In the quiet farmlands of Masterton, a young Graeme Clegg wielded shears with the precision of a surgeon and the drive of a man destined for something greater. A record-setting sheep shearer, Clegg wasn’t just cutting wool — he was laying the groundwork for what would become one of New Zealand’s most influential wellness enterprises. Today, as the Founder and Chairman of New Image™ International, Clegg is recognized as a pioneer in immune health, an advocate for holistic well-being, and a global ambassador for one of nature’s oldest miracles: colostrum.
What makes his journey exceptional is not just the leap from sheep shearing to science, but the force of vision, purpose, and persistence that carried it through. At 75, Clegg remains as energized as ever — not just by entrepreneurial success, but by the deeper mission of empowering individuals with health, knowledge, and autonomy.
The Genesis: When Adversity Breeds Innovation
Clegg’s origin story reads like an archetype of self-reliance and resilience. Raised in a farming family, he developed an early appreciation for both the natural world and the harsh realities of economic dependence. “I watched my father lose his job simply because he trusted the wrong people,” he recounts. “That moment stayed with me. I made a vow — I would never be dependent on someone else’s decisions.”
This vow didn’t just push him to entrepreneurship; it instilled a philosophical core that continues to shape New Image™ International’s identity: control your destiny, but serve others in the process.
By the time he founded New Image™ in the 1980s, Clegg had already built a global reputation in sheep shearing — establishing the Golden Shears, the Olympics of the shearing world, and shearing over a million sheep. But even at the pinnacle of that industry, something gnawed at him: an insatiable curiosity about health, performance, and longevity.
The Leap into Colostrum: From Calves to Cancer Research
On the farm, colostrum — the nutrient-rich first milk produced by mammals after birth — was sacred. “It was the first thing we gave our animals,” Clegg explains. “It ensured survival, strength, and immunity. But I always wondered — why wasn’t this used for humans?”
That question transformed into obsession when personal tragedy struck. Within a short time, Clegg lost both parents and a younger brother to cancer. The experience altered his worldview. “I kept thinking — could their outcomes have been different with better nutrition? That grief became fuel.”
Clegg dived into research, consulted scientists, and began studying colostrum’s composition — its complex cocktail of antibodies, growth factors, and immune modulators. The findings were clear: this ancient nutrient held untapped potential for human health, particularly in the era of rising lifestyle-related diseases.
But in 1984, the health supplement industry was nascent. Natural remedies were dismissed as quackery, and colostrum was considered more folk tale than formulation.
Alpha Lipid™: The Scientific Breakthrough
The game changer came with the invention of Alpha Lipid™, a patented delivery technology that preserved and protected colostrum’s fragile biomolecules through the human digestive system. “The stomach’s acidic environment can destroy many nutrients before they’re absorbed,” Clegg says. “Alpha Lipid™ solved that problem by enhancing bioavailability — making sure the body could actually use what we gave it.”
This technological innovation didn’t just validate colostrum in scientific circles; it redefined the company. New Image™ wasn’t just selling supplements — it was offering intelligent nutrition, backed by R&D, and engineered for impact.
With Alpha Lipid™ Lifeline as its flagship, New Image™ exploded onto the global health scene. Cumulative sales soared into the billions, and the product line expanded into areas like stem-cell support, sports nutrition, and healthy aging.
Built on Values, Driven by Science
While Clegg is the first to admit that entrepreneurship is not for the faint-hearted, he attributes the company’s longevity to three non-negotiables: holistic health, scientific integrity, and personal empowerment.
Each product, whether it’s a goat milk formulation or immune-boosting capsule, begins with a question: How can we enhance human vitality in a sustainable, ethical way?
The company’s state-of-the-art Paerata manufacturing facility embodies this ethos. It is coal-free, sources ingredients from nearby farms to reduce emissions, and operates with full traceability — from pasture to packaging. “We can trace every can. That level of control means everything in terms of quality and accountability.”
Moreover, animal welfare is not lip service. Colostrum is collected only after calves receive their vital share. “Cows today produce four to five times more colostrum than a calf needs. There’s enough for both life and science,” says Clegg.
A Human-Centered Global Strategy
Despite its international footprint — now spanning over 20 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and more — New Image™ hasn’t lost its human touch. While other wellness brands lean into impersonal e-commerce, New Image™ has doubled down on direct selling.
“People don’t just want to buy a product — they want to understand it, feel supported, and trust the person sharing it,” Clegg explains. “That’s why we chose direct selling. It creates entrepreneurs, especially among women, and builds real communities.”
This strategy is especially relevant in emerging markets, where personal networks are more influential than digital ads. But even in mature economies, the rise of affiliate programs and influencer marketing mirrors this same ethos: person-to-person recommendation is the most powerful form of marketing.
Vision 2035: Colostrum, Longevity, and the New Frontier
Even with four decades of milestones, Clegg remains restlessly future-facing. His goals for the next 5–10 years are ambitious yet grounded:
“The immune system is the frontline,” he emphasizes. “Our ancestors survived plagues without antibiotics or vaccines. What they had was strong immunity. And colostrum can help us regain that edge.”
There’s a poetic justice in this — using nature’s first food to extend life’s possibilities. Not just lifespan, but healthspan — the years you live with vitality, clarity, and freedom.
Wellness as a Philosophy
For Clegg, wellness isn’t a marketing term — it’s a lived philosophy. “To me, wellness means waking up at 80 with the energy of a 40-year-old. It’s not just about surviving, it’s about thriving.”
This approach has driven his commitment to educating consumers, not just selling to them. It’s why his talks often reference “wellderly” — the idea that old age doesn’t have to be synonymous with decline. “Let’s stop seeing aging as a sentence,” he says. “Let’s make the golden years truly golden.”
The Entrepreneurial Creed: Create, Don’t Conform
Clegg’s advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is refreshingly tough-love:
“Control your destiny. Don’t wait for the perfect time — it’ll never come. Be ready for hardship, and know that each challenge is making you stronger.”
His other mantra? Create trends, don’t follow them.
In a market obsessed with copying the next big thing, Clegg stands out for his originality and endurance. “Anyone can ride a wave. But the real power is in creating the tide.”
He believes purpose must come before profit, and resilience is more important than talent. “It’s about discipline, service, and conviction. Opportunity will never come at a convenient time. So move anyway.”
Conclusion: A Legacy in Progress
Graeme Clegg’s story isn’t just about turning colostrum into a billion-dollar wellness empire. It’s about the courage to pivot, the willingness to question convention, and the heart to serve others while elevating oneself.
From shears to science, from Masterton farms to global boardrooms, Clegg has blazed a path that merges biology with belief, commerce with compassion. And he’s not done yet.
“We’ve only scratched the surface,” he says with a quiet certainty that can only come from someone who’s dared to shear through life’s noise — and emerge as the Colostrum King of New Zealand.
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