Wellington’s highly successful food festival Wellington On a Plate is planned again for this August 14th – 29th. Celebrating the capital’s culinary scene, the Festival takes it a step further this time with more restaurants and events planning to use as much local produce as possible in their menus. This has just got a lot easier for them to do so with the launch of a new Wellington food database.
A first of its kind in New Zealand, the Wellington food database is a one stop shop to help restaurants source the range and variety of produce and suppliers in the region including wineries.
“This makes it so much easier to connect with the food and wine companies that are out there , and ultimately satisfy our customers' growing demand for fresh, locally sourced produce,” says Mike Egan, co-owner of Monsoon Poon and Osteria del Toro.
According to Anna Head, Food and Beverage Sector Manager , Grow Wellington, the database is also a valuable tool for potential offshore investors. “If there is interest from offshore in investing in a Martinborough vineyard for example, this database can provide them with a range of data on size, volume of wine and other necessary details to make their investment decision.”
According to Robert Glensor, owner of Kapiti-based Purebread,
New Zealand’s first Bio-Gro certified organic bakery, being on the Wellington food database is cost effective advertising.
“It’s an easy way to ensure all the restaurants in the region have access to the healthy food choices that our products offer.”
Anna says the success of the database depends on the food businesses getting on board.
“Our message is simple, If you supply, produce or manufacture food, add your details to www.wellingtonfood.co.nz and be connected."