As Affco Imlay wound up its centennial celebrations, board chairman Sam Lewis' message was direct - the company is set for another 100 years in Whanganui.
Mr Lewis and Affco general manager Andy Leonard were in the city as part of the plant's centennial and after several days of celebration they hosted farmers and suppliers at an open day at the Gonville plant on Tuesday.
Mr Lewis said the company remained one of the city's biggest employers, and investors and reinvestment in the plant was a clear sign that the Affco Group intended to maintain its processing operation here.
Affco is the second biggest meat processor in the country.
"We've reinvested in Imlay with a view to being around for another 100 years."
He said an example of that investment was the demolition of the disused fellmongery, the last of the old buildings at Imlay, and a job that cost $600,000.
"Couple that with what the company has invested with the Open Country Dairy plant next door and it represents a major investment."
Mr Leonard said in addition to wages, Imlay and Land Meats were spending millions of dollars on repairs and maintenance and freight, which further supports small business in Whanganui.
"Those repairs and maintenance for example represent a lot of work for local plumbers, electricians and engineers."
The current challenge for the company was finding a solution to its involvement in the city's wastewater treatment system.
Plant manager Troy Lambly said the key message the Affco Group kept reiterating with the district council was that the group had no expectation of getting a free ride.
"However, what we'd like some assistance with is getting to a point where it assists us in maintaining costs that continue to keep us competitive with other processing plants in other regions, both our own and our competitors," Mr Lambly said.
"The more work that stays in Whanganui it's obvious the impact that has in terms of wages for employees and contractors and what that does to the local economy."
Mr Lambly said Affco Group continued to have an open mind around a solution to the wastewater scheme and the company's involvement in it.
"It's certainly not our desire to have to treat our own waste but based on the data in front of us it's a reality we have to face and consider quite strongly.
"What I'm starting to hear from councillors is costs are heading in the right direction.
"We've still got to get an understanding of those costs a bit more and we've raised that with the council. But if the right cost is there in a partnership model with council treating our waste then it's something we'd certainly look at," he said.