Frank Lachmann, general manager of Herbi
Rising fuel costs and State Highway 3 freight disruptions have temporarily paused New Zealand production of an award-winning living soil and delayed its nationwide expansion.
Frank Lachmann, general manager of Herbi, measuring the microbes in the company’s award-winning living soil mix.
Living soil specialist Frank Lachmann, co-founder and owner of Herbi, a Kihikihi-based business, said increased transport costs had forced a pause in local production of his growing mix.
The business last month sold out of its product, voted Germany’s Best Garden Product in 2025, and dozens of orders were waiting to be fulfilled, Lachmann said.
“It’s really frustrating. We have gardeners and retailers around New Zealand waiting for stock, and the list continues to grow, but rising costs have made the current model too expensive,” he said.
Higher fuel and freight costs were the main factors behind the temporary production halt in Taranaki, where the soil had been made under contract.
“We use specialist natural ingredients from around the country, so transport costs have a real impact on production.”
The pressure had been compounded by temporary road closures and road works on State Highway 3 to Taranaki.
Lachmann shifted his soil and plant food business from Taranaki to the Waikato last year to expand and safeguard production.
“It is now too expensive to produce in Taranaki, with more than 40 natural ingredients in our living soil mix transported to New Plymouth for production. The finished product is then brought back to our headquarters in Kihikihi.”
These challenges have also delayed the launch of a new living soil product developed for large-scale agriculture, horticulture and commercial growing.
The pause in New Zealand production is expected to be temporary, with specialist blending equipment from overseas due to arrive this month.
Frank Lachmann, general manager of Herbi
