Longevity the essence of Hansells

A business that started life as a backyard venture in an old chicken house and has grown to become one of New Zealand's leading food manufacturers celebrated its 75th birthday yesterday.
The management of Hansells (NZ) Ltd threw a party for former staff, existing staff, management and people who have had close connections with the company, in the grounds of its Opaki Road factory.
Now a subsidiary of Old Fashioned Foods, Auckland Hansell's was founded by L.B.Maunsell in the years just prior to World War 2 and over the years has become a household name as the maker of essences, drink sachets and a range of other products.
Most associate its name with brands like Quench, Make a Shake, Jungle Juice and Vita Fresh.
Among those at yesterday's garden party were Rena Fellingham, one of the original staff members, Gillian Maunsell widow of John Maunsell who was the founder's son and for many years was at the helm of the business, Sarah Andrews (nee Maunsell), chief executive officer of Old Fashioned Foods Ross MacKenzie and board chairman Alan Stewart.
Today Hansells employs about 80 staff with 17 of those having more than 20 years service.
Mr Stewart said although the firm has been going for threequarters of a century staff turnover has always been low as Hansells prided itself on good relations with staff and staff remained loyal.
In the grounds are a tennis court, a croquet court and a petanque court.
Staff used to also have a swimming pool for their use but that had to be filled in when the roots of magnolia and mature lime trees interfered with it.
Mr Stewart also revealed how Hansells was named.
Han came from one of the firm's originators, an Australian called Hanson, and Sell from the last letters of Maunsell.
"Hanson didn't last long, he was apparently shipped back to Australia to face a charge of bigamy."
Mrs Fellingham was 16 when she started working at Hansells and, although she has no memory of her actual first day there, she clearly recalls her job in the early years.
"We mostly made essences and we had to paste labels firstly onto a board and then onto the bottles."
She said no doubt technology has moved the business way forward of that method of working.