What ORIGIN EARTH LIMITED does

Origin Earth Limited is a privately held Hawke's Bay, New Zealand artisan dairy company founded in 2011 that produces minimally processed milk, pot-set yoghurt, and a range of cow and sheep cheeses from a single farm supply chain. All milk is sourced from Plantation Road Dairies in Central Hawke's Bay, now owned by Apatu Farms, milking approximately 2,200 cows across 1,071 hectares under biological soil management. Products are not homogenised, standardised, or stabilised, and traceability extends from finished product back to paddock and individual animals; signature processes include in-house cold smoking over Manuka wood and pot-set yoghurt that sets in the customer-facing container.

The company operates a multi-channel go-to-market: a direct-to-consumer e-commerce shop and physical cheese counter at 293 Te Mata Road, Havelock North, weekly Sunday presence at the Hawke's Bay Farmers' Market, listings across New World, Pak'n'Save, and Four Square supermarkets plus specialty stores in Hawke's Bay, a Swap-a-Bottle glass bottle refill service, and a Bulk Milk & Waste Reduction Scheme delivering 23L reusable containers to approximately 30 commercial partners including cafes, schools, and hospitality venues. Cheese gift packs priced from NZD 65.95 to 129.95 ship nationwide.

Revenue mechanics are a mix of one-time consumer purchases, recurring wholesale orders to supermarket stockists, and subscription-style bulk milk deliveries to enterprise foodservice accounts. Pricing is unit-based across the portfolio: 1L milk at NZD 4.50–$8.00 depending on Swap-a-Bottle tier, single cheeses at NZD 9.50–$18.95, and gift packs at NZD 65.95–$129.95. The business is constrained to a single farm supply and is regionally focused on Hawke's Bay, with milk and yoghurt limited to local pickup or delivery and cheese products the primary nationwide vector. No revenue, funding, or headcount figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

ORIGIN EARTH LIMITED

Legal name

Origin Earth Limited

Website

https://originearth.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Origin Earth Limited is a Hawke's Bay, New Zealand artisan dairy company founded in 2011 that produces single farm origin milk, pot-set yoghurt, and cow and sheep cheeses for regional households, supermarket stockists, and foodservice accounts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Dairy Products

NAICS

Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115), Dairy Product (except Frozen) Manufacturing (31151), Fluid Milk Manufacturing (311511)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

Dairy Spreads, Dips & Cream Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Butter & Cultured Dairy (Yogurt, Sour Cream, Kefir) Wholesale (AFAIAEAB), Milk Production (Raw Milk) (AFAEACAA)

Keywords

• Artisan cheese making
• Single farm milk
• Pot set yoghurt
• Glass bottle delivery
• Bulk milk supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Havelock North

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: Retail sales of cheese, yoghurt, and milk products directly to consumers through online shop and retail store. Products include fresh milk, pot set yoghurt, various cow and sheep cheeses. One-time purchase model with repeat customer purchases.
2. Wholesale to Retail Partners: Wholesale distribution of dairy products through supermarket chains (New World, Pak'n'Save, Four Square) and specialty retailers across Hawke's Bay. Recurring bulk orders to retail stockists.
3. Bulk Milk Business Scheme: Bulk milk supply to commercial businesses including cafes, schools, and offices using 23L containers. Ongoing subscription-style recurring deliveries with dedicated labelled containers.
4. Gift Packs and Hampers: Pre-packaged cheese gift sets at various price points ($65.95, $89.95, $129.95) for gifting occasions. One-time purchase with digital gift card redemption system.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Origin Earth Limited produces and sells single farm origin dairy products — fresh cow's milk, sheep milk, pot set yoghurt, pouring cream, and an extensive range of cow and sheep cheeses (Camembert-style, Manuka smoked variants, Halloumi, Feta in Brine, Takenga Blue/Gold/Smoked, Pink & White Terraces, Pecorino, Sleeping Giant, Smoked Sheep Cheddar) — crafted from milk sourced exclusively from Plantation Road Dairies in Central Hawke's Bay. Products are not homogenised, not standardised, and not stabilised, and are distributed via the company's own e-commerce shop, retail cheese shop, Hawke's Bay Farmers' Market, supermarket stockists, and a bulk milk waste reduction scheme serving businesses.

