Star Food Service Limited began its life as a humble fish and chip shop in Taradale, named Star Fish Supply Limited. Basil and Denyse Claudatos opened the business in 1964, when one piece of fish and a scoop of chips cost one shilling.
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In 1964 Basil and Denyse opened a similar business in Greenmeadows, whilst owning and operating two cray fishing boats at the same time. Two years later both the fish and chip businesses were sold so that Basil could concentrate more on cray fishing. As time went on Basil moved more into the processing and wholesale side of the fishing industry and the family of seven children grew up with fishing in the blood. |
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In 1979, Basil's sons Mike, Tim and Andy, took over the company name and set about building up the business. The business at that stage was a home-based operation, which supplied frozen fish fillets and seafood to Hawkes Bay customers, but there was definitely a demand for fresh fish to the discerning local restaurant trade. |
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In 1986, Mike, Tim and Andy took their first big step toward making the business what it is today, by purchasing the site at Dunlop Road with the intention of establishing a fish-processing factory to cater for local demand for fresh fish. This was a huge step as interest rates were at an all time high in New Zealand, rising to 25%, and the Fish Quota system was to be introduced that year. |
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On September 23rd 1992, Star fish Supply Limited proudly opened their new fish processing plant in front of family, friends, associates and officials. The new plant, seven times the size of the one being used previously, employed 19 staff, with a capacity to employ 27. This factory was designed and built to Export standard. |
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In October 1992, Star Fish Supply Limited were awarded the Napier City Council Mayoral Enterprise Award, with Mayor Alan Dick stating that entrepreneurs in the private sector were "the real heroes in taking on the recession". Mike Claudatos stated that Star Fish Supply Ltd's firm policy over the years of re-investing profits back into fish quota, capital equipment, and both domestic and export market expansion, had seen the business continue to grow. |
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In 1995, Star Fish Supply Limited opened its new state-of -the-art coolstore at Dunlop Road. Built from the latest equipment available and to MAF specifications the coolstore had a capacity of storing 400 metric tonne. This allowed Star Fish Supply to expand its product range to cope with increasing demand in the domestic market place. The new storage facilities allowed Star Fish Supply to move toward being a one-stop-shop although, as Mike Claudatos stated, "we do the deliveries". |
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In 1995 an ice tower was built adjacent to the new coolstore in order to supply fishing boats with fresh ice and to provide ice to the factory for maintaining the temperature of fresh fish being sold to the domestic market. |
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In 2000, with office space and sales staff stretched to full capacity, the decision was made for Star Fish Supply Ltd. to specialise operations by moving its wholesale distribution service to larger premises. Star Fish Supply Ltd. found the solution right across the road, and set about purchasing the site at 32 Dunlop Road to expand its operations. |
In 2001, the day finally arrived for Star Food Service Limited to open its doors and begin operating the wholesale food distribution side of the business. With a brand new coolstore, chiller, and load-out facilities under one roof, as well as extra office space and a showroom, Star Food Service look forward to the challenges that lie ahead in the market place and look forward to introducing the food service industry to: STAR FOOD SERVICE 'The New Generation in Food Service'.
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