Thursday 27 April 2006
Move Signals New Era for Austin’s
A move to bigger premises signals a new era for Auckland based Austin’s Food Design Events. After a two year search for
suitable premises, and extensive renovation work Austin’s has left its old base of 13 years and moved into Porters Ave,
Eden Terrace.
The large multi-story former warehouse has been converted into a high spec office and kitchen base for the Austin’s
team. Taking six months to fit out it is three times bigger than Austin’s previous base.
“We’ve been constrained for quite some time at our old base because we had outgrown it, and now we can work more
efficiently, especially for our bigger events. We’ve got a lot more room – a bigger kitchen, more office space - and we
still have room to expand for the future which is fantastic,” says Maggie Weatherhead, Austin’s Food Design Events
Managing Director.
Also on-site is a big new tasting room to better showcase Austin’s product to clients, existing and potential. “Over the
coming months we will be inviting in PCO’s, event managers and clients to show them exactly what we can do and to show
off our new premises,” Maggie says.
Achieving a better flow in and out of the building with inwards and outward goods, and a bigger working space to make
day to day operations more efficient were top of mind when designing the interior of the new premises.
The new kitchen was designed by the Austin’s team themselves to precisely meet their needs. “We figured we knew our
business best and drawing on the combined knowledge of Austin’s staff was the best way to come up with a kitchen design.
Afterall they have work in it and it’s a huge expense to get wrong,” Maggie says.
The new kitchen includes a T-shaped bench allowing the sous chefs to face three or four stainless steel benches where
other staff work at. This is to provide a social environment where people face one another and can talk, rather than
working in isolation and staring at a wall. French patisserie chef Christian Herbulot also now has his own purpose-built
patisserie kitchen to craft his delicate desserts.
Austin’s Food Design Events has moved just around the corner from its old base. It is still centrally located in Eden
Terrace but is now in Porters Ave, next to Peek Display.
ENDS