The company began as a one-man grain and seed broker and manufacturers’ agent, and developed — after adding a major Queensland maize products company to the mix in 2003 — into reputedly the largest maize miller in Australasia.
Corson remains family-owned and has two family members on the board.
Mr Prenter took up the role as chief executive in July. Originally from Hawke’s Bay, he has 19 years of experience in food production and food packaging for the meat, horticulture and dairy sectors.
He was attracted to the role because of consumer trends towards healthy food choices and healthy products, and the potential maize products have within this wider trend.
“Our relatively new team is fortunate to have inherited a strong business that has been well-managed by Thomas and John Corson over many decades.
“We are extremely appreciative of the support from our loyal grower base from Wairoa and Gisborne to Tolaga Bay, which supplies 100 percent of our New Zealand maize,” Mr Prenter said.
“And we’re fortunate we have an experienced, loyal workforce of 25 in Gisborne.
“That loyalty, and skill base, enables us to consistently produce a quality product. We also enjoy strong customer relationships with New Zealand domestic and multinational markets.
“We are a business-to-business supplier.
“We don’t make consumer products ourselves, but there are some segments we don’t currently participate in. Part of our new product development agenda is identifying and filling the gaps.
“Gaining access into new markets will involve further processing of our current mill range.”
Mr Prenter said new product development manager Nicky Solomon, who has a PhD in food science, will help the company capitalise on recognised new-product opportunities.
“We have to make sure our investment decisions position us well for the evolving market.
“For instance, there is a market trend away from traditional breakfast cereals towards snack-style breakfast eating like Up&Go and snack bars. This is a something we have to move with.
“We need to stay relevant within that breakfast and snack space.”
Popcorn, Mexican food and bakery products were also growth areas, he said.
“Popcorn is a $22 million category in New Zealand. It has come into vogue and is seen now as a healthy snack food because it’s popped dry. Ready-to-eat, popped popcorn is a growth category on supermarket shelves.
“The development of the Mexican category is particularly good for us, with corn chips and tortilla being maize-based. Our grain ingredients go into products like Doritos and GrainWaves.”
Mr Prenter said one of the company’s strengths was that it mills a single variety of grain.
“So we can guarantee we are wheat-free, for instance. All our products are free of allergens, gluten and genetically modified organisms. It is a safe option from that perspective.”
'It's good for us and it's good for Gisborne'The international focus on food safety and place of origin will continue to benefit Corson.
“Food safety is an important part of our ability to build strong relationships, a strong point of difference and definitely a lever for developing opportunities in Asia. Gisborne’s — and New Zealand’s — isolation will play a strong part in the future.
“We’re exporting more from New Zealand and Australia.
“There’s huge growth and excitement for us in the Asian bakery market as people there aspire to a more Western-style diet.
“In Seoul there’s a bakery on every second corner. Five years ago, they did not exist.
“People are eating less rice and more cereals, burgers, and bakery and pastry products.”
Mr Prenter said dietary change and concern for food safety, coupled with an enormous population, equates to huge potential.
“It’s good for us and good for Gisborne.”
