It all started when Fred Willets came to the conclusion that his sister, ‘Aunt Betty Cole’, made the best steamed puddings ever.
He enlisted the help of Ross MacKenzie (current Executive Director), who had worked as both a Food Scientist and was a Managing Director of Natural Products. And in 1996 Old Fashioned Foods Group began producing Aunt Betty’s steamed puddings and desserts for the domestic New Zealand market.
Old Fashioned Foods instantly grew, adding brands to our portfolio, and eventually we became one of New Zealand’s leading export companies. In 1998 we began operating in the UK, and now supply all the major supermarkets there with our original – steamed puddings.
2006 was a big year for Old Fashioned Foods Group as that’s when we began expanding our manufacturing plant in Auckland, and acquired Hansells. Hansells was seventy years old at the time, and an iconic household name in New Zealand that is well known for essences and baking products. Since the acquisition of Hansells, Old Fashioned Foods has continued to grow in many different ways.
On 1st April 2010, Old Fashioned Foods changed its company name to Hansells Food Group Limited. Executive Director Ross MacKenzie said the move, which capped off Hansells' 75th anniversary, was prompted by the company's further expansion into offshore markets coupled with the growing strength of the Hansells brand. But however we expand and grow, our aim is to be the best in food manufacturing by creating good food the way it should be.