The Superb Herb Story

Growing with Pride

Here at Superb Herb, we love what we do. We are a Team of Passionate and Skilled Growers who believe in bringing Enjoyment and Flavour to food with PRIDE. By growing Healthy and Nutritious Quality Herbs for All.

We believe that the Superbness of our Herbs comes from the Pride that our team members take in growing the best herbs we can 365 days a year. Our team come from a wide and diverse range of backgrounds and are united in bringing smiles and happy bellies to families across the land.

Our Story

2001 - After a trip to Europe and the discovery of Fresh Potted Herbs in restaurants and stores, Superb Herb is born…

2006 - Seeding Operation - Superb Herb automates its seeding operation, making the business more in control of its growing quality and yield

2013 - More Space out West - As the business grows, we expand to Parakai, giving us an extra 29 hectares to grow our fresh herbs.

2015 - Cut Room Expansion - Superb Herb invests in a thermoformer packing machine, making our punnets with recyclable plastic.

2016 – Water Reservoir - A large water reservoir is in operation, making us completely self-sufficient in water.

2017 – On the Road – Our truck is on the road, enabling us to keep control of our cool chain and daily distribution to our distribution partners.

2019 – New Glasshouse – All automated, our new glasshouse is the first of its kind in Australasia and ready to produce more Superb freshness!

2022 – Under one roof! – 2022 marks a milestone for Superb Herb as the business consolidates its two operations under one roof.

2024 – Growing Fleet – Our new Auckland Delivery Van is commissioned, helping us to get our herbs to our customers in the best condition and time possible.

2025 – Busy Year for us here at Superb Herb, the Second large dam has been completed, a focus on local supply chain sees us move to New Zealand-based growing media, Our New Look Website launched!!

Where to from here

We are always looking for new and innovative ways to develop the way we grow our herbs here at Superb Herb. Over the next few years, we will be continuing our journey to expand our operation and also bring further improvements in the technology and environments that look after our Herbs.

Meet the team

Stephen O'Loughlin

General Manager

With a career built on strategic leadership, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to people, Stephen brings a dynamic and forward-thinking approach to his role as General Manager.

Over his career, he has led teams across diverse industries, driving transformation, growth, and cultural change in both corporate and community-focused environments.

Alongside his professional journey, Stephen has a personal passion for bringing flavour and enjoyment to food — believing strongly in its power to connect people, spark conversation, and build community. Whether in the workplace or around the table, he’s driven by a belief that when people feel valued and engaged, great things happen.

Alison Edwards

Financial Controller

Alison is a dedicated and detail-oriented Chartered Accountant with a strong background in large corporate environments.

At Superb Herb, she leads both the finance and customer service functions, applying her deep understanding of commercial operations and customer needs to drive performance and efficiency.

Known for her passion for data accuracy, process improvement, and profitability, Alison plays a key role in supporting sustainable business growth. Her free spirit and infectious laugh bring warmth and energy to the Superb Herb office.

Aaron Borman

Production Operations Manager

Aaron leads production operations, bringing over 10 years of experience managing complex workflows alongside strong, hands‑on growing expertise in the horticultural sector. With a passion for numbers and a sharp eye for systems and processes, he is constantly seeking smarter, more efficient ways to improve production and operational performance.

For Aaron, success is driven by people. He is deeply committed to building a culture where team members feel empowered, trusted, and inspired to take ownership of their work. By championing collaboration and encouraging initiative, he supports his team to reach their full potential and consistently deliver outstanding results.

Whether fine‑tuning operations or fostering growth in both crops and people, Aaron brings energy, insight, and genuine care to everything he does.

Mark Van De Panne

Health, Safety, Quality, and Assurance (HSQA) Manager

With a lifelong passion for food and a career spanning the New Zealand food industry, Mark brings both expertise and enthusiasm to his role at Superb Herb.

