From Vineyard to Glass: KAM Transport’s sustainable journey in Marlborough

It’s no secret that Marlborough is the heart of New Zealand’s wine industry, which is why New Zealand family-owned business KAM Transport was excited to expand into the region in 2008.

KAM Transport’s story started with one truck in Wellington in 1989, transporting meat from the City Abattoir to local outlets. Fast forward almost 40 years and KAM now boasts a modern, sustainable fleet of more than 100 trucks travelling between its six depots nationwide. While initially specialising in refrigerated transportation, KAM has diversified over the years to include container cartage, bulk tippers, ambient storage and more.

One of KAM’s most ambitious moves was establishing its new depot at Flight Industrial Park in Blenheim in 2024 to accommodate Marlborough’s burgeoning wine industry.

General Manager Bill Bamber said the expansion eased distribution out of the region for local businesses, as well as complementing the existing services and transport providers already established in the area.

“We identified an opportunity to help Marlborough’s successful businesses with more avenues of distribution via easy access to three of New Zealand’s key ports,” Mr Bamber said.

KAM has since been working with local wine producers to shift a large volume of product south and across the Cook Strait.

“It’s great contributing to the success of the region’s wine industry, and we quickly identified the joint responsibility of ensuring our businesses minimised impact on the environment.”

This is no mean feat for a industry reliant on heavy vehicles travelling long distances, but KAM prioritised investing in a predominantly Scania fleet, containing modern technology monitoring carbon emissions and rewarding sustainable driving behaviour. And the work didn’t stop there. KAM altered its daily operations, carrying heavier loads over fewer trips, resulting in a 16% reduction in carbon emissions.

KAM has gone on to win the Transporting New Zealand Award for Contribution to Innovation for its commitment to sustainability, was a finalist in the Wellington Regional Business Excellence Awards, and achieved a Toitū enviromark gold certification. KAM is currently the only transport and logistics company of its kind in New Zealand to hold this certification.

“Sustainability isn’t a word people usually associate with transport, but KAM has shown it is possible,” Mr Bamber said.

“We’ve had to challenge old assumptions, rethink how we operate, and make decisions that benefit both our customers and our environment.”

“We’ve been working with local Marlborough wine producers for the last ten years who share our values, so they in turn can assure their customers that their product has a sustainable journey from vineyard to glass.”

With a firm foothold in the region, KAM is excited to continue its growth, helping businesses with Transport and Third Party Logistics solutions, no matter what their product is.