Fertco Limited

What Fertco Limited does

Fertco Limited (legally Fertco 2016 Ltd) is a New Zealand-based fertiliser manufacturer and advisory company founded in 1999 by dairy farmers Ross Karl, Rob Phillips, and Ken Titchener, headquartered in Mount Maunganui. The company produces conventional and BioGro-certified organic fertiliser products — including dicalcic phosphate grades (KingPhos, RePlenish, DCP-Max, SeaPhos), polymer-coated controlled-release nitrogen products (44 Magnum, N Smart, N-durance), sulphur and potassium products, granulated lime and gypsum, and specialised blends for horticulture, cropping, equine, lifestyle blocks, organics, and regenerative farming. Fertco holds the largest range of BioGro-certified organic fertilisers in New Zealand, with 18+ SKUs certified under CO1 and CO2 (2025-2026), and its proprietary CloverZone® programme combines soil testing, Visual Soil Assessment, and fertiliser programming to maximise clover-driven nitrogen fixation. Manufacturing runs from two sites — Mt Maunganui (119 Aviation Avenue, opened 1999) and Te Awamutu (83 Jack Russell Drive, acquired through the 2021 TerraCare acquisition, also housing the MineralBoost animal health plant).

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time bulk fertiliser sales by the tonne (conventional and organic), custom blending services, and bundled advisory services (soil testing, fertiliser recommendations, nutrient budgeting for compliance). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; a basic herbage test is priced at approximately NZ$175 + GST. The go-to-market model is sales-led with a regional field-sales team of 10+ Sales Consultants plus a soil-scientist National Sales Manager (Arthur Payze), supported by an inside-sales channel (freephone 0800 232 733, email), the 'Find Your Rep' web portal, a Premium Stockist arrangement with Eltham Farm Supplies in South Taranaki for lifestyle-block customers, and an educational blog driving top-of-funnel content engagement. The company serves eight primary customer segments across New Zealand's pastoral, horticultural, cropping, and lifestyle-block markets, with no disclosed institutional funding, parent company, or export activity.

Name

Fertco Limited

Legal name

Fertco 2016 Ltd

Website

https://fertco.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fertco Limited is a New Zealand fertiliser manufacturer founded in 1999, producing dicalcic phosphate, polymer-coated nitrogen, and the largest range of BioGro-certified organic fertilisers in New Zealand, sold to dairy, sheep & beef, horticulture, cropping, equine, lifestyle, organic, and regenerative farmers via a regional field-sales team.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Fertiliser Manufacturing

NAICS

Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531), Phosphatic Fertilizer Manufacturing (325312), Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing (325311)

akta.pro primary industry

NPK/Compound & Blended Fertilizers (Granular Blends, Bulk Blending) (AFABABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Phosphate Fertilizers (MAP/DAP/TSP) (IMAEAEAB), Phosphate Fertilizers (MAP, DAP, TSP, SSP) (AFABABAB), NPK & Compound/Blended Fertilizers (IMAEAEAD)

Keywords

• Phosphate fertilisers
• Dicalcic phosphate
• Organic fertilisers
• Agricultural inputs
• Livestock fertilisers

Headquarters

HQ city

Mount Maunganui

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fertiliser Product Sales: Fertco generates revenue primarily through the sale of manufactured fertiliser products, both conventional and BioGro-certified organic. Products are sold in bulk quantities (typically by the tonne) and are either standard formulations or custom-blended per customer requirements. The product range spans dicalcic phosphates (KingPhos, RePlenish, DCP-Max, SeaPhos), controlled/slow-release nitrogen products (44 Magnum, N Smart, N-durance), sulphur products (Double S, Super S), potassium products (Phosta K, Muriate of Potash), and soil amendments (G-Lime, Gypsum, Humates).
2. Custom Fertiliser Blending: Fertco creates bespoke fertiliser blends for individual customers based on soil tests, farm type, and crop requirements. Orders are customised to suit the customer's budget and property, adding revenue through product differentiation and higher perceived value per tonne compared to commodity fertilisers.
3. Advisory Services (Soil Testing, Recommendations, Compliance): Fertco provides supporting advisory services including soil testing (via field representatives), personalised fertiliser recommendations, fertiliser programme planning, and nutrient budget reporting for regulatory compliance. These services are bundled with product sales and delivered through the field representative network, driving product uptake and customer retention.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fertco Limited manufactures and supplies a range of conventional and BioGro-certified organic fertilisers for New Zealand farmers. Its flagship offering is a proprietary dicalcic phosphate fertiliser developed specifically for NZ soil and pasture conditions, complemented by custom-blended nutrient programmes and on-farm agronomic advisory services.

