Pictured above: Tod Heller.
Fourth-generation butcher, Todd Heller, has carved out a spot as one of the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame inductees for 2024. He will be honoured at the event which will be celebrating it’s 30th anniversary in September alongside Rod Duke, Sir Mark Dunajtschik, Sir Owen Glenn, Ranjna Patel, Diane Foreman and Sir Ian Taylor.
The sizzling success turned his first shop which opened in New Brighton in 1985 with a total of two staff, into one of Australasia’s leading suppliers of value-added meat products. Today, Hellers produces over 170 varieties of small goods. The award-winning brand makes over four million sausages and four million slices of bacon each week.
With over 1,000 staff across factories in Jandakot, Perth and Bendigo Victoria, Hellers has an overall group turnover of nearly $NZ500 million. Each week the multiple award-winning brand makes over 170 varieties of small goods, four million sausages and four million slices of bacon.
Today, Hellers stands as a leading figure in the Australasian meat industry due to Todd’s passion for quality and innovation. His love of travel, including attending a German sausage course in 1989, and his strong entrepreneurial spirit allowed him to disrupt the kiwi market by introducing exotic flavour combinations, quickly earning him a loyal following.
Inspired by the Heller family’s rich history in the trade, dating back to the 1880s gold rush and his great grandfather George, he was always destined to follow the footsteps of his father Doug into the meat trade, replicating a well-established family tradition of son taking over from father at the butcher’s block. Even today, Todd’s son Brydon is the fifth generation Heller butcher.
Todd’s influence reaches beyond New Zealand’s borders. He was instrumental in the development of the World Butchers’ Challenge, an international competition that fosters innovation and camaraderie among butchers worldwide and now has 19 countries competing. His expertise and passion have earned him the respect of colleagues and competitors alike, recognised by his appointment as head judge.
Beyond his business success, Todd is committed to giving back to the community. In 2012, he launched the “Sausages for Schools” programme, which has raised over $4 million for schools across New Zealand. Hellers also actively supports various charitable initiatives, including the Auckland and Christchurch City Missions.
Established in 1994 by Young Enterprise, the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame has honoured and celebrated over 200 individuals who have made a significant contribution to the economic and social development of New Zealand over the past three decades. Joining Todd at the annual event celebrating it’s 30th anniversary later this year will be inductees, Rod Duke, Sir Mark Dunajtschik, Sir Owen Glenn, Todd Heller, Diane Foreman and Sir Ian Taylor.
Alex Bullot, CEO of Young Enterprise Trust, says, “We are excited to honour our 2024 inductees who will share their unique tales of enterprise, hard work and triumph, having made outstanding contributions in both business and in their respective communities.”
The black-tie gala dinner by the entrepreneurial education charity, Young Enterprise Trust, honours individuals who have shaped New Zealand’s business landscape into what it is today. The celebration of success is an opportunity to highlight role models for the organisations’ students, the next generation of young entrepreneurs.
On the evening, the laureates are accompanied by a Young Enterprise student, and will hear from the Young Enterprise student speaker. Bullot commented, “We see this tradition as the passing of the baton – from those that have been to those that will be. Our students leave the event tremendously inspired by both the business and philanthropic stories shared on the evening.”
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