Turners and Growers Ltd, a leading New Zealand distributor, marketer and exporter of premium fresh produce, is one of the first crop of businesses in the Southern Hemisphere to harvest the benefits of the new EPiServer Content Management solution.

Turners and Growers' global reach is impressive. It exports one billion apples and pears, 118 million Bonita bananas and over 250 lines of produce around the globe.

The merger of Turners and Growers with ENZA in 2003 grew the operation significantly and meant a joining of two distinct operations and business cultures. That posed major challenges for Turners and Growers' existing web site, which fell well short of reflecting the companies’ innovative and service- driven face to the world. It was crunch time for growing a brand new online presence.

Comparing apples with apples
“Any product is capable of doing a CMS (content management system) job, it’s how they do it as a whole package for the company that counts," says Marisa Chahel, Turners and Growers' marketing and communications manager.

“In the pitch process, EPiServer impressed because of its functionality balanced with its ease of use. Within a company this size you have different levels of enthusiasm and ability with using the web. It gives great flexibility and scope for web editor-type users, yet it’s simple for first time users. Areas can be locked down in regards to access. Images and text manipulation are straightforward and the site has a clear brand feel at all times.”

Value for money was also important for Turners and Growers, Chahel adds.

“One of the deciding factors in going with EPiServer was that it seemed to be a very strong off-the-shelf product. It has also got the legs to grow, and we aim to extend it within our online services, provide more resource links and promote the divisions within the company such as Floramax, Fruitcase and Turners Transport.” 

Completed in just six week, the Turners and Growers web site is now proving a great business tool among suppliers, sales teams, and the company’s diverse customer base.

“All that EPiServer’s promised, it’s delivered on,” says Chahel.

“Feedback is very positive, people are using its features on a daily basis. We have a strong global face. It represents our values for service and quality very clearly. We outgrew our old website, but this one has the flexibility and potential to keep adding more value."

A  fruitful search
Intergen is the sole EPiServer partner in Australasia. After a world wide search, Intergen partnered with EPiServer from ElektroPost in Sweden because it stood out as the best fit for New Zealand web site requirements and is proven in over 1150 internet-based solutions in Europe.

For more information
Shaun Donaghey
General Manager, Auckland
Intergen
09 966-3072
021 359 061
shaun.donaghey@intergen.co.nz
www.intergen.co.nz

September 2007