From confectionery to baking, Mark has built a reputation for excellence in food safety, quality, and compliance. A qualified Food Technologist and certified HSE professional, Mark is also a keen home cook who loves experimenting with authentic recipes from around the world—making Superb Herb’s fresh herbs a perfect match for both his professional and personal interests.

At Superb Herb, Mark leads our health, safety, quality, and compliance systems, helping us grow a culture of care while meeting the highest industry standards.

Isobel King

Technical Manager

Isobel joined Superb Herb in 2021 and became Technical Manager in 2022. She holds an MSc (Hons) in Biology, with a strong background in ecology and plant–microbe interactions.

Isobel leads research and development efforts to improve herb quality, productivity, and sustainability, including trialling new varieties, testing innovative technologies, and refining growing methods and IPM.

She is committed to coaching and supporting growers through evolving practices and technical challenges, and brings a collaborative, solutions‑focused approach. Guided by ecological principles, Isobel champions sustainable practices that support long‑term crop health, business resilience, and environmental outcomes.

Jerrad Hastie

Maintenance Engineering Manager

Erin Thomas

HR Advisor

Erin Thomas brings with her a background in people-focused roles, where she developed a passion for fostering positive workplace culture and supporting employee growth.

At Superb Herb, Erin plays a key role in supporting leadership, refining HR practices, and making sure our values are reflected in the everyday experience of our people.

What makes Erin’s journey to Superb Herb even more special is that she was already a fan of the product long before she joined the company, regularly using our herbs in her own cooking at home. That personal connection adds an extra layer of authenticity to her role, as she now helps shape the employee experience behind a brand she genuinely loves.

Mark Van De Panne

Health, Safety, Quality, and Assurance (HSQA) Manager.

With a lifelong passion for food and a career spanning the New Zealand food industry, Mark brings both expertise and enthusiasm to his role at Superb Herb. From confectionery to baking, Mark has built a reputation for excellence in food safety, quality, and compliance. A qualified Food Technologist and certified HSE professional, Mark is also a keen home cook who loves experimenting with authentic recipes from around the world—making Superb Herb’s fresh herbs a perfect match for both his professional and personal interests. At Superb Herb, Mark leads our health, safety, quality, and compliance systems, helping us grow a culture of care while meeting the highest industry standards.

Isobel King

Technical Manager

Isobel joined Superb Herb in 2021 and became our Technical Manager in 2022. She holds an MSc (Hons) in Biology, with a strong academic and research background in ecology and plant-microbe interactions – areas that continue to inspire her work today. Isobel leads our research and development efforts aimed at improving herb quality, productivity, and sustainability across our growing systems. Whether she's trialling new herb varieties, testing innovative technologies, or refining growing methods and IPM, she’s always looking for ways to push boundaries and make things better. Isobel is deeply committed to coaching and supporting our growers, helping them adapt to evolving growing practices and navigate technical challenges. She brings a collaborative and solutions-focused approach to problem-solving in the growing space. Driven by a passion for ecological principles, Isobel champions sustainable practices that promote crop health and growth while contributing to the long-term resilience of both the business and the environment.

What we’ve achieved.

All this hard work has paid off with Superb Herb being recognised for our achievements.

Join the team.

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Casual Production Assistants

Join the Team at Superb Herb – NZ’s Largest Herb Grower

Are you looking for a hands-on role in a thriving horticultural environment? Superb Herb is New Zealand’s largest herb grower, cultivating over 20 different varieties year-round across our innovative cropping systems, including APEX glasshouses, poly tunnels, and outdoor fields.

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Details

"Superb Herb have been nothing short of amazing in terms of their quality, reliability, communication, and customer service. They’re always willing to go above and beyond for their customers, while using effective communication, keeping everyone on the same page. Some great initiatives they have include: a weekly supply update, availability charts, shelf ready packaging, and much more. Us as a business have been thoroughly impressed and look forward to keeping this relationship for many years to come. "

Josh Keenan

MG Group

Get in touch with Superb Herb today, you could be enjoying fresh herbs tomorrow!

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