Mother Earth

Name

Mother Earth

Legal name

Prolife Foods Limited

Website

https://motherearth.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mother Earth is a New Zealand better-for-you snack and honey brand (founded 1974) owned by Arnott's Group, selling nuts, bars, snacks, nut butters, and UMF-certified Mānuka honey through supermarket chains in New Zealand, Australia, and 10+ export markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Packaged Snack Foods

NAICS

Snack Food Manufacturing (31191), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Bakery Products (2050), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Dried Fruit & Fruit Snacks Manufacturing (AFAKAIAL)

Keywords

• Packaged snack foods
• Better-for-you snacks
• Natural peanut butter
• Manuka honey products
• Gluten-free snack bars

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Snack foods retail: Revenue generated from the sale of packaged snack products including nuts, bars, snacks, peanut butter, natural nut butter, and honey through retail and export channels.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mother Earth manufactures and sells packaged better-for-you snack foods under its own brand, including snack nuts and nut mixes, snack bars (protein, baked oat, gluten-free, functional wellbeing), savoury snacks, natural peanut butter and almond butter, and New Zealand honey including UMF-certified Mānuka honey. Products are sold through supermarket chains in New Zealand and Australia and exported to multiple international markets.

Product overview

Mother Earth is a New Zealand food company offering a diversified portfolio of better-for-you snacks and spreads. The core product lines include Nuts (single varieties, flavoured nuts, nut mixes, and on-the-go snacks), Bars (Protein Oat Bakes, Baked Oaty Slices, Protein Bars, Fruit & Vege Sticks, Wellbeing Bars, and Nuts About gluten-free bars), Snacks (savoury crispy mixes and chickpea snacks), Natural Peanut Butter (various textures and specialty variants), Honey (liquid, multifloral, and premium UMF™/MGO Mānuka honey), and Natural Nut Butter (almond butter). The brand positions itself around natural ingredients, no artificial additives, and wholesome nutrition, marketed under sub-brands like Flavours of the World, Nutty Sensations, and Wellbeing Bars to address different consumer occasions and health needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nuts About: An affordable gluten free snack bar that delivers on taste, packed with the natural goodness of nuts. Available in three delicious flavours including Almond, Cranberry, and Dark Chocolate.
• Cranberry Nuts About
• Dark Chocolate Nuts About
• Basil McNuts
• Crunch Soy Mix
• Crispy Mix

Products and services

• Nuts Premium quality snack nuts including single varieties (almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, macadamias, pistachios, walnuts), Nutty Sensations flavoured cashews and almonds, Mixes with dried fruits and chocolate, Flavours of the World international-inspired mixes, and on-the-go single-serve packs. Targeted at consumers seeking better-for-you snack nuts with no artificial colours or flavours.
• Bars Range of baked and snack bars covering Protein Oat Bakes, Baked Oaty Slices, Protein Bars, Fruit & Vege Sticks, Wellbeing Bars, and the Nuts About gluten-free nut bar range. Marketed to families, health-conscious consumers and gluten-free shoppers as lunchbox and on-the-go snacks.
• Savoury Snacks Savoury snack range including crispy mixes (BBQ and Chilli with peanuts, noodles, and corn), crunchy chickpea mixes (BBQ and Oregano & Thyme flavours), and pretzels. All free from added MSG, artificial colours, flavours and preservatives.
• Natural Peanut Butter Natural peanut butters made from high oleic peanuts in Crunchy, Smooth, Unsalted Crunchy and Unsalted Smooth varieties, plus specialty variants with Chia seeds, LSA (linseed, sunflower, almonds) and Sesame seeds. Targeted at health-conscious consumers seeking clean-label spreads.
• Natural Nut Butter Plant-based nut butters including Smooth Almond Butter made from 100% roasted almonds with no added salt, sugar, oils or preservatives, providing protein, Vitamin E, Vitamin B3 and phosphorus. Vegan-friendly.
• Almond Butter Smooth almond butter made from 100% roasted almonds with no added salt, sugar, oils or preservatives. Vegan-friendly plant-based spread providing protein, Vitamin E, Vitamin B3 and phosphorus. Targeted at consumers seeking clean-label plant-based spreads.
• Honey New Zealand honey range including Liquid Honey in upside-down squeeze bottle, Multifloral creamed honey, Native New Zealand Multifloral honey, UMF™-certified Mānuka honey in ratings 5+, 10+, 15+ and 20+, and MGO30+ Mānuka honey. Targeted at households and premium honey buyers domestically and in export markets.
• Liquid Honey Versatile liquid honey blend from clover, pasture and bush flowers packaged in an innovative upside-down squeeze bottle with a special dispenser that leaves no drips or mess. Targeted at household users seeking convenient, mess-free honey dispensing.
• UMF™ Mānuka Honey Premium Mānuka honey certified by the UMF™ Honey Association (Licence 1027) and independently lab-tested for four key markers: Leptosperin (authenticity), MGO (potency), DHA (shelf life) and HMF (freshness). Available in UMF™ ratings 5+, 10+, 15+ and 20+. UMF™ 10+ won gold at the 2024 London International Honey Awards. Targeted at premium honey buyers in NZ and export markets.
• Protein Bars Protein-enriched bars made with roasted nuts dipped in chocolate, in Apple Crumble (yoghurt choc), Cookies & Cream (white choc) and Rocky Road (dark choc with strawberry flavoured chips) flavours. Targeted at consumers seeking higher-protein snack options.
• Wellbeing Bars Baked oat bars with micronutrients from natural sources: Chocolate Brownie Bliss (natural source of magnesium supporting psychological function), Mixed Berry Boost (natural source of iron to reduce tiredness), and Dark Chocolate and Blood Orange Nourish (natural source of Vitamin E antioxidant). Targeted at functional nutrition consumers.
• Nuts About (gluten-free bars) Affordable gluten-free snack bars packed with the natural goodness of nuts, available in Almond, Cranberry and Dark Chocolate flavours, made in a gluten-free facility. Targeted at gluten-intolerant consumers and shoppers seeking affordable gluten-free snacks.
• Flavours of the World nut and snack mixes International-inspired nut and snack mixes including New York Buffalo and Ranch, Thai Chilli and Lime, and Tex Mex Smokey BBQ variants. Targeted at consumers seeking bold, internationally-inspired better-for-you snack flavours.

