In Founder Focus we introduce entrepreneurs and innovators working on our next generation of new business startups, social enterprises and small businesses.
At a glance
Founders: Clare Gallagher & LAUREN (LULU) TAYLOR
Business: Secret Kiwi Kitchen
Founded: 2020
HQ: Auckland
Can you tell us a bit about your business?
Secret Kiwi Kitchen has a range of easy-to-make, one-bowl mixes that feature premium New Zealand and all-natural ingredients.
We want to make baking and cooking easy and accessible for everyone. We aim to empower time-crunched and novice home chefs. Kiwis have a long tradition of proud home baking, which has historically suppressed demand for premix baking products and created a gap in the market for this category. But Kiwi kitchens are changing. Millennials and young families don’t have the time or baking knowledge that their parents did and have grown up in a more ‘on-demand’ culture.
Our goal is to create mixes that appeal to a wide demographic and offers people an alternative to the big multinational brands that create mixes with imported ingredients like dairy. We believe New Zealand has the best dairy in the world and it is important to create products that highlight them.
What’s the backstory for your business idea?
Secret Kiwi Kitchen was launched in August 2020 during Auckland’s second COVID-19 lockdown by local mums, Lulu Taylor and Clare Gallagher. After Lulu lost her job to COVID they set out to fulfil their mutual dream of starting an artisan food company.
With seven kids between Lulu and Clare, they believe in the magic of home cooking to brighten any day!
What programmes, learning or mentoring have been of assistance so far?
- Soda Rise up Finalist 2022