Product overview

Origin Earth Limited is a Hawke's Bay, New Zealand-based artisan dairy company offering a portfolio of single farm origin milk, yoghurt, and cheese products. The product range includes: Fresh Cow's Milk (whole and reduced-fat), Pouring Cream, Pot Set Yoghurt, and various Cow Cheeses (Camembert-style, Manuka Smoked Camembert, Halloumi, Manuka Smoked Halloumi, Pink & White Terraces, Takenga Blue, Takenga Gold, Takenga Smoked, Feta in Brine) and Sheep Cheeses (Pecorino, Sleeping Giant, Smoked Sheep Cheddar). The company operates a direct-to-consumer online shop with services including Swap-a-Bottle (glass bottle returns), Bulk Milk & Waste Reduction Scheme for businesses, and sells gift packs/cards. All products are single farm origin with complete traceability to Plantation Road Dairies in Central Hawke's Bay.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Takenga: Brand name for Origin Earth cow cheeses including Takenga Blue (semi-soft creamy blue cheese), Takenga Gold (semi-soft Dutch-style cheese), and Takenga Smoked (cold smoked over Manuka).
• Sleeping Giant

Products and services

• Fresh Cow's Milk (Whole Milk, Pasteurised not Homogenised) Single farm origin fresh cow's milk from Hawke's Bay, pasteurised but not homogenised, sourced from Plantation Road Dairies. Available in 1L and 2L bottles via Swap-a-Bottle scheme.
• Reduced-fat Cow's Milk Reduced-fat milk produced using gravity separation with nothing added, fat content less than 1%. Available in 2L bottles.
• Pouring (Single) Cream By-product of reduced-fat milk production, suitable for coffee, cereal, or sauces. Not suitable for whipping due to lower fat content and no additives. Available in 1L Swap-a-Bottle.
• Sheep Milk Fresh sheep milk from Hawke's Bay sheep, used as the base for sheep milk cheeses (Pecorino, Sleeping Giant, Smoked Sheep Cheddar).
• Chocolate Milk Cow's milk chocolate milk available in summer only or to order.
• Pot Set Yoghurt Pot set yoghurt made from Hawke's Bay cow's milk with only culture added, set in the actual retail pot it is sold in. Natural cream separation and whey separation. Available in 300g and 500g sizes, starting from $4.75.
• Camembert-style Cheese (Cow) Soft white mould cow cheese with velvety white rind and buttery yellow centre, made with Penicillium Candidum culture. Available in Large Round (approx. 1kg). Bronze Medal at NZ Champions of Cheese Awards 2016.
• Manuka Smoked Camembert (Cow) Camembert gently cold smoked in-house over Manuka wood, producing a creamy cheese with enhanced smoky mushroom flavour. Available in Small Round (150-180g), vacuum packed.
• Halloumi (Cow) Salty un-ripened cow cheese with high melting point, suitable for pan-frying, grilling and barbecuing. Made using vegetable rennet. Award-winning Gold Medal 2016.
• Manuka Smoked Halloumi (Cow) Halloumi cold smoked over Manuka and vacuum packed to retain smoke flavour. Award-winning variant of Origin Earth Halloumi.
• Pink & White Terraces (Washed Rind Cow Cheese) Soft washed rind cow cheese washed with brine and white vinegar, creating a sticky pungent pink and white rind. Silver Medal 2016.
• Takenga Blue (Cow Cheese) Semi-soft creamy blue cow cheese, considered mild compared to many blue cheeses. Available in Medium Wedge or Large Round. Part of the Takenga sub-brand.
• Takenga Gold (Cow Cheese) Semi-soft Dutch-style cow cheese with elastic texture and intense slightly nutty flavour, matured 4–6 months. Great melting cheese. Part of the Takenga sub-brand.
• Takenga Smoked (Cow Cheese) Takenga Gold cut into pieces, cold smoked over Manuka and vacuum packed. Available from Takenga Gold product page.
• Feta in Brine (Cow Cheese) Greek-style cow feta packed in 20% brine, firmer style easier to cut. Award-winning (Category Champion 2016, Gold Medal 2016). 160g size.
• Sleeping Giant (Sheep Hard Cheese) Sheep cheddar-style cheese named for Te Mata Peak, aged 16–24 months with crystals forming. Reminiscent of Spanish Manchego. Award-winning (Bronze Medal 2016, 2015).
• Pecorino (Sheep Cheese) Sheep milk cheese matured for three years, deep orange colour with concentrated flavours. Develops cheese nuggets (calcium and amino acids).
• Smoked Sheep Cheddar Sheep cheddar cold smoked in-house over Manuka for approximately three hours and vacuum packed to retain smoke flavour.
• Swap-a-Bottle (Glass Bottle Milk Refill Service) Glass bottle milk delivery and return service. Customers order refilled glass bottles online and pick up at Origin Earth shop or Hawke's Bay Farmers' Market. Includes Gel Ice-Pax swap option. Pricing: $5.00 per 1L bottle (single), $4.50 per 1L bottle (2+), $8.00 new bottle with first swap.
• Bulk Milk & Waste Reduction Scheme Bulk milk delivery in 23L reusable containers for Hawke's Bay cafes, businesses and schools to reduce single-use plastic bottles. Recurring subscription-style deliveries via Origin Earth milk truck. Approximately 30 active waste reduction partners.
• Gift Card to Origin Earth Digital gift card with unique code for online redemption at Origin Earth. Never expires.
• Cheese Gift Pack ($65.95) Gift pack showcasing three award-winning cheeses with free shipping and handwritten gift card. Price $65.95.
• Cheese Gift Pack ($89.95) Gift pack with four cheeses including Takenga Blue, Takenga Gold, and Pink & White Terraces. Price $89.95 with free shipping and handwritten gift card.
• Celebration Cheese Pack ($129.95) Large gift pack for entertaining with five cheeses including Camembert-style, Takenga Blue, Takenga Gold, and Sleeping Giant. Price $129.95 with free shipping and handwritten gift card.
• 1kg Gel Ice-Pax Reusable 1kg gel ice pack for keeping Swap-a-Bottle deliveries cold. One-time purchase with free swaps on subsequent orders.

