The Auckland Food Show, New Zealand’s largest annual foodie event, will once again be home to a “Taste of Taranaki” site. The huge 100sqm site will be occupied by nine up-and-coming and established local food and beverage producers, from Little Liberty to Juno Gin.

Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki, the regional development agency, has been staking a claim for Taranaki food producers at the Auckland Food Show since 2017. Using strength in numbers and funding support, Venture Taranaki facilitates the initiative and reduces the costs for local producers, enabling them to expand their presence on the national stage.

“The leap from start-up to established, successful business can be tough to make,” says Stacey Hitchcock, General Manager Investment at Venture Taranaki. “While many of our producers are well on their way, initiatives like this provide a platform to share their unique story and product and gain invaluable brand exposure. The show is also an opportunity to forge connections with national and international distribution channels.”

Hitchcock says it’s vitally important that those in the early stages of business growth get the support they need to thrive, both locally and globally.

“We’re constantly looking at ways to support, connect and expand our food industry. Taranaki is fast becoming known for its vibrant food scene and the creation of high-value branded products, and through capitalising on emerging consumer trends, offers significant growth potential for the region.”

The Taste of Taranaki collective at the Auckland Food Show is one of many initiatives facilitated by Venture Taranaki to support the growth of Taranaki’s food and fibre sector. With food and fibre contributing $1.5 billion to the local economy and sustaining more than 10,200 jobs, Food is a key strategic focus for the agency and is highlighted as one of the four futures in the guiding regional strategy Tapuae Roa.

Planta, a local sparkling yerba mate drink, has attended both the Taste of Taranaki pop up at WOMAD in March 2024 and now the Auckland Food Show.

“Large consumer events like the Auckland Food Show can often be out of reach for up-and-coming producers, so it’s great to have Venture Taranaki offering local businesses a leg-up,” says Isaac Drought, founder of Planta. “This will be our second year attending and we’re looking forward to heading back with the Taste of Taranaki Collective.

“Besides connecting with thousands of new customers, we’ve had chance encounters with distributers and industry heavyweights that have truly propelled our business forward. These opportunities probably wouldn’t have happened without the support and encouragement of Venture Taranaki.”
This year, the Auckland Food Show’s Taste of Taranaki lineup includes:

• Marcel’s Pancakes – Ready-to-eat pancakes, crepes and blinis.

• Treasured Morning – Carefully crafted high-protein superfoods, providing a convenient, quality breakfast option free from oats, puffs, or fillers.

• Maison Aotearoa – Natural New Zealand meat preserves using traditional French techniques.

• Egmont Honey – Authentic, UMF™ certified New Zealand Mānuka Honey, ethically sourced from the remote native forests of New Zealand.

• F N Lemons – Dried citrus garnished, premium edible florets and handcrafted rim sugars and salts.

• Planta – Sparkling Yerba Mate made from Argentina and blended with local botanicals.

• Juno Gin – Award-winning, extra-fine artisan gin.

• Little Liberty Creamery – Plant-based creamery turning the finest natural ingredients into a delicious range of premium plant-based frozen desserts.

• Mister K – Gourmet, low-carb crackers