Our Story

Every successful business has a story.

Ours wasn't built around a grand business plan or a desire to become the biggest. It has been shaped by listening to our customers, understanding their challenges, and continually evolving to provide the solutions they actually need.

The foundations of FMS Group were laid in 2004 when Chris Molenaar purchased Petone Engineering Limited (PEL), a respected engineering company based in Lower Hutt. As the business grew, so did its reputation for solving complex mechanical and electrical problems, particularly within the commercial food production and hospitality industries.

As demand for these specialist services continued to increase, Food Machinery Services (FMS) was established in 2019 as a dedicated business focused on the installation, servicing and repair of commercial food machinery throughout the Wellington region.

It didn't take long for customers to begin asking for more.

Initially it was electrical work. Then refrigeration. HVAC. Plumbing and gas. Stainless steel fabrication. Building maintenance. Project management. Rather than engaging multiple contractors, customers wanted one trusted company that understood their business, communicated well and took ownership of the entire job.

Instead of saying, "That's outside our scope," we listened.

That simple philosophy has shaped everything that has followed.

Under the leadership of General Manager Stu Masson, FMS continued to evolve by putting customers at the centre of every decision. By spending time on-site, listening to clients and understanding the day-to-day challenges they faced, the business naturally expanded its capabilities. Every new service was added for one reason—to make life easier for our customers.

Today, what began as a specialist food machinery service company has grown into FMS Group—a multi-disciplinary technical services business supporting commercial kitchens, food manufacturers, supermarkets, aged care facilities, hospitals, schools, government organisations, facility management companies, maritime operators and many other commercial and industrial clients.

While commercial food machinery remains one of our core specialities and an area we're extremely proud of, our expertise now extends across electrical, refrigeration, HVAC, plumbing, gas fitting, stainless steel fabrication, engineering, planned preventative maintenance, project management and complete facility support.

As our business evolved, so too did our identity.

Today we proudly trade as FMS Group—a name that better reflects the breadth of services we provide while remaining true to the reputation we've spent years building. Although our name has evolved, our values haven't. We still believe in honest advice, quality workmanship, clear communication and delivering solutions that stand the test of time.

From our fully equipped engineering workshop in Lower Hutt, our team supports customers throughout Wellington, Wairarapa, Manawatū and the wider lower North Island every day. For specialist projects, major installations and key national customers, we regularly travel throughout New Zealand—including Christchurch and wherever else the work takes us when it makes commercial sense.

Despite our growth, one thing has never changed.

We're still a business built on relationships.

We still answer the phone.

We still stand behind our work.

And we're still committed to doing what we say we'll do.

"Our business has evolved over the years, but one thing hasn't changed. We still believe the best way to grow is to look after people, stand behind our work and always do what we say we'll do."

— Stu Masson, General Manager