• Scully’s: From Bulls, with love
    Apr 25 2023

    Scully’s exports a wide range of natural boutique products for bath, body and home to Asia, Europe and Australia. Scully’s started as a small family-run operation in Bulls 20 years ago, but it’s gradually grown bigger and bigger, all the while keeping its commitment to the environment and its people.

    In this episode of Flying the Fern, host David Downs talks to Operating Manager Sarah Parkinson and Shop Manager Juliette Arnott about:

    • The challenges of going from a grassroots business to a global exporter
    • How Scully’s satisfy different requirements for different markets, and why they decided not to adhere to China’s demands
    • Why the way they operate and their company identity attracts customers
    • How the FernMark has supported their brand, including the resources they’ve been able to get access to

    To find out more, head to: https://scullysnz.com/

    Or find them on social media

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scullysnz/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scullysnz/

    To find out more about the FernMark Licence Programme please visit https://www.fernmark.nzstory.govt.nz/

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    21 mins
  • K9 Natural: The simple idea that carnivores should eat meat
    Apr 17 2023

    K9 Natural pet food is sourced and produced in such a way that humans could eat it. Using high-quality ingredients from the human supply chain has a range of health benefits for animals that help our pets, and this has helped the company to play a leading role in shifting the standard of animal foods towards premium, natural, food products for cats and dogs.

    In this episode of Flying the Fern, host David Downs talks to the CEO of parent company Natural Pet Food Group Neil Hinton about:

    • How one of the company founders spent time living with wolves in Alaska to develop the recipe
    • Being in 13 markets around the world, and why they pulled back from some
    • How New Zealand-grown food (especially grass-fed meat) underpins their own nutritional brand components
    • Realising the way we do business in New Zealand intrinsically stands up to high ESG international standards
    • Having a US private equity investor come on board, and how this impacts the way the business is run

    To find out more, head to: https://www.k9natural.com/

    Or find them on social media

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/k9naturaldogfood

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k9natural/

    To find out more about the FernMark Licence Programme please visit https://www.fernmark.nzstory.govt.nz/

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    21 mins
  • Karen Murrell: Pioneering the beauty industry with Kiwi inspiration
    Apr 10 2023

    Karen Murrell has played a leading hand in shifting the global beauty industry towards natural, environmentally friendly products that don’t compromise on quality. Her success story has leaned on no shortage of inspiration from New Zealand flowers, colours and tones.

    In this episode of Flying the Fern, host David Downs talks to Karen about:

    • Developing her own lipstick range from home
    • Getting an Instagram shout out from Kourtney Kardashian
    • How she’s expanded into new countries, including an in-depth look at her China business
    • How the FernMark helped to win a trademark court case

    To find out more, head to https://karenmurrell.co.nz/

    Or find them on social media:

    Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/karenmurrell

    Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/karenmurrellofficial/

    To find out more about the FernMark Licence Programme please visit https://www.fernmark.nzstory.govt.nz/

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    17 mins
  • Anchor: 130+ years of taking New Zealand dairy to the world
    Apr 3 2023

    Fonterra is New Zealand’s leading dairy exporter, and Anchor is a $1.2 billion kiwi brand that’s been around for more than 130 years. Anchor products go to more than 80 countries, playing a huge role in the reputation of New Zealand, and New Zealand food and beverages, around the world.

    In this episode of Flying the Fern, host David Downs talks to General Manager Brent Whelan about:

    • All the interesting countries where Anchor is a household name
    • Why New Zealand butter is so yellow
    • The significance of the company values in its success
    • How New Zealand farming is tracking on its journey towards being carbon zero
    • Their sustainability and community initiatives, and why they’re so important

    To find out more, head to: https://www.anchordairy.com/nz/en.html

    Or find them on social media

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anchornz/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anchornewzealand/

    To find out more about the FernMark Licence Programme please visit https://www.fernmark.nzstory.govt.nz/

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    18 mins
  • Mamaku: Incorporating traditional Māori values with natural skincare
    Mar 26 2023

    Mamaku skincare products are steeped in traditional Māori practices and values that govern everything from the way these special products are made, to how the business is run by the sisters who founded Mamaku ten years ago.

