As Riverside grew, larger premises were needed. In 1985, the business moved to Te Kowhai, where we continue to operate more than 40 years later.
Our Story
1980 — Where Riverside Began
Riverside was established in 1980, operating from a facility on the banks of the Waikato River — the location that inspired the Riverside name.
In those early years, the business focused on its own range of garden fertilisers, supplying customers locally and throughout the wider Waikato region. Remarkably, some of those early customers remain loyal Riverside customers today.
1985 — A New Home and the Beginning of Contract Packing
This was the beginning of Riverside's move into OEM and private-label production, starting modestly with just one product for one Auckland store.
That first contract marked the beginning of an important part of the Riverside business that would steadily grow over the decades that followed.
Growing the Riverside Range
By 2000, the Riverside range had grown to more than 40 products and had become a familiar and trusted name in local garden centres.
During this period, Plant Tonic and Plant Health Booster were developed. Both products became well known for helping address plant and soil deficiencies across a wide variety of plants.
More than two decades later, they remain popular and trusted choices with Riverside customers.
At the same time, our private-label and OEM work continued to grow steadily.
Building Our Private-Label Partnerships
Riverside's experience, reliability and reputation for delivering private-label products led to a second major customer partnership in 2014, beginning with a range of two products.
This relationship grew alongside our existing Auckland private-label business, strengthening Riverside's position as a trusted contract packing and manufacturing partner.
2022 — A New Chapter
In 2022, Milan and Steph Jamieson purchased Riverside and began the next chapter of the business.
Operations were streamlined, new machinery was introduced for both liquid and granular products, and our health and safety systems were comprehensively reviewed. Riverside also gained MBIE certification for the range of chemicals we store and handle.
Just as importantly, we strengthened the relationships Riverside had built with its long-standing OEM customers while working closely with them to develop and introduce new product lines.
Those customers remain with Riverside today.
Together, they now represent more than 20 garden centres and retail stores across the North and South Islands, with nearly 100 products under contract.
And the journey continues.
Further branded products are planned for release this spring, thus continuing a product range and business that has grown from humble beginnings on the banks of the Waikato River more than four decades ago.
Work with Riverside