Van Ommeren opens in Auck.

Press, 4 November 1986, Page 26

Van Ommeren opens in Auck.

PA Wellington The Dutch trading company, Van Ommeren, has opened an office in Auckland, which it says will enhance trading opportunities for New Zealand products. The new office follows the establishment of a substantial trading operation in Australia and a steady increase in voliimes of business being generated in New Zea-

land, the company said in a statement. Van Ommeren was a diverse organisation with a fleet of ships and major storage and handling facilities around the world. Its fleet of inland vessels travelled the waterways of Europe from Rotterdam to Basle in Switzerland. After only four years in Australia the company was one of the largest

meat exporters and held the contract to supply live sheep to Kuwait

Van Ommeren said it also traded seafood products, quality livestock, grain, hides and general commodities from Australia.

This pattern of trading was likely to be followed by Van Ommeren in New Zealand. Its manager, Mr Simon Griffiths, was until recently part of the senior

management team with Elders IXL. Mr Griffiths said Van Ommeren’s would be trading throughout New Zealand. Although Van Ommeren ships did not provide a regular service to New Zealand ports they did call here and would do so more often if required. “But I believe our njajor impact will be purely in trade. We have

a reputation for developing markets and we do this on a world-wide basis,” he said. In April this year Van Ommeren acquired the Boston-based A J Cunningham Packing Corporation. This company’s main activity was importing and distributing meat from New Zealand and Australia, and it also impoDted fish from New Zealand.