Business

Freightways buys ProducePronto

14:43 pm on 19 October 2021

Freightways has bought the chilled food transport operator ProducePronto for $10 million.

Photo: 123rf

Freightways, which operated a number of national courier brands, said ProducePronto's fleet of 20 tri-temperature zoned vehicles would complement its existing business.

Freightways bought Big Chill last year, which offered same-day and overnight temperature-controlled delivery as part of it express parcel division.

Freightways chief executive Mark Troughear said ProducePronto would be integrated into the wider Big Chill business and allow the express division to diversify further into the fast-growing fast food, fresh and convenience food category.

"The ProducePronto business buys, stores and moves product in an incredibly efficient and attractive model that outpaces its competition and means same-day delivery is guaranteed for customers," he said.

"Combining this with Big Chill's infrastructure means we further corner the express chilled and frozen niche, whilst benefiting from the economies of scale the integration offers."

He said the ProducePronto business achieved full year revenue of $16m in 2021, with 1,000 business customers across Auckland, with facilities in Wellington and Christchurch.

Founders Jason Brennan and Josh Bartley-Smith were staying on to lead the business alongside their 41 staff when Freightways takes ownership on 1 November.