Meat Processing Livestock Services Trades & Apprenticeships Corporate Careers at AFFCO Our Locations Find a Buyer Contact Us MENU Farmer Login OUR HISTORY We’ve come a long way since we first opened our doors in 1904, with leading-edge technology, staff, sustainability and the farming community shaping us into who we are today. We’re still in the business of providing the highest quality meat products to New Zealanders and the world. Discover our journey. 1882 New Zealand’s first consignment of frozen meat was exported to Great Britain from Port Chalmers, Dunedin. The meat was frozen aboard the ship. 1903 A Certificate of Incorporation was granted to the Auckland Farmers Freezing Company. 1904 The first shareholders meeting of Auckland Farmers Freezing Company was held. 1905 The first plant opened at Southdown in Mt Wellington, Auckland. The opening was described as "a carnival affair". In fact, so many people caught trains from Auckland that the central city was overcrowded with visitors eager to see the meat works process in action. 1915-1916 The Horotiu plant, in the heart of the Waikato, was completed at the end of 1915, and opened in January 1916. 1921 Moerewa in the far north, officially opened in March, after an amalgamation of the North Auckland Freezing Company (NAFCO) and AFFCO. 1931 AFFCO appointed its first 'Chemist'. Before this scientific analysis was outsourced. Analysis and quality control became increasingly more sophisticated. Now AFFCO laboratories are at the heart of the business. 1935 First chilled not frozen beef exported to the United Kingdom. 1957 Beef and lamb exports to America started to grow especially for cuts of prime beef for restaurants and cuts for making hamburgers. 1965 The Rangiuru site opened, built in a strategic location just 6km from Te Puke and close to the Port of Tauranga. 1980 AFFCO pioneered the air-freight of chilled lamb cuts, first to the UK, then to USA, Asia, Europe and the UAE. 1989 AFFCO took over the export sites of Waitaki International, followed by Wairoa (Hawke's Bay), Feilding (Manawatu) and Imlay (Wanganui). 1990 Auckland Farmers Freezing Company changed its name to AFFCO NZ Limited. 1995 AFFCO beef exports to Asia were growing and reached 35% of all exports. 2010 Talley’s Group Limited gain 100% ownership of AFFCO 2017 First Shipment of AFFCO and New Zealand chilled meat arrives by sea at Zhengzhou, China. 2020 AFFCO remain an essential service during the COVID-19 Pandemic, supplying New Zealanders with meat and supporting the economy with export activity. Find a Livestock Buyer Find a Processing Plant Browse Products Careers Contact Us Corporate Office 6128 Great South Road, Horotiu, Private Bag 3301, Hamilton New Zealand Sales T: +64 7 829 2888 Livestock Services Team T: +64 07 829 2842 ©2021 AFFCO. Privacy and Terms. Affco Modern Slavery Statement. This site uses cookies for security and to analyse site usage. By continuing to browse or by clicking “Accept All Cookies,” you agree to the storing of first and third-party cookies on your device for these purposes. These cookies do not usually identify you directly. ACCEPT ALL COOKIES OPTIONS