In the year 2000 The Warehouse entered the Australian market through the purchase of a discount chain called Crazy Clint’s and Silly Solly’s. McDonald Vadco established relationships with the Australian buying team for the newly named The Warehouse Australia and provided good support from across the Tasman. Early 2001 saw Jason Tolley come on board to help Struan Kingan consolidate and grow the business in Australia.
2002 – Neil Plummer joined the MACVAD Board. Neil had his first trip to China in 1990 with Graeme Heaphy when working at The Warehouse. Neil gave the company excellent common sense and commercial support. As well, always had an opinion on sport. Neil stayed on the Board for 21 years.
Towards the end of 2002 it was becoming difficult to grow with The Warehouse Australia any further without being on the ground in Sydney. In February 2003 Jason Tolley moved to Sydney and McDonald Vadco opened an Australian office for the 2nd time in its history.
2003 also saw a move from our Auckland home in Spring Street to a larger space at the top end of the Newton gulley. This was also the year a “keen young Man” joined the team called Sharl Short as an Account Manager.
Also in late 2003 Hamish Miller and Melanie Ballard joined the team on the same day, Mel promptly flew off to a Trade Fair and Hamish went to work in China; working on factory inspections.
2004 saw the company change its name officially from McDonald Vadco to MACVAD. This was the abbreviated name used most frequently by suppliers and clients alike. This name changes also removed the confusion for our suppliers about what, and who, our company was – often new suppliers thought we were representatives of the large American burger chain with the famous “golden arches” logo – we always responded by saying McDonald Vadco was much bigger than that company! While the name was shortened the red band with the gold strip remained as part of the logo.
2004 was also the year in which MACVAD began working with clients in both the Canadian and South African markets. In tandem with Australia and NZ MACVAD was really beginning to spread its wings. MACVAD Australia moved offices from North Parramatta to Newington.
The following year a support office was established in Hangzhou, China. This has continued to grow over the years and is now 30 people strong supporting our teams around the globe with admin services, QC and QA services, factory audits and sourcing capability.
2005 also saw the establishment of an in-house design team. This team has provided MACVAD with a significant point of difference in all our markets- we have been able to generate top quality packaging and design options for our clientele at a fraction of the cost charged by an external design studio. Currently this team has staff in NZ, Australia, UK, USA and Canada so provide 24/7 service.
In 2007 MACVAD Group acquired Tynan Textiles. The company name was changed to TYTEX and the focus was on sourcing and supplying commercial textiles. TYTEX continues to evolve and provides warehousing and contract logistics services to the Group as well as branching into product categories such as medical disposables that it distributes through its established health industry channels. Aaron Nye headed this up with Benjamin Taylor then taking over managing it.
In 2008 MACVAD acquired TOPLINE MARKETING, a national NZ merchandising company. TOPLINE MARKETING compliments MACVAD’s core business being able to assist in the in-store merchandising of its lines. TOPLINE MARKETING has built a strong presence in NZ supermarkets and a great portfolio of brands that it represents in those channels.
In 2009 MACVAD again moved headquarters to the current location in Birkenhead on Auckland’s North Shore. This year also saw the establishment of ARREDO as a company within the MACVAD Group providing expertise in furniture to many of NZ and Australia’s large furniture retailers. Managed by Gerry Watkinson who has been a big player in the furniture market for many year’s
As MACVAD’s business with ALDI Stores in Australia grew, we were introduced to ALDI buyers in the UK. For all of 2009 and half of 2010 Emma Dever serviced this growing account from the other side of the world in Australia. By August 2010 an office was needed in the UK – we found a home on the northern edge of London in Borehamwood. The end of 2010 also signalled an office move for MACVAD Australia to Camperdown, just on the western fringe of the Sydney CBD. Lisa Wilson joined the team at this time working on Garments. Lisa now looks after our garment divisions in Australia, UK and USA.
2011 saw the opening of a South African office based in Johannesburg to support the burgeoning business relationships that were being driven by Guido Lorenzini in that region. Sharl Short now a Director has done the large trip many times back to his homeland to help support this team.
2012 saw MACVAD open an overseas office for the 3rd year in a row and the 5th time in the last 9 years- this time in Toronto, Canada Led by Hamish Miller from NZ, MACVAD’s business had reached a level where a local presence was needed.
In 2013 MACVAD UK team moved to bigger offices as they were bursting at the sides.
2015 MACVAD China moved to stand alone offices in Hangzhou, the team had out grown its current office. Neil and Janet McGillivray spent 4 years away from New Zealand living in China helping to develop his great team.
2016 MACVAD sold TYTEX. MACVAD set up a Sustainabliity Committee. This was established to support and indentify better long term products, packaging and suppliers.
2017 MACVAD USA moved into their own office in Chicago. This growing team have been established with Wendy Bennett from 2013.
2017 MACVAD has also opened a satellite office in Los Angeles USA this year to support customers in that region.
2018 Topline was sold to allow for further expansion in other areas. The Canadian office had out grown itself and move to bigger and better surroundings.
2019 MACVAD has opened a branch in Dusseldorf Germany to support new and existing customers in Europe.
2020 MACVAD had a very challenging year with Factories closing in Jan/ Feb 2020. Goods then got delayed with shipping. Then all offices were in lock down with especially UK, USA Canada and Europe heavily effected and working from home. Our team stood up to these challenges amazingly. The China team stepped up with more sourcing and inspections of factories. Communication between in each country strengthened. The team did very well considering how hard a year it was.
2022 MACVAD has adapted and grown through the learnings of a world wide pandemic. Communcation changed and developed. We have not been to China since 2019 but our wonderful team in China have stepped up and covered all needed.
Bug A Salt has now become a global focus and showing exciting challenges. While all our established teams are growing all the time.
Over the past 12 years MACVAD has truly become a global player- the Group has provided retail support for customers in NZ, Australia, England, Ireland, USA, South Africa, Canada, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia and Switzerland etc. The MACVAD team is 145 people strong now and is spread across 7 countries meaning we are working almost completely round the clock!
Along the way the scope of business and services provided has grown enormously beyond straight out sourcing- for example, MACVAD provides large wholesale services, warranty & service lines in 5 countries and innovative packaging and design options. While MACVAD has always strived to improve its offer, we have been very well supported over the years by many key buyers and suppliers alike.
MACVAD Group is very well placed to continue to grow in a global marketplace that is very different from the one it started in 50 years ago. While the marketplace has changed in that time, the underlying business practices that MACVAD applies to its clients and suppliers have not changed at all and will continue to underpin the next 50 years.
There is one person who greatly contributed to the success of MACVAD but was never employed. Val McClune is Peters Wife of 60 years. Married in 5th July 1952 Val has been the strength and determination behind Peter. Val and Peter had 6 children (all angels to be sure but probably a bit of a handful from time to time.) With Peter away for up to 3 months at a time in the early days, the care of the family fell to Val. Later when the trade group arrived en masse, Val was the driver of the second tour car and also head chef for Devonshire teas and later extended her skills to 6 and 8 course Chinese meals for up to 10 people. Quite remarkable! For Peter, his greatest joys in watching the success of MACVAD has been the pleasure of having Val with him by his side. It would not have happened without Val.
As told by Rob McClune & Peter McClune