Communications & Content Partner at Mr Apple (Whakatu, New Zealand)

Mr Apple· Whakatu, New Zealand·1d ago

Job description

Culture: Values-driven environment (“We are one team”, “Always Growing”, “Embrace Diversity”, “Live the Standard”) with a strong focus on integrity, respect, and continuous improvement.
Work Style: Predominantly on-site roles based in the Hawke’s Bay region (Whakatu, Hastings, CHB). Roles span orchards, packhouses, workshops, technology delivery, and head office functions.
Growth & Impact: Opportunity to work in a world-leading agribusiness that exports a quarter of NZ’s apple crop. Career paths from hands-on technical roles to senior leadership (e.g., Head of Technology Delivery, Head of People & Culture).
Perks: Being part of a close-knit, diverse team in a beautiful region; exposure to innovative agricultural technology; support for professional development through the “Always Growing” value.

One-liner: Mr Apple is New Zealand’s largest integrated grower, packer, and exporter of apples, obsessed with delivering safe, crunchy, and delicious fruit to markets around the world.
Entity Type: Private (Subsidiary of Scales Corporation, NZX: SCL)
Headquarters: Whakatu, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
Founded: 2001 (merger of two largest growers following deregulation)
Founders: Not individually named; formed from Grocorp Pacific Limited and another grower

Primary industry/industries: Agriculture (apple growing, packing, and export) / Food & Beverage
Target customers: B2B (retailers, distributors in 60+ countries) and B2C (consumers via branded retail boxes)
Mission or purpose statement: “Pure Perfection” – delivering the highest quality apples from New Zealand’s ideal growing conditions, backed by the 5 Point Promise (safety, crunch, sweetness, juiciness, consistency)

Mr Apple Fresh Apples: A range of New Zealand-grown apple varieties (e.g., Royal Gala, Braeburn, Jazz, Envy) sold globally. Product is marketed with a 5 Point Promise that guarantees taste and quality.
Technology-Enabled Sorting: World-leading scanning (external and internal) plus hand-checking to ensure every apple meets strict standards before packing.

Valuation/Market Cap: Not publicly available (Mr Apple is a wholly owned subsidiary; Scales Corporation Ltd has a market cap of approximately NZD ~350M as of mid-2025)
Key Metric: Annual Revenue – not disclosed for Mr Apple alone; Scales Corp’s Horticulture segment (primarily Mr Apple) reported revenue of NZD ~200M in FY2025 (approximate). Total funding: NZ$6.0K (minimal, likely a historical figure; company is self-sustaining)
Notable Investors/Partners: Scales Corporation (parent); RSE (Recognised Seasonal Employer) partnerships with Pacific governments; customers in 60+ countries
Growth Signals: Headcount of 2,000+ staff; export volume accounts for ~25% of New Zealand’s total apple crop; continuous investment in automation (packhouse scanning, coolstore technology); 13.9% YoY LinkedIn headcount growth (65 office-based roles)

Scale & Integration: As NZ’s largest integrated grower-packer-exporter, Mr Apple controls the entire supply chain from orchard to port.
Technology & Quality: Proprietary scanning (inside/outside) combined with manual inspection ensures consistent premium quality—hard for smaller operators to match.
Brand Trust: The 5 Point Promise creates a strong consumer and retail brand, differentiating Mr Apple from commodity apple suppliers.
Geographic Moat: Hawke’s Bay climate and soil are ideal for apple growing; existing orchard and processing infrastructure is difficult to replicate.

Automation & Innovation: Investing in world-leading packhouse technology, coolstore automation, and IT systems to improve efficiency and quality consistency.
Global Market Expansion: Growing export presence (currently 60+ countries) and strengthening brand in key markets like Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Sustainability & People: Enhancing workforce via RSE programmes and Pacific partnerships; maintaining “Always Growing” culture while scaling operations.
Operational Excellence: Upholding high health & safety standards, traceability, and environmental stewardship across orchards and packhouses.

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