Goodtime Foods has purchased a manufacturing plant in Christchurch, bringing the number of Goodtime pies produced annually to more than 12 million.
Based in Sockburn, the bakery is about a third of the size of Goodtime's Napier operation and employs 34 locals. Goodtime Foods chief executive owner Phil Pollett has been working with the Christchurch business, which has been manufacturing Goodtime products under licence for the past 10 years.
He said Goodtime would invest heavily in improvements to bring the new plant into line with his business model.
"We have had a great 10-year relationship with the bakery in the South Island but it is bulging at the seams," he said.
"We need to put our technology, systems and processes in place, and the best way to do that was to own the business. The current owners had decided that it was time to retire, so the timing is perfect. We have the North Island covered in distribution terms and, with these intended changes, we will be able to take the business to the next level for our South Island customers."