This month, Venture Taranaki is working with seven local food producers to showcase Taranaki produce at the upcoming
Auckland Food Show, to parade the increasingly diverse and delicious food products Taranaki has to offer, and to share
the region’s proud food story.
Taranaki has long been a significant contributor to New Zealand’s food sector, having helped position the country as a
global dairy heavyweight, and driving the red meat, poultry, and plant food industries with production of value-added
goods for domestic and international markets.
Taranaki is continuing on this path of success, with up-and-coming producers taking to the national stage at the
Auckland Food Show as part of the Taste of Taranaki Collective. Taranaki is, once again, the only region to have a
significant presence dedicated to the region’s food and flavours, providing a strong regional presence and brand at the
Food Show.
The Auckland Food Show is New Zealand’s largest food show and attracts the who’s who of the culinary world: trade (e.g.
supermarket buyers), celebrity chefs and over 30,000 visitors.
This year, the Taranaki collective boasts four experienced returnees to the Show - local gin distillers Juno Gin, craft
brewers Three Sisters Brewing, honey experts Egmont Honey, and pancake-lovers Marcel’s. Also included in the collective
for the first time are artisan fudge-makers FiveFudge, sweet-treat producers Bout Time Brownie, and gourmet cracker
crafters Mister K.
Venture Taranaki has secured a prime spot again this year for the Taste of Taranaki Collective.
"This is the fifth year that Venture Taranaki has provided support to a group of local food producers at the Auckland
Food Show," explains Justine Gilliland, Venture Taranaki Chief Executive.
"Our presence at the Auckland Food Show provides our established and emerging producers with brand exposure, and the
opportunity to forge inroads with national and international distribution channels, and gain important feedback from
consumers," says Justine.
"The exposure can result in some really great opportunities; for example, last year Krakin Chillies and Zoa Liqueur
attracted the attention of buyers and distributers, and in 2019 Kaitahi collaborated with BurgerFuel to create the
Electric Pūhā burger after meeting at the Show," continues Justine.
"Other past participants have gone on to have their own stands at the Show."
Food and fibre production is the largest sector in Taranaki, contributing $1.5 billion to the local economy and
sustaining more than 10,200 jobs. Taranaki has the third highest food processing production GDP per capita in New
Zealand. It is the strong food and fibre sector in Taranaki that helped to minimise the effects of COVID-19 on the
region’s economy, with exports of food products remaining strong.
"Our food companies give passion and momentum to our local food movement and our ever-evolving food story. Their
innovations are creating jobs and catching the attention of national and global consumers, adding to the strength of our
food sector in Taranaki," says Justine.
"Sarah from Bout time Brownies, one of the new food producers showcasing Taranaki this year, has a fantastic story about
how lockdown last year prompted her to finally start the business she’s been thinking about for years. Her story is an
example of the agility our local food producers exhibit in the face of change, which is pivotal to the strength and
success of our food sector here in Taranaki," says Justine.
"Venture Taranaki is constantly looking at ways to support, connect and expand on our strength in food, and our
attendance at the Show is a great example of this," concludes Justine.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Auckland Food Show dates: 29 July-1 August 2021
Venue: Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds
The Taste of Taranaki Collective can be found at stand K16.
For more information on the Auckland Food Show and our exhibitors, visit: www.foodshow.co.nz.
Juno is the handiwork of husband-and-wife duo Jo and Dave James. They met at primary school in New Plymouth and five
years ago, this unassuming couple left their careers and combined their science backgrounds and passion for gin to start
dreaming and experimenting to craft their ideal gin.
Egmont Honey began from humble beginnings. A beehive may seem like an unusual present, but for committed conservationist
Toby Annabell, it was perfect. Gifted by his son James back in 2008, this hive sparked a passion for authentic manuka
honey and a thriving family business. Fast forward to today James, and the 50+ team, export to over 200 countries and
territories around the world, proudly supplying global brands with Pure New Zealand Honey.
Three Sisters Brewery is a husband-and-wife team (Joe and Sarah) who brew boutique craft beer in Taranaki. Their
meticulous approach and respect for quality ingredients produce an exciting range of craft beers that are distinctive,
fresh and remarkable. Three Sisters have been brewing commercially since April 2017 after winning the first Taranaki
SOBA Homebrew Competition in 2015 with 'Rain In The Face'.
Bringing their passion for pancakes from Antwerp, Belgium to New Plymouth over 20 years ago and perfecting the craft
ever since, Marcel's pancakes are deliciously light & fluffy and are fabulous on their own or with a variety of toppings.
Sarah is a Taranaki girl and mum of three who loves bringing joy to people through food. She started out in London 20
years ago baking her brownies for friends and quickly became known as the Brownie Lady. In October 2020, Sarah was made
redundant, which paved a way for her to try the baking thing for real. She’d always wanted to give it a go and figured
it was now or never so Bout Time Brownies was born.
When researching nutritious food choices for themselves and their families, the Mister K team couldn’t find what they
were looking for. They decided to develop their own recipe that tasted good and offered many essential health benefits.
Taking into consideration daily dietary requirements, it was important their crackers were low carb, tasty and made of
high-quality ingredients. As mums, they placed a real emphasis on providing sugar-free lunchbox options and as foodies
who love to entertain with family and friends, whole real foods were essential.
After being voted the fudge with the most potential in high school, FiveFudge has been redefining the look and taste of
fudge since 2019. They believe fresh tastes best and are proud to say that the entire FiveFudge range is freshly made,
using real ingredients, in New Plymouth, Taranaki, Aotearoa.