The Country 17/02/26: Andy Borland talks to Jamie Mackay

We chew the fat with the chief executive of pet food and horticulture company Scales - and the co-organiser of the Lincoln University Sports Dinner at Wānaka on the eve of the Wānaka A&P Show. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Andy Borland is the chief executive of Scales Corporation. Of course,
huge in horticulture, logistics and Andy. These days, pet food
makes up the majority of your commodity basket. I always
thought you were sort of more horticulture than pet food.
Good afternoon, Oh yeah, thanks, Jamie.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Yeah no, Yeah, we've diversified into grown their pet food
ingredients business over the last few years and it's gone
very well with the growth and pet food globally, and
we've we've followed that trend and doing really well in
that sector as well as our heart and logistics activities.

Speaker 1 (00:38):
So who would have known all those years ago when
we went to Lincoln College, as it was in those
days together, that you would make your living out of
dog tucker?

Speaker 2 (00:47):
Oh, well, it's they were. Pets are popular. We've got
more and more popular, you know, around the world, and
it's been a been a really good ride. Actually, it's
a good industry to be in.

Speaker 1 (00:58):
Talk to me about hot alture, particularly apples, that's what
you're involved on. How big a deal is this Indian
Free trade agreement going to be?

Speaker 2 (01:07):
Oh, it's going to be very important to us. It
halves the tariff from fifty to twenty five percent gives
us a window to access that opportunity. It's a massive market.
We already sell to it, so it's going to sell
into that India market, but it's going to be a
very important, you know market for us going forward.

Speaker 1 (01:28):
Are you a bit worried about the politicians cocking it up?

Speaker 2 (01:32):
No, No, I think they'll sort it out. They know
how important it is, so it's you know, it's not
just suiting one of the parties. I think it's going
to be a positive for the entire country, so they
should be backing it, I'm sure.

Speaker 1 (01:46):
And scales, how my scale shar is going. Have you
cracked six bucks yet?

Speaker 2 (01:51):
They're going pretty good. Yeah, we've been in and around
the six dollars lately and that's just you know, a
bit of momentum going with us, you know, on track
for a record result for the twenty twenty five year.

Speaker 1 (02:04):
Now. The other reason I've got you on the show
today is for a shameless plug. As I said, we
went to Lincoln College together in the early eighties. These
days it's Lincoln University, you guys. You and are one
of your old mates from those days. Donald Howie Morrison
of course former Alliance Group director are kind of the
co organizers of this, backing Lincoln University Sports Supporters dinner

(02:26):
in Wanaka on the eve of the Wanaka Show, which
is one of the biggest amp shows in the country
maybe if not the biggest.

Speaker 2 (02:34):
Now yeah, no, it's a big event and look there's
a lot go to it. So we the Lincoln lads
if you like, from the South and then the Target
there's Alistair Woods involved and a few others down there.
They sort of said, well, why don't we get an
event going to keep the momentum going because we had
a reunion in May last year and it went really

(02:56):
well up here in christ Church. So that the plan
is to just keep a bit of momentum going, tap
into that huge loyalty and remembering of their times at
Lincoln to get these get along to a great reunion.
We'll have good speakers. We're actually lucky, very lucky to
have Alan Dippy's Tractor Museum as a venue. But Andy

(03:19):
Dalton's coming down to speak, a former All Black and
a Lincoln alumni, and Gary and Rachel Stead are obviously
very connected in sport through cricket and netboss that speaking
and we'll have a couple of surprise characters that you'll
interview off the bench.

Speaker 1 (03:36):
Jamie, looking forward to that. You've called me as an MC.
I'm not sure I want to reflect on all my
Lincoln days. They were a bit rough around the edges,
to be perfectly honest, Andy Borland, but Andy Dalton when
he was at Lincoln, I don't think he even made
the first fifteen and he went on to Rugby greatness.

Speaker 2 (03:54):
Yeah, well it just shows you, you know, a bit
of a maybe a late bloomer, but that is I
think true. Just he must must have been a good
guy in there keeping him out. But Rugby Lincoln's been
you know, there's been some you know, great players, but
you know, the beauty of the institution that's it's available
for all comers, and we really want to promote all

(04:17):
of sport Jamie. You know, the kids go to the
university these days and we just want them to have
you know, the greatest you know, the education, but also
the opportunity to do whatever sport they want. And that's
certainly a fun you know what we're trying to target
here by the fundraising.

Speaker 1 (04:35):
Okay, it's happening on Thursday the twelfth, the March six
pm for pre dinner drinks followed by dinner and speakers.
Andy Dalton, Gary Stead of course, former Black Caps coach,
his wife Rachel, who is huge in a netball at
Lincoln University, and as you said, being held in the
vintage tractor garage of Alan Dippy, who's qualified with the

(04:58):
bad com He was just after us in nineteen eighty five.
Are those Dippies are interesting characters, very entrepreneurial and successful people.

Speaker 2 (05:08):
Yeah, yeah, very good. And yeah it's a great privilege
for us to access that venue. And yeah, look there's
Lincoln you know, alumni all over the country doing really
well and it's a credit to the institution. And I
just think, yeah, we're trying to get as many of
them long to this event to that, you know, put
a bit of money back into the university by way

(05:29):
of supporting the sports activities there.

Speaker 1 (05:32):
Okay, the website is or the address the link is
alumni link all one word dot Lincoln, dot AC dot
nz Ford slash wanaka dinner. Just google Lincoln Wanica dinner.
It will get you there and every cent being raised
will go to supporting Lincoln University sport. Hey, Andy, I
was going to call you Andy Dalton, I'll call you

(05:54):
Andy balland you were a great rugby player as well. Absolutely,
I was keep up the good work at Scales and
get those shears up to seven bucks.

Speaker 2 (06:02):
Yeah, well that's the plan. We're we're on track.

Speaker 1 (06:05):
Well you stay on track, Andy, There you go.