    They’re helping to take the beauty industry back to the future, where natural, plant-based products are seen as premium.

    In this episode of Flying the Fern, host David Downs talks to co-founder and director Tessa Davis about:

    • Getting into business with no beauty industry experience, and how they figured it out
    • Producing Mamaku products according to tikanga, ensuring it’s sustainable
    • The values that govern the way they operate, why they’re important, and how they benefit the business
    • What the proposition of being Māori means in overseas markets, and why it’s attractive

    To find out more, head to: https://mamakuskin.com/

    Or find them on social media

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mamakuskin

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamakuskin/

    To find out more about the FernMark Licence Programme please visit https://www.fernmark.nzstory.govt.nz/

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    20 mins
  • Matta Products: Recycling visionaries owning a niche market
    Mar 20 2023

    Matta has recycled more than 60 million kilograms of PVC and rubber in the last 30 years, since the company was started by then-Ōtaki mayor Murray Scott in his garage.

    The company produces safety matting for playgrounds and industrial use all over the world, and brings a strong sustainability approach to a very niche sector.

    In this episode of Flying the Fern, host David Downs talks to managing director Brent Harris about:

    • The DIY early days and pioneering recycling systems in the 1990s
    • Growing from a small Ōtaki startup to having overseas offices and international business
    • How being from New Zealand aligns with their focus on recycling and opens doors
    • Why they keep manufacturing in New Zealand, despite it being cheaper to go elsewhere

    To find out more, head to https://www.mattaproducts.com/

    Find Matta on social media:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattaProducts

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matta_products_/

    To find out more about the FernMark Licence Programme please visit https://www.fernmark.nzstory.govt.nz/

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    18 mins
  • Prolife Foods: $100m in 10 years – taking the Australian market by storm
    Mar 13 2023

    Prolife Foods might be the biggest New Zealand brand that you’ve never heard of. It is doing business in more than 18 countries and has more than $300 million in annual revenue through its range of bulk foods, self-selection products, honey, and well-known FMCG grocery food brands.

    In this episode of Flying the Fern, host David Downs talks to CEO Andrew Smith about:

    • The Jack and the Beanstalk-like company origin story, and starting out of a Hamilton garage 40 years ago
    • How Prolife Foods changed the game by partnering with a big name celebrity chef
    • How they’ve diversified the business, why it was necessary, and how they made it a success
    • Gaining traction overseas as a New Zealand business, and the big mistake many people make
    • The halo effect of the FernMark when it’s used by more and more businesses

    To find out more, head to: https://www.prolifefoods.co.nz/

    To find out more about the FernMark Licence Programme please visit https://www.fernmark.nzstory.govt.nz/

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    22 mins
  • GreenKiwi Supplements: Putting values first – How sustainability drives international success
    Mar 6 2023

    Max Donaldson started GreenKiwi at just 17 when he realised pruned olive leaves his neighbour was throwing away had huge health benefits. In just over two years, he’s had a steep learning curve in developing effective, sustainable, New Zealand-made olive leaf supplements.

    Max has grown the company from nothing to being in retail stores around New Zealand and Dubai, all while finishing school and studying at university.

    In this episode of Flying the Fern, host David Downs talks to Max about:

    • Max’s inspiration for the company
    • Why New Zealand-grown olive leaves are so much better
    • How Max coped with early sales struggles
    • The issue of trust in the healthcare market, and how Max tackles it
    • The significance of being local and sustainable

    To find out more, head to https://www.greenkiwisupplements.com/

    Find GreenKiwi on social media:

    Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/greenkiwisupplements

    Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/greenkiwisupplements/

    To find out more about the FernMark Licence Programme please visit https://www.fernmark.nzstory.govt.nz/

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    24 mins