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Waste Reduction Partners (Hawke's Bay Businesses)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Approximately 30 Hawke's Bay businesses including cafes, schools, and commercial operations participating in bulk milk and waste reduction scheme. Partners include Best Burgers, Craggy Range, Hawthorne Coffee Roasters, Hereworth School, Mangapapa Hotel, and others. These businesses receive bulk milk in 23L containers instead of single-use plastic bottles, reducing environmental waste.
• Plantation Road Dairies (Apatu Farms)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSingle farm supplying all milk for Origin Earth products. Plantation Road Dairies, now owned by Apatu Farms, uses biological farming practices and supplies milk from approximately 2,200 cows. The farm practices ethical standards with full traceability and environmental monitoring. All Origin Earth products are crafted from this single farm origin milk.
• TVNZ Rural DeliveryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTelevision programme featuring stories about Origin Earth, their farmers, and biological approach to farming. Multiple stories produced over the years covering Plantation Road Dairies, biological soil management, sheep milking, and Origin Earth cheese and yoghurt products.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Meyer Gouda Cheese: Small-batch NZ Gouda producer focused on aged cow's milk cheese with strong specialty retail and food-service presence; comparable in scale, premium positioning, and farm-credentialled product story.
• Karikaas: NZ sheep milk dairy producing cheeses and yoghurt with farm-origin and natural processing positioning; comparable on the sheep milk and non-homogenised product side.
• Lewis Road Creamery: Premium New Zealand D2C dairy brand selling glass-bottle milk, butter and creamery products via subscription and online; directly comparable to Origin Earth's Swap-a-Bottle and chef-quality fluid milk proposition.
• Country Valley Milk: Single-farm NZ dairy producing unhomogenised pasteurised milk, cream and yoghurt via home delivery and specialty retailers; closest direct peer on single-farm-origin fluid milk and yoghurt.
• Kapiti (Fonterra): Premium NZ specialty cheese brand under Fonterra producing Halloumi, Camembert-style and aged cheeses with national supermarket and foodservice distribution; competes with Origin Earth in the same premium cheese category.
• Puhoi Valley Cheese: NZ artisan cheesemaker producing cow and sheep milk cheeses including Halloumi and Camembert-style varieties, sold through supermarkets and delis nationwide; shares product range and channel strategy with Origin Earth.
• Mahoe Cheese: NZ artisan cheese maker producing sheep and cow milk cheeses including Halloumi and aged hard varieties; similar farm-to-cheese craft model with national distribution.
• Over the Moon Dairy: NZ specialty dairy producing pot-set yoghurt, gelato and cheeses using milk from a single farm in the Waikato; closely comparable artisanal single-farm dairy operating in similar premium CPG and foodservice channels.
• Whitestone Cheese: New Zealand boutique cheesemaker producing award-winning cheeses (including sheep and cow milk varieties) with a strong farm-origin story and nationwide distribution; directly comparable to Origin Earth's artisanal cheese model.

Broad incumbents

• Tatua Co-operative Dairy: Specialty NZ dairy manufacturer focused on value-added dairy ingredients and foodservice products; broader incumbent that competes with Origin Earth's premium foodservice angle at much greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BoxEspresso
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/origin-earth-limited

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 ORIGIN EARTH LIMITED