New Zealand

McCain Foods (NZ) Limited began by selling a range of products imported from Australia to both the retail and food service market. It now has local plants processing potatoes and producing frozen French fries and vegetables.

The company’s Auckland sales office opened in 1987, followed by a series of acquisitions and developments.

• 1990 - acquired Alpine Foods, a processor of frozen vegetables in Timaru, and then added a French fry factory to the site in 1993. 
• 1996 - acquired Grower Foods, processor of frozen vegetables in Hastings.
• 2001 - McCain bought the H.J. Heinz French fry and potato processing business in Feilding and upgraded the site in 2003.
• 2002 - major distribution warehouse was completed in Timaru.

Australia and New Zealand first experienced McCain French fries in 1968 and demand for McCain products in the region continues to grow. No wonder this success prompted the company slogan: Ah McCain, You’ve done it again!