Waikato Management School continues to nurture top young innovators – and last month’s Case Competition was proof. Four standout teams pitched bold business strategies, with one emerging victorious. Senior writer Mary Anne Gill meets the winning trio.
Making their case: Mind over Markets team celebrate winning top honours at the 53rd Waikato Management School Case Competition. From left: Haydon Appleton, Hazel McAnulty, and Jan-Hendrik Hamann. Photo: University of Waikato.
Innovation, strategy, and a dash of peanut butter brilliance – that’s what set the Mind over Markets team apart at Waikato Management School’s 53rd Case Competition in The Pā last month.
Their winning pitch wowed judges and showcased the kind of entrepreneurial flair the management school continues to cultivate in its top business students.
The team was all educated in the Bay of Plenty – Haydon Appleton, 21, (Mt Maunganui), Jan-Hendrik Hamann, 20, (Tauranga) and Hazel McAnulty, 20, (Whakatāne) – and studied at Waikato University in Hamilton.
The judging panel – Hamish Hobson (Business Manager, Tatua Dairy Company), Jennifer Boggiss (CEO, Heilala Vanilla), Gina Darlington (National Business Manager Route Retail, Goodman Fielder), Mark McCabe (Managing Partner, PwC Hamilton), and Alex Winiata (Commercial Director, Zuru Toys)
Launched in 1996, the Case Competition remains Waikato Management School’s ultimate test for Bachelor of Business students. It’s a hands-on, real-world assignment forming part of the Applied Business Challenge paper – and New Zealand’s longest-running business competition.
Their creative and commercially savvy pitch for Pic’s Peanut Butter impressed judges with the winning strategy proposing a defatted, low-calorie product in compostable packaging, paired with a partnership with an Australian gym chain. They also designed a distinctive square jar to help Pic’s stand out on supermarket shelves.
Pic’s, founded in Nelson in 2007, is now New Zealand’s market leader in peanut butter, exporting to Australia and China. A recent capital boost from Australia’s Scalzo Foods has positioned the company for international expansion.
Head judge Mark McCabe from PwC praised the team for “leaning into Pic’s brand story of sustainability” and backing up their ideas with clear commercial logic.
Pic’s chief executive Aimee McCammon said she was amazed by the students’ creativity and the professional standard of their pitches.
Making their case: Mind over Markets team at the 53rd Waikato Management School Case Competition. From left: Haydon Appleton, Hazel McAnulty, and Jan-Hendrik Hamann. Photo: University of Waikato.
The team competed against three other qualifying teams, each delivering a 10-minute presentation in front of a live audience at Waikato University’s The Pā. Previous companies involved in the Case Competition include Zealong Tea, Zuru Toys, Annah Stretton Fashion, Yealands Wine Group, Ozone Coffee, and Tainui Group Holdings Ltd.
Reflecting on the experience, Hazel said, “We definitely experienced a bit of imposter syndrome, but we’re really proud of ourselves. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience – by far my favourite paper.”
Her teammate Haydon said, “You learn so much about yourself and what it takes to work effectively with other people, which is so key in business.”
The other teams were: PB&J: Samuel Kingston, Natarl Lulia, Aizen Chong, and Murray Ambrusfy, Strategicish: Hannah Dagger, Jake Merchant, Niamh Hill, Daniel D’Urban-Burgess, and Javiyah Nikoia, JLSM Consultancy: Luke Blackwood, Sophie De Vries, Matthew O’Connor, and Josh Svendsen.
See: Strategic moooves
PB&J Consulting: Aizen Chong, Samuel Kingston, Natarl Lulia, and Murray Ambrusfy.
Strategicish: Javiyah Nikoia, Hannah Dagger, Jake Merchant, Niamh Hill, and Daniel D’Urban-Burgess
JLSM Consultancy: Sophie De Vries, Josh Svendsen, Luke Blackwood, and Matthew O’Connor.
Case Competition tutors: Sam Parker, Nesil Satani and Max Henderson.
The Mind over Markets team, from left: Hazel McAnulty, Haydon Appleton, and Jan-Hendrik Hamann. Behind them are judges Alex Winiata (Zuru Toys) and Mark McCabe (PwC), with Waikato Management School’s Stephen Bowden. Photo: University of Waikato.
