WE ARE WINNERS - NURSERY OF THE YEAR 2009/2010

Established in 1981, we are now one of New Zealand's leading wholesale container nurseries.  Greg Kitson, the managing director since 1987 has built up a business that includes more than 20,000 sqm of growing facilities, of which 6000 sqm are under crop cover. 

Home gardeners who shop at garden centres might not wonder where the plants they buy come from, but many will recognise the name Gardening Solutionz - one of our brands.  They also manage Kiwi Favourites, Foliage First and si currently working behind the scenes to one day launch the long awaited rare Wollemi Pine. 

Several years ago, Greg researched the needs of garden centre customers and developed a burning desire to change the way plants are sold.  Customers wanted ideas, he says, and problem solving solutions rather than long winded botanical names.

We grow more than 300,000 plants per year, employing up to 16 staff in peak seasons.  The nursery invests heavily in technology, research, development and most importantly, its people.  (When Greg arrived home to Christchurch after collecting the award, "tired and suffering from a long night of celebrations", he was greeted at the airport by his staff holding up a big banner reading "Best Nursery In New Zealand".)

Although the judge, Australian Michael Danelon, audits nurseries in areas from compliance and marketing through to sustainability and customer satisfaction, Greg credits his success to excellence in all these areas, but largely to the support of these loyal staff.

We are proud to have received the award and we hope we will be worthy ambassadors.  Twenty years ago, Greg thought he was "the worst nursery in the country".  The facility was archaic and he knew little about plants or running a business, let alone the industry he was involved in.  But he felt - wouldn't be amazing to take the worst nursery and make it the best?  In many ways it's similar to every schoolboys childhood dream of playing for the All Blacks and he can now say he has been finally handed his black jersey in the nursery and garden industry.