1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:04,200 Speaker 1: Here the Duplessy in New Zealand. Boss Rob Vice's new business, Recorp, 2 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: is set to open an aluminium can manufacturer in September. Today, 3 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:10,840 Speaker 1: Recorp announced its first CEO, former House of Travel boss, 4 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: former and New Zealand executive Bruce Parton. Now, the plant 5 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: cost one hundred million bucks to build and it's going 6 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 1: to be able to churn out eighteen hundred and fifty 7 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:20,319 Speaker 1: cans a minute. And Rob Fife is with us to 8 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: talk about this. 9 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 2: Hey Rob, Hey, Eather, how are you very well? 10 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:25,119 Speaker 1: Thank you good to talk to you. I mean, it 11 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 1: sounds to me pretty amazing that you guys managed to 12 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: scratch together one hundred million bucks just from New Zealand investors. 13 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 2: Is it well, I'll tell you what. It gives you 14 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 2: a sense of confidence that, you know, as tough as 15 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 2: things are out there, there's sort of a bunch of 16 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:42,320 Speaker 2: people that really believe in New Zealand and the opportunities here. 17 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 2: So the vast majority of that money came from six 18 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 2: or seven people. And you know, this industry today is 19 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:53,640 Speaker 2: dominated by a couple of Australian companies and they're just 20 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 2: passionate about seeing the benefits and the rewards stay in 21 00:00:57,080 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 2: New Zealand. 22 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: Did I am I reading this correctly? That Animobra, who's 23 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 1: one of the investors that you've got there, wants to 24 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: get aluminum cans to basically steal market share of glass 25 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:08,120 Speaker 1: and plastic. Is that right? 26 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 2: Yeah? Absolutely? You know, if you look today glass in 27 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:19,320 Speaker 2: terms of single single serve containers, glass makes up about 28 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:23,640 Speaker 2: forty percent of the market. They weigh ten times more 29 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:27,320 Speaker 2: than an aluminum container. There's obviously a whole lot more material, carbon, 30 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 2: fragile and so on. Plus we all know the issues 31 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 2: with plastic they find they were into our waterways, our 32 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:38,200 Speaker 2: food system and so on. So alumineum, without doubt is 33 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 2: the fastest growing container type and it's the one that's 34 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 2: the most food safe. The material is infinitely recyclable. The 35 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 2: story is an amazing story, and it's say, we've convinced 36 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 2: a bunch of New Zealanders to get behind it and 37 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 2: brank to life. Not for the faint hearted. This is 38 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 2: a really big project. 39 00:01:58,520 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 1: Why do you say not for the faint hearted? 40 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 2: You know to as you say, you know, there's one 41 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 2: hundred million being invested in this. The Bank of New 42 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 2: Zealand's got behind it with a big chunk of bank finance. 43 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:14,799 Speaker 2: To spend that sort of money before you turn your 44 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,919 Speaker 2: first dollar of revenue, you need a lot of passionate 45 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 2: people that really believe in a in a vision. And 46 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 2: as I say that, that certainly isn't for everyone, but 47 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 2: you know, we're very, very committed. 48 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 1: Rob What am I getting at the moment in plastic 49 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: or glass that you would like me to get an aluminium. 50 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 2: Well, ultimately, I mean I've just come back from overseas. 51 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 2: You know, water now around the world is all moving 52 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 2: into aluminum, a combination of both alumineum cans as we 53 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 2: think of them today and also screw top or resealable 54 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:52,960 Speaker 2: alimineum bottles. So many, particularly sports venues but also a 55 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 2: lot of hospitality venues are just banning plastic bottles in Toto, 56 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,920 Speaker 2: So water is a big one off. Drinks are glass 57 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 2: now overseas you're seeing glass. Sorry, beer is moving up 58 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 2: more and more away from glass into aluminium, both again 59 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:13,919 Speaker 2: cans and aluminium bottles. At the moment, you know, there's 60 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:15,959 Speaker 2: no aluminium bottles made in this part of the world 61 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:19,079 Speaker 2: at all, and that's certainly on our roadmap to bring 62 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 2: aluminium beer bottles and water bottles into this market. 63 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 1: I feel weird about that because I feel like I 64 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:28,800 Speaker 1: feel like screwing it would sort of like lit little 65 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: bits of metal into my drink. Am I just is 66 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:32,519 Speaker 1: it I'm overthinking. 