Graeme Hart Quotes

100 Graeme Hart Quotes

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[On comparing Burns Philip in 2003 to the other businesses he has invested in] What I enjoy in the food business is that it's got very similar characteristics to the other businesses I have invested in but I'm not hitting any glass ceilings I don't have a growth constraint as the sector is so much larger and you can operate on a global basis.
Graeme Hart

[On whether the turnaround of Burns Philip and the successful takeover of Goodman Fielder was part of a grand plan?] I'd be cautious about saying it was all part of a grand plan but we went into the food sector with an intention of building a significant food group and that's what we are doing. As the years tick by the group develops and evolves. And it's a fairly substantial group now.
Graeme Hart

[In 2003 on whether he had any reservations when Burns Philip stumbled five years ago] Nah nah nah nah. Burns Philp when we got in there was exactly what we wanted in terms of the underlying food businesses. There were some surprises because they hadn't given everybody the facts on a number of points and we had to work that out but that didn't alter the fundamentals of what we were doing. We just got stuck in, worked it out and moved on.
Graeme Hart

People look back on it now and say you have done tremendously well and I don't really look at it that way. I say 'Hey, it's just all part of the continuum'.
Graeme Hart

It doesn't matter whether you're a politician, a sportsman, or a journo, every so often you are going to have a bad hair day.
Graeme Hart

Burns Philp was just part of a bad hair day.
Graeme Hart

[On investors being able to get involved with a business that has top brands in the baked goods, breakfast cereals, nutritious snacks, cooking oils and margarine sectors includes brands such as Bluebird, Meadow Lea, Ernest Adams, Edmonds, Quality Bakers, Freya's, Vogel 's, Irvines, Leaning Tower and Champion.. It provides investors with a] Comfort factor.
Graeme Hart

[On his wife saying in her 20s ‘If I could have one island, that would be the one I’d want.’ (Browns Island) – Then him buying the house next door which looks so close you’d think you could swim to it and saying] That’s as close as I can get you to your island.
Graeme Hart

[On the New Zealand Prime Minister calling his receptionist] Ask him what he wants.
Graeme Hart

[On the richest man in New Zealand sometimes stealing his son-in-laws clothes when they get mixed up in the wash. And his daughter saying ‘Hey! That’s not yours! That’s Duncan’s!’ and sometimes and sometimes not giving it back and saying] I like it.
Graeme Hart



[On an investor at a shareholders’ meeting suggesting that he should call in the receivers] Don’t even think about it. What we have to do is to work our way through it and come out the other end with those businesses intact.
Graeme Hart

There is something about being surrounded by schooling hammerheads that gives me a real thrill. I can’t get enough of it.
Graeme Hart

[For all his deal making he is an] Old economy businessman who likes running good, solid companies.
Graeme Hart

I like stable and predictable businesses. Consumable products you can turn up and buy every day. Books, pens, food – that’s what I’m into.
Graeme Hart

[On the takeover offer for Carter Holt Harvey in 2005] The NZ$2.50-a-share offer would be extended only if the directors recommended it to shareholders.
Graeme Hart

[In August 2006 on a $1.32 billion deal to take Burns Philip private] There are certain inefficiencies to be taken into account if we were to continue operating through two ownership structures. On balance, we have concluded that it is timely to consolidate into one private structure.
Graeme Hart

[In November 2005 when asked if he was concerned about a possible overload of floats when listing Goodman Fielder] The weight of capital out there is such that there is almost a shortage of high-quality IPOs.
Graeme Hart

[In September 2010 on merging Pactiv with his fully owned Reynolds Group (subsidary of Rank Group Limited)] Pactiv is an outstanding company. It is a clear leader in its markets as a result of its broad product line and unique distribution system. I am excited about the opportunity to grow Pactiv's foodservice and Hefty consumer businesses and to be associated with the people who have made it such a successful company over the years. I am very pleased to add these businesses to our packaging group.
Graeme Hart

[On talking about his wealth. It is a] By-product [of my work.]
Graeme Hart

We have only just started…
Graeme Hart



Bonus Gretchen Hawkesby (Hart) Quotes


[Gretchen Hawkesby on her father Graeme Hart] My father works his tush off!
Gretchen Hawkesby

[At age 36 Graeme Hart’s daughter] People talk about rich people, but rich people are the same as poor people. They're just people. Rich people are able to afford things that poor people can't, but it doesn't make them any different. It doesn't make them any happier.
Gretchen Hawkesby



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