New Zealand owned and family run
Our
Purpose
01
Generate long term, sustainable and compounded value through responsible, ethical investments.
02
Be socially led, maintaining our founding principles of doing right by the planet, our people and society.
03
Invest in businesses that are innovative and ambitious.
04
Build businesses that generate employment and solve real problems.
Our Values
Integrity, Always
Each decision we make is guided by our commitment to honesty, transparency and ethical business practices.
Be Bold
We value innovation, ambition and proactive problem solving; we take calculated risks. We foster a creative culture where forward-thinking is championed and new opportunities are always explored.
Customer Care
Our foundations have been built on a commitment to providing exceptional service and support, and our decades-long relationships are testament to that.
Social Responsibility
We are a company focused on growing wealth, responsibly. We create businesses that enrich communities and employment that lifts people out of poverty.
Our People
Aneil Balar
Managing Director
With over 20 years’ experience with the group, Aneil Balar is an experienced leader and investor who manages Service Foods, as well as many of Balar Group’s property and equity assets and marquee investments. One of these investments, Service Foods, has grown its revenue over 200x during his tenure.
Nikul Balar
Director & Chief Technology Officer
Nikul has been an integral part of Balar Group for almost two decades; he has worked in every facet of the business and now leads the company’s digital, technology, IT and data operations. Nikul brings an inherent understanding of our systems and is driven by a passion for using cutting edge technology to solve real world problems.
Stan Balar
Founder
In 1983 Stan arrived in Christchurch as an immigrant from India and went on to grow a small grocery shop into one of the country’s largest food distribution businesses, and his family holding company, Balar Group, into the established, ethical investment office it is today. Stan is a prominent figure in New Zealand business, an observer to the board of Service Foods, and dedicates much of his time to the property arm of Balar Group.
Our History
1983
After immigrating from India, Stan Balar and his wife Vicki buy a small grocery store on Colombo Street in Christchurch.
Revenue $ 150,000 P.A
1994
The success of the grocery store leads the family to open Balar Wholesale Supplies Ltd, a grocery wholesaler located on Coleridge Street.
Revenue ~$ 800k P.A
1997
Balar Wholesale Supplies outgrows its premises and leases an expansive new warehouse on Garlands Road.
Revenue $ 1.8m P.A
2001
As the wholesale business grows, so too does its property arm, and the family creates Balar Property Co. The company’s first acquisition is 220 Cumnor Terrace, other sites follow in quick succession.
2005
Balar Wholesale Supplies Ltd acquires Asian Food Warehouse, significantly expanding its footprint and proposition.
Revenue $ 2.4m P.A
2007
The business acquires Service Foods, which gives them access to the chilled and frozen goods market. The same year, the company changes its name to Service Foods and joins Cooperative Group, opening up national distribution.
Revenue $ 8.5m P.A
2009
Service Foods acquires Polar Foods Limited and debuts a headquarters in Henderson, Auckland.
Revenue $ 14m P.A
2010
Balar Property Co. continues to build its portfolio, acquiring more and more assets including a site in Otahuhu, Auckland, where a cold store is built.
2011
The tragedy of the Christchurch earthquakes takes place; revenue for the Canterbury-born Services Foods drops 50%.
2012
Despite the setbacks, Service Foods doubles down on its growth trajectory, acquiring NZ Wholesale Seafoods Ltd and entering the fresh seafood processing category.
Revenue $ 40m P.A
2014
Services Foods continues its rocket growth, acquiring Art of Produce, GS Pacific, the NZ agency for Haldiram’s, and Meat Cuisine. The latter investment gives the group entry into butchery processing.
2015
Gameford Lodge is acquired by Service Foods, expanding the business’s poultry and duck offering.
2016
Balar Property Co. continues to develop its portfolio and opens up another headquarters, this time in Hamilton. The same year, Service Foods acquires Independent Meat Processors and Peter Rabbit’s Patch.
Revenue $ 100m P.A
2017
Focusing on expanding its footprint in the regions, Service Foods acquires Seafood Specialists in Napier and Gisborne, Mr. Bean in Napier, and Eastside Foods in Hamilton.
2018
Service Foods continues its run down New Zealand’s North Island and enters the Wellington market with the acquisition of Active Marketing, Cuba Fruit and Fox Distributors. Cuba fruit had a history dating back to the early 1960’s. The same year Service Foods steps into Rotorua and Tauranga, acquiring Shellpack and Fresh to the Chef in each respective market.
2019
Balar Group completes the build of New Zealand’s largest foodservice distribution facility, an 18,500 sqm distribution centre in Auckland.
Revenue $ 200m P.A
2020
Service Foods continues with its powerful growth strategy, acquiring Fresh Pork Northern and Scott Seafood.
2021
Auckland’s Leespac, Marlborough’s Mediterranean Foods, Wellington’s Stonecold and Christchurch’s Green’s Wholesale are all acquired by Service Foods. The same year, Balar Property Co.’s quickly-expanding portfolio buys 22,000sqm in Wellington’s Upper Hutt, 27,000 sqm of land in Hamilton as well as a further land parcel rights in Auckland.
2022
Wellington’s Randwick Meats is acquired, and construction starts on a 7,000sqm distribution centre in New Zealand’s capital city. The building is designed into two stages, one for now, and a future expansion tabled for beyond 2032
Revenue $ 325m P.A
2023
Service Foods acquires Leonard’s Small Goods, a company operating for 30+ years. This is the first entry into cooked meats, adding to the focus of investing in value added products. Meanwhile, the Wellington distribution center is finished. The same year, Balar Group buys a majority stake in Kombee, a tech development and advisory firm that employs 100+ people across 3 countries
2024
Chef Ready Hamilton is acquired, giving Service Foods entry into Hamilton’s butchery market.
Revenue ~$ 500m P.A
THE FUTURE
Grow Service Foods revenue beyond $1b P.A by 2030