Premium Māori Brand KONO NZ is a vertically integrated, family-owned Māori food and beverage producer and exporter of award-winning wine, craft beer, and fruit, backed by Wakatū Incorporation. This positions them as a premium supplier with storytelling potential for hospitality, retailers, and export markets seeking authentic, culturally connected products.

Expanded Leadership Recent leadership appointments including a new chair and C-suite hires (Chair Jo Davidson, General Manager Sales and Marketing Marina Hirst Tristram, COO Andy Wotton) indicate a growth-oriented governance and sales push. This suggests opportunities for strategic partnerships, distribution deals, and channel development under a professional leadership team.

Award-Winning Diffusion Decanter World Wine Awards Best in Show and Matariki award recognition showcase product quality and prestige. Use these accolades in pitches to premium retailers, high-end restaurants, and importers seeking proven winner brands with strong consumer appeal.

Small-Midsize Advantage With 51-200 employees and revenue in the 0–1 million range, KONO NZ is a mid-market player that can benefit from scalable partnerships, contract manufacturing, exclusive SKUs, and co-branded programs to accelerate growth while maintaining agility.

Export and Hospitality Focus As an exporter of wine, craft beer, and fruit, KONO NZ has established traction in international/retail and hospitality channels through its vertical integration. Sales opportunities exist in duty-free, premium retailers, niche distributors, and hospitality groups seeking authentic New Zealand products with a story.