The Talley family’s food group is a billion-dollar empire that processes more than 150,000 tonnes of meat products, 65,0000 tonnes of potatoes, 85,000 of vegetables each year, and catches over 70 species of fish.
However, it’s the Nelson family’s ice cream division has been in the spotlight of late, with new variants receiving industry awards. The last year it launched a green tea ice-cream, which won the Supreme Award in the 2017 New Zealand Ice Cream Awards. The new flavour was exported into Japan before being released on kiwi shelves.
Product developments aside, it’s been another busy year for the Talley family who would scarcely be in the public gaze but for litigation which sees many of their business affairs come to light.
Talley’s continues to face legal battles with unions on multiple fronts, and the change in government is likely to be favour unions such as the Meat Workers Union which says incoming changes to employment law will save it alone more than half a million dollars a year in legal fees.
A more unusual case involving the family this past year included a $173,000 reparation claim against a 20-year-old fisherman who lied to Talley’s fishing division to get off a boat. The worker said that his parents were in a serious car accident and one had died. This was confirmed by his partner who later admitted lying. The police took the case seeking reparation of $173,000 for Talley’s but he will pay just $13,000, in instalments.
Founded by Ivan Peter Talijiancich back in the 1930s, the Talley’s business is now run by his son Sir Peter Talley alongside brother Michael.