67 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 2: In I definitely am overthinking it. So not not that 68 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 2: I accused you of overthinking, but it's you know, aluminium 69 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 2: in terms of in the food system in the body. 70 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 2: You know it's not a good thing, but the alumineum 71 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 2: that comes into our food source doesn't come out of 72 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 2: containers or aluminium in that state. It's very very stable 73 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 2: and you know flake off and so on. Aluminium comes 74 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 2: in through various foods and minerals and our souls and 75 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 2: that sort of thing. That's the biggest risk of elimenem 76 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 2: into our diet. Element in bottle or containers absolutely safe. 77 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 1: So Bruce Parton, you'll have worked with him at A 78 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 1: New Zealand. Yeah. 79 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 2: Yeah, I've worked with with Bruce for twenty years. So 80 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 2: you know, we've got a great relationship, very very passionate. 81 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 2: It's not like we're trying to create an in New 82 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 2: Zealand old boy network, but you know, working with people 83 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 2: you really non trust. I think Chris is a bit 84 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 2: busy at the moment, but yeah, you know, I'm really 85 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:35,279 Speaker 2: you know, I love working with people who I know 86 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 2: can deliver the results, and Bruce is definitely one of those. 87 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 1: What do you like about him? I think I saw 88 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 1: somewhere that you were quoted as saying he learns, he 89 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: takes not necessarily criticism, but he takes direction. 90 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:51,719 Speaker 2: No, no, he takes criticism really well. I mean, but 91 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:55,719 Speaker 2: I made a comment that you know, I mentor a 92 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 2: lot of young, up and coming entrepreneurs, and one of 93 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 2: the things I'm always saying to these, to these focus 94 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:06,599 Speaker 2: you know, the people that learn the most, that grow 95 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 2: the fastest, that achieve the most, are the people that 96 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 2: make it the easiest to give feedback to because are 97 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 2: the ones. You know, if they're too defensive, then you're 98 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 2: a little reserved. And what you say to them, Bruce, 99 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:21,120 Speaker 2: you can give it straight between the eyes and varness 100 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 2: exactly what you think. He just soaks it up. He listens, 101 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:27,839 Speaker 2: he considers, he responds, and the adepts and he's just 102 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 2: one of the most adaptable people I know. And that's 103 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:34,880 Speaker 2: I guess one of the reasons, because your feedback exactly 104 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:37,919 Speaker 2: back the other way. So we have a really, really 105 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,279 Speaker 2: strong relationship can be a bit sporty at times, but 106 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 2: that's how you create healthy outcomes. 107 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:46,039 Speaker 1: Great, Rob, give me your take on right, you've been overseas, 108 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: as you say, give me your take on coming back 109 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:49,359 Speaker 1: to New Zealand. What's the mood like here? It feels 110 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:52,600 Speaker 1: like it might be a little gloomy. 111 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:56,239 Speaker 2: You know, it does feel gloomy, and it does feel 112 00:05:56,320 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 2: at the moment very introspective. You know, I've just come 113 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 2: back as in London. In London, you would argue, or 114 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 2: the UK definitely has many of the issues that we have, 115 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 2: some of them even worse and more amplified than ours. 116 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 2: The crime on the streets in London is deeply, deeply concerning. 117 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 2: Yet when you go out and have dinner with people 118 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 2: or you're socializing with people, no one seems to be 119 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 2: as consumed by all those issues as we get here 120 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:32,440 Speaker 2: in New Zealand, and we all talking about, you know, 121 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:35,599 Speaker 2: what's around the corner, the upside, the possibilities, you know, 122 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:39,039 Speaker 2: and the opportunities, and it's it's just a mindset that 123 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:44,599 Speaker 2: doesn't allow them to get so consumed by the say that, 124 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:46,839 Speaker 2: you know, the stuff that we seem to just allow 125 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 2: us to drag away from the great possibilities and opportunities 126 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 2: for this country. So I'm sitting outside New Zealand, I 127 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:58,680 Speaker 2: get more optimistic about New Zealand, and I feel it's 128 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:01,560 Speaker 2: ourselves and our minds set that's the biggest constraint on 129 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 2: the possibilities for this country. Nothing that's structurally wrong about 130 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:09,039 Speaker 2: this company country, or nothing that's politically constraining us about 131 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 2: this country and a great country, really talented people. We 132 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 2: just have to get that self belief in a bit 133 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 2: of mojo back. 134 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: I think there's some good advice in that. Rob, thank you. 135 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 1: I really appreciate it's nice to have you back in 136 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:21,840 Speaker 1: the country doing great things. It's Rob Fife, chairman of Recoor. 137 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 1: For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to 138 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: news talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow 139 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.