our story

It started with our co-founder, Ross Beaton. Ross started growing apples back in 1982 and built a successful business exporting apples to 45 countries around the world. Ross is seriously passionate about apples and was always bothered about the “ugly fruit” - the apples that were of ‘A Grade’ texture but went to waste because they weren’t pretty enough for export. He had a burning desire to do something about it.

In 2013, things got exciting when Ross met Sally Gallagher, Hawke’s Bay’s Food Innovation Specialist (she’s really clever), and with a shared vision, The Apple Press was born.  Together they set out to make all-natural, quality, varietal-led apple juice in significant quantities, but they couldn’t find a factory with the capability to do it. “So, I thought, I better build it” said Ross.

Today his plot of land in Whakatu, Hawke’s Bay is home to the Apollo Foods production facility using some of the very best technology in the world, to produce The Apple Press, Boring Oat Milk and Picky.

The Apollo Foods Factory in Whakatu, Hawkes Bay

our vision

To create iconic sustainable beverage brands that are recognised on a world stage.

our purpose

To be part of a story that’s one day worth telling.

Our Values

  • Trust

    Here it flows as freely as a bottomless coffee at your local cafe. We are honest, fair, and transparent in everything we do, always doing the right thing, even when no one is looking.

    Our mission is to make trust falls obsolete, because we've always got your back.


  • Collaborate

    Together we achieve common goals by sharing knowledge, expertise, and perspectives - collaboration so ingrained that even the bees pollinating our orchards pause their synchronised parade to spectate.

    Working hand in hand with our colleagues, partners, suppliers, and customers, because alone we can do so little but together we can do so much.

  • Innovate

    Seek new and better ways to do things - be unafraid to take risks and think outside the box, because there is no box.

    Take the number 8 wire approach ingrained in our culture and aspire for continuous improvement, foster creative thinking, adapt to new situations and seize new opportunities.