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A leading business, rich in history, based in the lush Waikato dairy hub of New Zealand.

In June 2020, two family-owned meat processors, Greenlea Premier Meats and Wilson Hellaby (operating plants in Hamilton, Morrinsville, and Auckland respectively), joined forces to acquire the Tannery at Waitoa in the Waikato from the Wallace Group. Originally established in 1992 to serve the Wallace Corporation's casualty business, the Waitoa Tannery has since expanded to become the only hide tannery located north of Taupo. Recognising its prime location near numerous large beef processing facilities in the upper North Island, Greenlea Premier Meats and Wilson Hellaby took the opportunity to purchase the tannery. A significant development occurred in April 2021 when Waitoa Tannery entered into a long-term agreement with Silver Fern Farms (SFF), New Zealand's largest meat processing company, to process hides and skins from their plants north of Taupo. This influx of volume has positioned the Waitoa Tannery as a major player, now processing nearly 40% of the North Island beef kill and around 36% of the North Island bobby calf kill.

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Since the acquisition in June 2020, the directors of Waitoa Tannery have made considerable investments in both new tannery equipment and upgrades to the wastewater treatment system. By 2025, these investments have transformed the Waitoa Tannery into a world-class wet blue tannery producing a highly sought-after product. The tannery consistently meets all its environmental obligations and continues to explore opportunities for further improvement, particularly in its off-site waste management practices.

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