Service Foods – Transaction Advisors

July 1, 2022

Service Foods started out as a small corner grocer in Christchurch. Its first step on the journey to become what it is today was by supplying the local community with ingredients that were not readily available in New Zealand at the time. 

Service Foods is now one of New Zealand’s largest privately family owned and operated foodservice distribution businesses, directly importing over 4000 products from over 20 countries and supplementing this with 8000 plus locally produced products.

 

Andrew Hawkes and his team have worked closely with Service Foods and the Balar Family over a 9 year period. With now over 500+ team members, operating over 125 trucks and 11 strategically placed branches across New Zealand, Andrew has assisted with numerous acquisitions through transaction support and working capital structures in support of this growth.

 

“Andrew and his team have been hugely supportive in our growth journey and truly understand the essence of family owned businesses and their dynamics. Having his teams support in working with our funders has helped us build scale in the business as we progress towards our long-term goals.”

-  Aneil Balar, Managing Director, Service Foods Limited


servicefoodsonline.co.nz

3.0% OCR - and heading lower. Is this the moment your business says YES instead of ' not yet'?

By Andrew Hawkes • August 22, 2025
3.0% OCR – and heading lower. Is this the moment your business says YES instead of ‘not yet’? Yesterday’s Reserve Bank announcement wasn’t just another rate cut. Dropping the OCR to 3.0% , with Reserve Bank now signalling a reforecast OCR track towards ~2.5% . This marks a decisive shift in the effort to reignite growth across New Zealand. Here’s what matters: - A split vote at the RBNZ , with two members pushing for a deeper 0.5% cut – urgency is building. - The once “neutral” OCR of 3% has been redefined lower. That’s a reflection of how persistent the post-Covid economic drag has been. - 40% of Kiwi households will refix mortgages in the next 6 months. Lower rates mean more disposable income – and more confidence – flowing into the economy. For mid-market business owners , this is a moment of opportunity. Affordability and confidence are the twin engines of investment – and both just got a boost. If your business has strong cashflow and a clear strategy, the next 12 months could be the time to act: whether that’s growth investment , expansion , or capitalising on opportunities others hesitate on. A reminder worth repeating: politicians don’t save economies – business owners do . Policymakers build the platform, but it’s businesses that drive recovery.  With financing conditions improving and recent Investment Boost scheme announced by government adding fuel, the platform is being built. The real question is: who will be bold enough to use it?

Event recap: Economic insights with ANZ Chief Economist, Sharon Zollner

By Andrew Hawkes • July 21, 2025
Last week we were delighted to host at our offices our second event featuring Sharon Zollner, Chief Economist at ANZ, who presented on the challenges and opportunities shaping the economic outlook for 2025 and the coming year. With her trademark clarity and engaging style, Sharon shared her expert analysis on key trends in forecasting and economic performance—offering valuable context to navigating an increasingly complex environment. From inflation and interest rates to global market dynamics, her insights were both timely and highly relevant. Attendees from our client base and network responded enthusiastically, highlighting the value of Sharon’s ability to make complex topics accessible and actionable. We’d like to thank everyone who joined us, and especially Sharon for her time and expertise. Events like this are part of our commitment to providing meaningful opportunities for discussion among our clients and networks. If you'd like a copy of Sharon's presentation, please email rachel@anthempartners.co.nz

A night with SCAPE Public Art

By Andrew Hawkes • July 20, 2025
At Anthem Partners, we’re proud to support initiatives that reflect the heart of our local community. Recently, we had the privilege of supporting SCAPE Public Art’s latest exhibition alongside some of our valued clients — a celebration of creativity, connection, and collective purpose. The evening raised funds for the reinstatement of “Sky Lens”, a beloved piece by Cantabrian artist Neil Dawson. Originally a feature in Cashel Mall, Sky Lens was removed after the devastating 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Thank you to SCAPE Public Art for their leadership in driving this campaign, and to our clients who joined us on the night.