Award a 'complete surprise'

The Christie Award, named in honour of butcher Geof Christie, recognises members of the retail meat industry for their commitment, fervour and perseverance to enhance the trade.

Hellaby joins a prestigious list of Christie Award recipients that includes Sir Peter Leitch, Hellers NZ founder Todd Heller, and former Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive Rod Slater.

Hellaby says winning the award is a special moment.

“I’ve got to say it was a complete surprise, but at this stage of my career it is wonderful to be recognised in this way,” he says.

Hellaby has been on the Meat Industry Association Council since 2009 and is also a current director and former chair of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce.

He entered the meat industry in the early 1980s, acquiring the line of Hellaby butcher shops out of what was then R&W Hellaby, and later formed a partnership with Ken Symington, owner of Wilson Foods. The business then merged in 1998 to form Wilson Hellaby with a focus on a high service model selling meat into the domestic market.

Reuben Sharples, president of Retail Meat New Zealand says he is delighted the award went to Hellaby.

“He’s a great role model and business leader who passionately supports the industry in his own quiet unassuming way,” he says.