Temuka spreads cheese overseas
Temuka Transport was on its knees when Rowdy Aitken first heard about it. He and three of his mates - all of them truck drivers - were having a beer at the pub when they learnt the business was in receivership. What a sorry old sight it was: 17 trucks - half of them on blocks.
“We thought we’d give it a go,” says Rowdy of the joint decision to buy the failed venture.
This month, Temuka Transport under Aitken’s ownership turns 50. From those sorry beginnings, it’s grown to 127 trucks, with 220 employees. Rowdy, 81, is the last of the original four to still be in the business. “I’m the only silly bugger left,” he laughs.
The Aitken family connection continues: all three of Rowdy and wife Margaret’s sons are now involved in the business (son Garry is manager). And their horizons have expanded worldwide too. In addition to its myriad of
We embrace the community; that’s a key factor of our growth.
national contracts, Temuka Transport now takes cheese to China and beyond - trucking it from Fonterra’s Clandeboye site in Temuka.
Says Garry of the business: “we embrace the community; that’s a key factor of our growth.”
Fonterra makes up a major percentage of Temuka Transport’s work, says Garry. “We’re honoured to be treated as a strategic partner. We respect each other, and we’re all valued in
- Rowdy Aitken
our own way.”
It’s not just the family trucking business, or indeed Temuka, that’s grown on the back of this, he adds: “it’s the Canterbury region. “Garry’s thinking big. “I believe we can be as good as the Waikato region within 10 years.”
Relationships are what this success is built on, says Fonterra’s site operations manager for Clandeboye, Steve McKnight. He explains that a lot of people in the community have enjoyed working with both companies, with some employed as tanker drivers for Fonterra and then switching to freight with Temuka Transport. “It’s great to be able to provide that landing pad,” says Steve.
What makes Fonterra and Temuka Transport the success that it is? “The ability of both parties to relate to each other. The physical presence plays a big role too.”
Nigel Davenport, chief executive of the Timaru District economic development agency Aoraki Development, calls the relationship - and the growth it has spurred the “waterfall effect.”
“As Fonterra has grown, a lot of family-owned businesses like Temuka Transport have grown. That in turn has boosted the capability of our businesses to support industries the size of our dairy industry,” he says. Trumpeting Timaru as
As Fonterra has grown, a lot of family-owned businesses like Temuka Transport have grown. That in turn has boosted the capability of our businesses to support industries the size of our dairy industry. - Nigel Davenport
a hub for food processors and manufacturers, Nigel explains those ventures are safe in the knowledge local businesses and industries can support them. “That’s the underlying unsung hero of the expansion at Fonterra.”
When Temuka Transport celebrates its Golden Anniversary on Queen’s Birthday Weekend, Rowdy - who was awarded a QSM for services to the community - will be at the top table with his family in tow. Did he ever think his bar room deal of 50 years ago would graduate to the status it enjoys now? “No way did I envisage it would grow like it has. I’ve got to take my hat off to the family: they brought in fresh ideas. And Fonterra. We got our growth through them.”
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