Our History

New Zealand’s first consignment of frozen meat was exported to Great Britain from Port Chalmers, Dunedin. The meat was frozen aboard the ship.

A Certificate of Incorporation was granted to the Auckland Farmers Freezing Company.

The first shareholders meeting of Auckland Farmers Freezing Company was held.

The first plant opened at Southdown in Mt Wellington, Auckland. The opening was described as "a carnival affair". In fact, so many people caught trains from Auckland that the central city was overcrowded with visitors eager to see the meat works process in action.

The Horotiu plant, in the heart of the Waikato, was completed at the end of 1915, and opened in January 1916.

Moerewa in the far north, officially opened in March, after an amalgamation of the North Auckland Freezing Company (NAFCO) and AFFCO.

AFFCO appointed its first 'Chemist'. Before this scientific analysis was outsourced. Analysis and quality control became increasingly more sophisticated. Now AFFCO laboratories are at the heart of the business.

First chilled not frozen beef exported to the United Kingdom.

Beef and lamb exports to America started to grow especially for cuts of prime beef for restaurants and cuts for making hamburgers.

The Rangiuru site opened, built in a strategic location just 6km from Te Puke and close to the Port of Tauranga.

AFFCO pioneered the air-freight of chilled lamb cuts, first to the UK, then to USA, Asia, Europe and the UAE. 

AFFCO took over the export sites of Waitaki International, followed by Wairoa (Hawke's Bay), Feilding (Manawatu) and Imlay (Wanganui).

Auckland Farmers Freezing Company changed its name to AFFCO NZ Limited.

AFFCO beef exports to Asia were growing and reached 35% of all exports.

Talley’s Group Limited gain 100% ownership of AFFCO

First Shipment of AFFCO and New Zealand chilled meat arrives by sea at Zhengzhou, China.

AFFCO remain an essential service during the COVID-19 Pandemic, supplying New Zealanders with meat and supporting the economy with export activity.