Quantifiable outcome

• Mother Earth Mānuka Honey UMF™ 10+ awarded gold quality award at the 2024 London International Honey Awards, judged on taste, appearance, odour, texture, flavour and mouth-feel against hundreds of the world's best honeys.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EnviroschoolscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2012Mother Earth has been an official sponsor of Enviroschools since 2012, supporting young people to learn about their environment and develop skills to make a positive difference. The programme is active in over 1,100 schools and early childhood education centres, reaching an estimated 260,000 young people, whānau and teachers across New Zealand.
• Sanctuary Mountain MaungatautaricoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMother Earth proudly supports Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, a 3,400-hectare ecological sanctuary surrounded by a 47km pest-proof fence, home to many of New Zealand's most endangered species. The partnership supports conservation education programmes reaching over 4,500 students and teachers annually. Mother Earth also launched a limited edition product range donating 10 cents per pack to help create a new habitat for the critically endangered kākāpō (only 210 birds alive).
• Love NZ Soft Plastics ProgrammeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMother Earth is a proud supporter of the Love NZ Soft Plastics Programme, which enables New Zealanders to recycle soft plastic packaging. Plastic wrappers from most Mother Earth bars are recyclable through the programme. The company has supported this initiative to help keep plastic bags and packaging out of landfill.
• Waikato Rugby UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMother Earth is a sponsor of the Waikato Rugby Union, supporting the regional representative team. The Waikato rugby team has inspired generations of young grassroots rugby players since 1921. Mother Earth has been a sponsor for a number of years.
• Trade Partners NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMother Earth products are distributed internationally through trade partners and retailers in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, USA, Fiji, and Tahiti. Key retail partners include Metro, Ole, Carrefour, City Super, HKTV Mall, Park n Shop, Cold Storage, Fairprice Finest, NTUC Fairprice, Amazon, Trader Joe's, and more.
• Basil McNuts (mascot programme)minorOthersBasil McNuts is Mother Earth's mascot who attends events around the country, connecting with the community and handing out Mother Earth bars. The mascot programme is part of Mother Earth's community engagement strategy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Carman's: Australian better-for-you brand offering muesli bars, snacks, and breakfast products. Comparable to Mother Earth across the bar and snack categories, with similar natural ingredient and wellness positioning in the Australia/NZ region.
• Fix & Fogg: New Zealand craft peanut butter brand with multiple flavours and natural ingredients. Comparable to Mother Earth in the natural peanut butter and nut butter category, with export presence and premium retail positioning.
• Bounce: Australia-based better-for-you ball and protein snack brand. Comparable to Mother Earth in the protein snack and bar category, with similar export markets and premium positioning.
• Proper Crisps: New Zealand premium natural crisps brand with export presence. Comparable to Mother Earth's savoury snack product line, sharing the better-for-you positioning and UK/ANZ distribution footprint.
• Arataki Honey: One of New Zealand's largest honey producers, including Mānuka honey. Directly comparable to Mother Earth as a New Zealand honey brand with owned beehives and international distribution.
• Pic's Peanut Butter: New Zealand premium natural peanut butter brand sold through supermarket and export channels. Directly comparable to Mother Earth across the natural peanut butter category and better-for-you positioning.
• Comvita: New Zealand-based Mānuka honey producer and exporter with UMF™ certified honey products sold globally. Directly comparable to Mother Earth's honey business, competing in the same premium Mānuka honey category across international markets.

Broad incumbents

• RXBAR: US protein bar brand owned by Mars Inc. Comparable to Mother Earth in the protein bar and clean-label snack category, representing international competitive pressure in functional nutrition snacks.
• Kind Snacks: Global better-for-you snack brand (bars and clusters) owned by Mars Inc. Comparable to Mother Earth as a global benchmark in the better-for-you bar/snack category, with broader distribution scale and brand recognition.

Regional players

• That's Right Foods: New Zealand better-for-you snack brand with bars and snacks. Comparable to Mother Earth as a domestic NZ competitor in the natural snack and bar categories, though operating primarily in the New Zealand market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/motherearthnz
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@motherearthnz1666
• Facebookfacebook.com/MotherEarthNZ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mother-earth-new-zealand
• Instagraminstagram.com/motherearthnz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mother Earth