Hansells managing director Stuart Walker has confirmed the food business, which employs 95 Masterton people, is for sale ? but he says workers "need to have no concerns where the business is at".
Mr Walker, speaking from France where he is on leave, said any buyer would buy the business in
entirety, and workers would have "the current terms and conditions" of their contracts, protected by employment law.
Mr Walker said the "more positive" publicity about the situation was, "the better for the shareholders".
"Having headlines about jobs at risk does nobody any favours".
Mr Walker confirmed First New Zealand Capital has been asked to broker a sale, which could take two or three months.
Hansells makes drinks including Quench, Thriftee and Jungle Juice, which is now being marketed on radio and television.
Hansells could be a trade sale to other food companies, or go to private equity partners.
The business, together with Healtheries health products, is tipped to bring about $200 million for owner Gary Lane, an Auckland millionaire.
Mr Lane has had shares in the business since 1989, and owned it since 1998 when he bought out partner Alan Stewart, of Masterton.
Mr Walker said that after 17 years, Mr Lane wanted to rationalise the business.
"It's no different to someone selling a house."
Mr Walker said Hansells is "a strong New Zealand business" and if someone wanted to buy it "you would hope (it's) for the right reason".
"Why would anybody buy a business to go backwards?"
Mr Walker said Hansells' Masterton factory is an asset with strong staff stability and industrial knowledge.
"Teamed up with the right company or investment it could accelerate further," Mr Walker said.
"We've got to look at this positively. That's my job."
Mr Walker said he has been managing director of Hansells for six and a half years, and has seen positive growth in that time.
"I'm very sensitive to the situation in Masterton and local staff," Mr Walker said.
He said Hansells was "getting on with business as usual", in the soup season, a busy time of year.
"With the horrible weather in New Zealand at the moment the soups are selling quite well."
Mr Walker said it was 30C in France in the morning when he was spoken to, and "would probably get to 35C in the afternoon".
Next week he would be "back to reality" and would visit Masterton to communicate with staff.
Hansells managing director Stuart Walker has confirmed the food business, which employs 95 Masterton people, is for sale ? but he says workers "need to have no concerns where the business is at".
Mr Walker, speaking from France where he is on leave, said any buyer would buy the business in
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