Following due diligence, Hill Laboratories has confirmed that its part purchase agreement with Cawthron Institute, originally announced on 16 March, is now unconditional.
As part of the sale, Cawthron’s wine and microbiological testing services provided from its Blenheim offices will be transferred to Hill Laboratories.
The Cawthron Institute will continue to operate from its headquarters in Nelson. The Institute has refocused its business to concentrate on supporting the food and functional food industries by facilitating access for food products to local and international markets. It is also maintaining its core microbiology services for both environmental and food testing.
Additionally, Cawthron’s environmental chemistry testing division, previously located in Nelson, has been amalgamated into Hill Laboratories’ environmental testing division.
No Cawthron staff members at either site were made redundant as part of the acquisition.
For Hill Laboratories, the purchase provides an opportunity to strengthen two key areas of its business – wine and environmental testing.
