Old family business up for sale

The Baker family is selling the timber processing business it has operated in Katikati since 1934.

Baker Timber Supplies occupies 2.243 hectares of industrially zoned land adjacent to State Highway 2.

Baker Timber Supplies is up for sale.

Four generations of the Baker family have worked the timber yard and business, starting with matriarch Flo’ Baker, 83, and husband Doug.

Doug died in 2006 and since then Flo’ has continued to run the operation in conjunction with daughter Val.

However, when poor health forced Flo’ into hospital earlier this year, the family decided it was time to sell.

“Those 77-years have been a pretty good run for the family over four generations, but as the saying goes, ‘mum’s not getting any younger’ so we’re looking to secure the right price and sell up while she can still enjoy some of the proceeds,” says Val.

“There are so many memories scattered among the machinery and sawdust, but the family lineage has done its dash with the timber industry so it’s time to move on.

“The current young generation of Bakers are all following different professions and careers throughout the country, and while it will mean an end to the family business, that’s just the consequence of modern society.

“The days where every generation was expected to join the family firm are now gone,” says Val.

The operation is now being sold by Brendon Bradley and Duncan Dysart of Bayleys Tauranga.

Brendon says the site is being sold as either a freehold land-only offering, or as a land and business parcel including all buildings, plant and equipment.

At its peak, Baker Timber Supplies manufactured more than one million kiwifruit packing trays a year and supplied thousands of poles for kiwifruit orchards.

There are nine separate buildings on the complex and Brendon says combined there is about 2400sqm of various buildings.

The land has a rateable valuation of $875,000, while the buildings have a rateable valuation of $540,000.