To establish an Asian export market for natural animal bedding

Organisation: Animal Health Direct Limited
Grant Number: M17005
Grant Amount: $82,906

Animal Health Direct Ltd (AHD) is a Hawke’s Bay based company providing animal health products across the dairy, equine and veterinary markets throughout New Zealand.  In 2015 AHD seized the opportunity to take up an exclusive distribution of a new animal bedding product. The product, which is made from New Zealand pine, is 100% natural and is a by-product of the New Zealand forestry industry. It offers many benefits over traditional bedding materials such as wood chips and sawdust – including: sterility with no pathogens, easy cleaning, allergy free, low to no dust, no chemicals, contaminants or additives and can be used for up to 12 months before complete replacement is required. 

AHD recognised the potential of this natural animal bedding product and had immediate success in the New Zealand market.  With the local market secured, the potential and size of the Asian thoroughbred and sport horse market was alluring yet, with no expert, dedicated resource onboard, breaking into exporting was proving difficult.  AGMARDT’s funding has allowed AHD to establish and grow its Asian equestrian market networks and sales for the new bedding product.

“AGMARDT’s support has allowed AHD the time and resources to fully commit to growing its Asian export markets.” Richard Kettle, Managing Director

 

 

We are grateful for the assistance the AGMARDT Grant provided. It has allowed Freshco to direct sales and manage our own destinies in each market enabling us to extract more value from the supply chain to the consumer.

John Mangan / Director, Freshco

AGMARDT supports and enables. Projects and people benefit from funding; New Zealand benefits from development of ideas, technologies, approaches and leadership. In particular, the trust facilitates information dissemination: AGMARDT is the catalyst for ripples that spread through the primary sector.

Dr Jacqueline Rowarth /

AGMARDT's support of Texus in the above process tangibly accelerated the development of the above essential activities and testing of market entry strategy, while also exposing Texus management to cutting-edge thought leadership around market shaping and the levers that can be applied to scope and facilitate such shaping.

Nick Davenport / CEO, Texus Fibre Industry Leader Scholarship Winner

The support from AGMARDT has enabled us to gain greater insights into farmer behaviour across all sectors and which will assist accelerated uptake of the livestock exchange and enhance market opportunities for all farmers.

Jason Roebuck / Managing Director, Stock-X Limited