Product overview

Fertco Limited is a New Zealand-based fertiliser company founded in 1999, offering a comprehensive portfolio of conventional and organic fertiliser products. The core offering includes dicalcic phosphate products (KingPhos, RePlenish, DCP-Max, SeaPhos), controlled-release nitrogen products (44 Magnum, N Smart, N-durance), and BioGro-certified organic options (Protamin N13, Guano, Phosta K, Phosta N, Organic Boost). The company operates a custom-blend model where orders are tailored to individual farm requirements. The product ecosystem is supported by the proprietary CloverZone Programme, a soil and plant testing and reporting platform that combines soil management plans with fertiliser recommendations. Additional offerings include specialty blends for horticulture (Avo Mix, Citrus Mix, All-in-One), cropping (Smart Maize products, Brassica Base), equine grazing (Equine Mix), and trace element products. Fertco also operates the MineralBoost sub-brand for animal health supplements. The company has the largest range of BioGro certified organic fertilisers in New Zealand and manufactures products at factories in Mount Maunganui and Te Awamutu.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CloverZone: A soil and plant testing and reporting tool combining a soil management plan and fertiliser programme designed to position soils in optimum condition to maximise clover growth
• MineralBoost
• KingPhos
• SeaPhos
• RePlenish
• 44 Magnum
• Protamin
• DCP-Max

Products and services

• Dicalcic Phosphate Fertiliser

Quantifiable outcome

• 20-30% less fertiliser required for equivalent yields with controlled/slow-release products
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Agrisea NZ (AgriSea)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFertco and AgriSea NZ formed a strategic co-development partnership to create SeaPhos, a unique granulated fertiliser combining Fertco's dicalcic phosphate and granulation technology with AgriSea's seaweed brewing process. The collaboration overcame technical challenges including maintaining seaweed integrity through granulation and developing accurate metering for consistent dosing. Both companies share values around environmental care and helping farmers grow more with less. Fertco and AgriSea also share some customers and have ideas for further collaborative products.
• Eltham Farm SuppliesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEltham Farm Supplies is a Premium Stockist of Fertco products in South Taranaki. Located in Eltham, the business provides a one-stop-shop for rural supplies and now stocks Fertco fertiliser products in frequently requested quantities, solving the last-mile delivery challenge for small-quantity customers (lifestyle block owners) in the region who cannot efficiently receive tonne-bag deliveries direct from Fertco's factories.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Compo Expert: Germany-based global specialty fertiliser company offering controlled-release, slow-release, water-soluble, and biostimulant products for horticulture, turf, and agriculture. Comparable to Fertco in its CRF technology focus and crop-specific custom blends, particularly relevant given both companies supply premium efficiency fertilisers into regulated markets.
• K+S Aktiengesellschaft: German potash and salt producer with a specialty fertiliser business (including polysulphate and bespoke crop nutrition). Comparable to Fertco in producing mineral-based specialty fertilisers (potash and sulphur products are part of Fertco's range), but operating globally and at substantially larger scale across diverse crops and geographies.
• ICL Group: Israel-based specialty fertiliser and phosphate producer with a significant controlled-release fertiliser business (e.g., Osmocote, Agrocote). ICL is comparable to Fertco in developing and selling specialty, efficiency-focused fertiliser products, particularly in the phosphate and CRF categories, but at a much larger, globally diversified scale.
• Yara International: Global Norwegian-headquartered fertiliser major with a broad NPK and specialty fertiliser portfolio. Yara is comparable to Fertco as a manufacturer of nitrogen fertilisers (including coated/CRF products) and crop nutrition solutions, though it operates at vastly greater scale across global markets rather than specialising in the NZ pastoral niche.
• Haifa Group: Israel-based global supplier of specialty fertilisers, including controlled-release and water-soluble NPK products, with a strong horticulture focus. Comparable to Fertco in its emphasis on efficiency fertilisers, custom blending capability, and crop-specific nutrient programmes, but operating globally rather than within a single domestic market.

Direct peers

• Ravensdown: New Zealand farmer-owned fertiliser cooperative offering conventional and specialty fertilisers, lime, and agronomic advisory services across NZ. Ravensdown is Fertco's closest direct competitor in the custom-blend, advisory-led fertiliser space and shares the same farmer-cooperative-versus-independent competitive dynamic as Ballance.
• Ballance Agri-Nutrients: New Zealand farmer-owned cooperative and the country's largest fertiliser manufacturer and supplier. Ballance directly competes with Fertco across pastoral, horticulture, and cropping segments with a national distribution network, broad conventional and specialty product ranges, and farmer-shareholder relationships that lock in customer loyalty.

Regional players

• CSBP (Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers): Major Australian fertiliser manufacturer and distributor (part of Wesfarmers), supplying broad-acre cropping, pasture, and horticulture customers across WA and eastern Australia. Comparable to Fertco in its integrated manufacturing-custom-blending-advisory model, but operating in the larger Australian market with broader product lines including nitrogen, phosphate, and trace elements.
• Incitec Pivot Fertilisers: Australian fertiliser manufacturer and distributor (part of Dyno Nobel) producing and supplying NPK, blended, and specialty fertilisers to broad-acre and pasture customers. Comparable to Fertco as a regional custom-blend and specialty fertiliser player with a direct-to-grower sales model, though serving Australian rather than NZ markets.

Emerging players

• Pivot Bio: US-based agricultural biotech company producing microbial nitrogen-fixing products that reduce reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertiliser. Comparable to Fertco as a participant in the broader shift toward nutrient efficiency and reduced environmental loss, though addressing nitrogen replacement through biology rather than controlled-release chemistry, and serving row-crop markets in North America rather than NZ pastoral systems.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fertco-ltd

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries3 records

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 Fertco Limited