Tauranga's business community has celebrated 50 years of successful exporting by livestock entrepreneur Rob Jeffrey.
At an awards night held by Export New Zealand, the attendees heard about Rob's livestock exporting business which began in 1960.

Rob Jeffrey in the early days of a 50 year Bay based exporting business.

The business has evolved since its small beginnings in Tauranga as a family entity to having four full time staff based in there and three Chinese based in Jinan, China.
Rob Jeffrey began exporting in 1960 with export of breeding pigs to Australia. Demand for the services grew and R.E. Jeffrey and Co. Ltd was established in 1970. Significant growth continued through the 1970s and 1980s with expansion of services into equipment, veterinary supplies, and project management and design. Reflecting the global nature of business, the R.E. Jeffrey & Co. Ltd name was changed to Jeffco International Ltd in 1993. Growth for agricultural services continued and consolidated in the 1990s with strategic investments in China and alliance partnering with state owned enterprises and publicly listed companies.
Significant expansion took place once again 2000-2003 with establishments and involvement in an international logistic company, consulting company, fruit processing company, and produce exporting company. These investments have been made strategically to secure the company's operating longevity and the overall synergy in the group's operations.
To operate an export business for this long period of time is not easy, says NZ Trade and Enterprise chairman Jon Mayson.
"Fifty years in the export game is no mean feat, especially with the torrid times Rob has had to work through," says Jon.
"Rob is an absolute credit to the export sector, he is a pioneer with regards to China and he is an amazing man."