Soon after setting up Nathan set the ground rules for diversification – he shipped in bulk beer from the Crown Brewery in Christchurch and bottled it in his own branded bottles; he opened a pickle factory selling pickles and sauces under the Yeoman brand, and imported and blended 10 types of tea.

In 1875 David Nathan handed the business over to his two sons Lawrence and Alfred. The logo LDN dates from that time. Other brand names used by LD Nathan included ‘Standard brands’ of tea and coffee and the ‘Ostrich brand’ emblem used for sauces, both dating from the 1890s.

As a wine and spirit merchant LD Nathan Ltd imported wines and spirits – being NZ agent for Udolpho Wolfe’s Aromatic Schnapps, and in 1874-75, when punitive excise duties resulted in the closure of two New Zealand distilleries, LD Nathan secured sole NZ agencies for a number of whiskies from the UK – importing them to and mix an LD Nathan blend, marketed as ‘Cambus Whiskey’ in special embossed bottles shaped like hip flasks.

By 1900 the company operated as wine & spirit & general merchants, shipping, fire & marine insurance agents, and general produce brokers, handling kauri gum, flax, maize and other products. There was also an ostrich farm at Whitford Park near Howick – later moved to Pukekohe as the Helvetia ostrich farm, from which the Ostrich brand sauces took their name.