Hansells Food Group, the New Zealand-based manufacturer, is reportedly set to be taken over by one of the country’s richest businessmen.

Reports in New Zealand have said billionaire Graeme Hart has made an offer to buy Hansells, which owns brands including Alfa One cooking oil and Aunt Betty’s puddings.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Hart and his son Harry are reported to have signed a conditional contract to acquire Hansells, which went into receivership in 2015 before being taken over by Thai tycoon Varapong Supachok.

In the year to March 2017, the most recent period for which annual accounts are available, Hansells generated a NZD6.8m (US$4.7m) loss, narrowing from NZD9.4m and NZD8.6m, respectively, in the preceding two years.

In September, just-food reported how auditors for Hansells had questioned the viability of the loss-making firm as the company’s liabilities continued to exceed its assets.

Auditors BDO Auckland noted Hansells had total current liabilities of NZD59.4m compared to NZD25m in assets.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

The company, which was previously Old Fashioned Foods, posted revenue of almost NZD104m, down 15% from a year earlier. Its operating loss narrowed to NZD2.7m from NZD3.4m.

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact