Magazine Article – Wairoa Branch is Tops

WAIROA BRANCH IS TOPS

“Our operation is big business for a small town like Wairoa (pop. 5,600). But HBF is much more than just another business. We are an important part of the whole community,” says Wairoa Area Manager Rod Sloane.

This year Wairoa gave the company the best return on funds invested (25.02%) and also showed more improvement over the past year than any other branch.

In fact, during the past five years, the improvement has been almost sensational. Rod Sloane, who has been at Wairoa barely a year, gives credit for this to the former manager Lawrence [Laurence] Redshaw, now in Gisborne, and to the mercantile team he built up.

Another reason for the splendid development, according to Mark Patterson, Accountant, is that “Wairoa is a developing area. People are coming in and paying big money for land. The company has put a lot of money into the area in the past five years and now it is paying returns.”

The company poured $2,121,728 into Wairoa and made a gross profit this year of $530,998.

Here are a few of the 46 staff members in Wairoa who contributed to the fine results.

Produce Manager Ewart Donnithorne (left) chats with Wairoa Area Manager Rod Sloane in the Produce Department. Rod heads the Mercantile Department himself and spends four out of five days on the road, calling on clients. He is also chairman of the Sales Yards Committee and head auctioneer. Ewart has been with HBF for 13 years and now holds the same position his father held in Waipukurau before retirement. Ewart arranges for the purchase of produce from manufacturers and for its sale to clients. He is also in charge of HBF’s grain drier across the river, which involves following the maize-growing process from dealing with growers to despatching dried grain by rail to stock feed mills throughout the country.

June Stent serves a customer in fashion retail. Retail includes hardware, soft goods, home appliances, coffee lounge, and grocery. Only the Grocery Department is now affiliated with Cut Price Stores.

Peter Galbraith, Storeman in the Produce Dept., has been with HBF 16 years. He handles grain, seed, fencing, vaccines, weed killers, eartags, woolpacks, chain saws, spray pumps, lambing equipment and much more.

Gwen McLiesh (left) does her shopping while Kura Burling (centre) and Athol Smith, Grocery Manager, keep the shelves filled.

Josie Taylor, Hardware Department, checks a new refrigerator bought by Doug Gordon, van driver.  Hardware manager Barry Gay, who has been with HBF for 25 years was away the day HBF INFO visited Wairoa.

Heather Taylor (left), Sylvia Huggett and Jean Couper are ready to serve customers in the coffee lounge.

All we said was, “How’s Business?” to Mark Patterson, Accountant, and Val Wilson, Senior Retail Clerk.  This year Wairoa Branch contribution was over $530,000 compared to $2,580 in 1975.

Stephen Kaye (below) newly appointed Retail Manager, watches the HBF sign replaced by CPS over the Grocery Department.  Grocery is 70% of retail business.  Retail accounts for  $113,000 of the total $530,998 branch contribution.  Financial services bring in $152,000 and Mercantile $356,000.