It’s been a quiet year for the Sutton family, whose interests range from protein smoothies to wine.
The family’s Hunting Lodge estate, set on 32ha, 35 minutes from Auckland, continues to rebound after the family bought it in 2016.
The original site of the Matua wine brand, the Hunting Lodge was closed by Australian owners Treasury Wine Estates before being rescued by the Suttons; it has now carved out a reputation as a must-visit weekend spot, and is also home to an annual wine, beer and food festival. This year Tami Neilson, Gin Wigmore and Jed Parsons were the featured acts at the sold-out event.
The family also holds a 34.9% stake in White Cloud Dairy Innovation, in which Brent and daughter Rachelle Sutton are directors. The company’s most well-known product is a protein smoothie marketed under the Kura brand, which is sold throughout the US. Kura’s head office is now in the US city of Manchester, New Hampshire, and its sustainably minded products have received positive write-ups in magazines such as Women’s Health.
The family also has an interest in engineering and packing company Enpac, as well as property interests in the upper North Island. Previously, it was also behind a highly successful infant formula company that was sold to global food group Danone.
2018: $65 million