Mr Craig Hickson
Hastings Boys' High School 1963 - 1969
Mr Hickson attended Hastings Boys’ High school in 1963-1969. In 1966 he played in 8A rugby, was the 7A rugby captain in 1967 and in 1969 appointed a school prefect. He played 2nd XI Cricket 1st XV rugby as well as achieving a University Bursary and first in Biology. He also played the crucial part of a Peruvian Chieftan in the Drama Club’s production “The Royal Hunt of the Sun”.
Enrolling in a Science Degree at Massey University, a grant from the Hawke’s Bay Farmers Meat Company changed his focus to food technology.
After graduating from Massey University with a Degree in Food Technology he worked for the New Zealand Meat Producers Board expanding his knowledge and giving him a fuller perspective of the meat industry. To complement his food engineering qualification Mr Hickson achieved a BA in Marketing and Economics. Mr Hickson and his wife Penny, launched Progressive Meats. Through smart financing options, technological innovation, and building strategic relationships along the supply chain, his empire expanded. Today it is an integrated business involved in venison, lamb and beef farming, procurement, slaughter, processing, value adding and export.
The associated companies for which Mr Hickson is a significant stockholder employs over 2000 people. 100% of its production is bound for markets in France, the United Kingdom, China, Japan, the EU, Saudi Arabia, Russia, India and Hong Kong.
In 2012 Mr Hickson was awarded the Agribusiness Person of the Year for his outstanding contribution to the Industry and in 2015 was named Entrepreneur of the Year where the judging panel chairman reported that Mr Hickson had demonstrated a level of innovation and entrepreneurship that was unusual and exceptional in a traditional industry.
Mr Hickson is heavily involved in community sponsorship, as a major sponsor of Havelock North Rugby Club, Art Deco Weekend, a principal sponsor of the Hawke’s Bay Magpies and recently providing University Scholarship for Hastings Boys’ High School students moving onto a tertiary education in the Primary Sector.
