Ready to lease: foodeast-haumako
The construction of foodeast-haumako, Hawke’s Bay’s home of food and beverage innovation, is on the home stretch. The two buildings that make up the facility are due to be handed over to the board by mid-March.
This month, the foodeast-haumako board engaged commercial real estate company Colliers to market and negotiate the leasing of the facility. Board chair Nicky Solomon says it is expected that businesses will be settling into their new premises in June “if not earlier”.
foodeast-haumako ready to lease
“It is critical that we achieve the best result for the shareholders and Hawke’s Bay’s residents who, through the shareholders and Government partner Kānoa, have an interest in the project. To ensure that, via a competitive tender process, we have engaged Colliers to take us through this next stage.”
Nicky Solomon, foodeast-haumako Board Chair
She says the board and the shareholders (Hawke’s Bay Regional Investment Company, Hastings District Council and Progressive Meats) “are very excited to have reached this milestone. It is time to see the vision realised!”
HBRIC chairman Dan Druzianic congratulated the board on the imminent completion. “Given what the region has been through – two-plus years of COVID, the related massive increase in construction costs that meant a full redesign of the buildings, and then Cyclone Gabrielle – to come in within 12 months of the original time-frame is a real achievement.”
Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst says she is looking forward to visiting the new tenants once they have settled in.
“We are very confident that this facility will be self-sustaining and fulfil our original vision of adding significant value to the food and beverage industry in Hawke’s Bay. The primary sector and associated manufacturing are major employers in our region and substantial contributors to our regional income.”
Sandra Hazlehurst, Hastings Mayor
Progressive Meats founder Craig Hickson says strong interest in the facility over the construction phase bodes well for the future. “The flexibility of the spaces within the new facility will undoubtedly maximise the range of businesses attracted to use it. We are very much looking forward to seeing what develops out of it.”
The zoning of the property ring-fences it for food and beverage related industries, which may include businesses in the agri-tech or food packaging markets.
Ms Solomon says the board is focused on ensuring the financial sustainability of foodeast-haumako and achieving its innovation philosophy. It is being marketed as suitable for ‘industry players seeking a collaborative and innovative environment’.
To enable that, collaborative ‘joined-up’ spaces have been designed to encourage sharing of knowledge and inspiration. It is envisaged that once the facility is fully operational, a service connecting businesses (whether tenants or external to foodeast-haumako) with the advice and support they need to develop new products or enhance existing ones (things like testing, packaging, and marketing) will be introduced. The service will have links to other main ‘food hubs’ across New Zealand, and specialists at universities and within industry that will be able to provide advice. Further additions to help encourage innovation are proposed, for example a commercial kitchen and/or laboratory, depending on market interest.