploring and excelling.”

One-hundred-and-twenty permanent staff work in the building, as well as 300 contractors during the busy harvest season.

This year, he estimates that over 100 million apples will be packed and shipped out of Rockit Global’s headquarters. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

“By 2025, we’re expecting that figure to swell to over 400m apples,” he said.

Speakers at the opening ceremony, held on June 1, included Rockit Global chair John Loughlin.

He says it was critical to the board that whatever the next step for the organisation globally, its home should remain in New Zealand and in the Hastings district.

“We were founded here, we’ve matured here and we belong here,” Loughlin said. 

“We are committed to employing from this region and continuing the legacy we’ve built as an energetic, exciting, forward-focused global business, rooted in Hawke’s Bay and surrounded by the very orchards in which this company began.”

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