‘I’ve been growing and selling garlic all my working life. For me, a happy customer is the proof of the pudding. An unhappy customer equals bad product, not bad marketing. I don’t believe in gimmicks. Just good produce. From New Zealand. Of course!’ CEO Pat Murphy

Phoenix Garlic Limited was formed in 2006 by the Murphy and de Castro families, who have been involved packing, growing and marketing in the New Zealand Garlic industry for more than 30 years. Our aim was to build a family business that took the lessons from the past, along with new innovations and ideas, to take New Zealand garlic and shallot production forward into the future.

Why are we passionate about producing garlic and shallots? Because they are beautiful, healthy, tasty gourmet products and we grow them as well anyone in the world!

Phoenix Garlic’s key philosophy is to supply the domestic market consistently throughout the year with in-season premium New Zealand garlic and shallots. In the off season from September to January (when New Zealand garlic stocks have run out), the company satisfies consumer demand by supplementing their NZ crop with Californian garlic packed to our stringent specifications.

Our vision for Phoenix is a dynamic sustainable business producing quality product for the New Zealand market. Our mission is to be the best garlic and shallot producer in the world. What this means for us is:

• making the best quality product available to the NZ market at a competitive price;
• consistently supplying the market – we always have product on New Zealand shelves;
• growing the healthiest product (specific and traceable methods of production);
• using innovations to produce and pack product more efficiently;
• being true market leaders – seeking new ways of looking at produce to give the consumer what they want;
• being increasingly environmentally friendly through efficiency targets, and minimising electricity, water usage and chemical application;
• valuing our staff and paying them fairly;
• always doing things better – undertaking projects that strive to improve the way we do things.

Innovation, Experience, Expertise, Integrity, Consumer focus, Tenaciousness, Sustainability of supply.

Sustainability is a key platform in what we are trying to achieve. To us, sustainability is being there for the long term. This means ensuring that our operation consistently gets better by;

• improving the environmental impact of our production
• taking a long term view of our place in the market
• driving efficiency initiatives in our production techniques
• meeting consumers changing expectations
• running the company in a profitable and socially responsible manner
• doing things ‘the right way’

	Patrick Murphy, CEO/ Director “My task is to inspire our company to be a good grower and a company that people want to work for. The perfect garlic bulb is almost impossible to grow. I enjoy the challenge.”
	Geoffrey de Castro, Growing Manager/Director “My key job is to manage our company’s growing programme for Shallots and Garlic in the field. I love farming and I am really excited about the prospects of making our garlic and shallot growing programme better and better and our company becoming a New Zealand success story. Growing garlic is in my blood, with my parents previously playing a major role in the industry.”
	Steven de Castro, Director “I’m excited to be involved because this is a dynamic business where we are finding better ways of doing things every season. I provide a lot of the technical support that’s required in the field operation, as well as keeping an eye on specific director initiatives of personal interest such as the dryer efficiency programme that we are undertaking.”
	Gaye Murphy, Administration Manager/ Director “My key role is running the day to day office and managing our staff administration. Our staff are essential to our operation and we couldn’t do it without them. I really enjoy contributing to some of the more creative initiatives that come up in the business. I am excited to be involved in a business that sees the product through from field to the Supermarket shelf. It is especially satisfying to see the talents from generations past and present resulting in a shared vision and actual direction for the company.”
	John Murphy, Business Development Manager ‘My central role is to develop the business as a sustainable company that is a market leader. Part of this is finding new ways of doing things and looking for opportunities for the company. My vision is a world leading company that people trust because they know that we grow ‘the right way.’

Our staff are critical to the success of our operation. Packing garlic and shallots requires intensive labour, and our staff stick to it day- in and day- out. The roots of our garlic are clipped by hand, and then cleaned and graded on a grading line. Shallots are pregraded, then cleaned graded and sized for the market.