Good Honest Products is predominantly a wholesale bakery supplying freshly baked artisan bread and baked goods to 300 Canterbury cafes and restaurants seven days a week. Sales manager Dawn Ballagh spoke to us about new ideas and supplying a range of bakery goods to 40 supermarkets throughout the South Island.
What is your company background, how did you start the business?
"Four years ago director Steven Illenberger started Good Honest Products when he couldn’t get a real boiled bagel in the supermarket. Steven has created several other businesses over the years and was then contacted to make macarons. Word spread that he was back in the baking business, and we had numerous cafes contact us to see if we would go into bread and after some persuasion we did.
Initially, it was Steven full-time and me part-time; Dawn is Queen of everything. Now we have 26 amazing full-time staff and work around the clock 24/7.
In 2015 we won Deloitte Fast Fifty fastest growing manufacturers in the South and ranked as New Zealand’s 14th fastest-growing business.
For three years running, we have been finalists in the Hospitality award, and we are really proud of what we have achieved over the last four years."
What are the current product range and variants and how do these products stand out in the market?
"We only bake using good honest ingredients, like your Nana used to make. You won’t find any nasties in our products. We sell macarons, bagels, muesli, bark crispy flatbreads, pastry (all butter) and slices into supermarkets around the South Island and artisan bread to retailers in Christchurch.
In the North, we supply a small range to Nosh and Farro stores plus sell direct to the public via our website www.goodhonestproducts.co.nz."
Has there been any recent company news?
"We entered the Deloitte Fast Fifty again! We moved into our current premises 18 months ago when we had outgrown our old space."
What are the plans for the business moving forward, is there any expansion on the horizon?
"We are always growing and evolving. Steven’s an ideas man. Watch this space, or Facebook."
Where are your products currently available to buy, and are you looking at or wanting to expand your availability? If so, where would you like to see the product situated?
"Our products are sold in New World, Raeward Fresh Stores, Fresh Choice, some Four Squares and Super Values, Nosh and Farro or online www.goodhonestproducts.co.nz.
We have a rep on the road and new stores come on board each month. We are currently working on a new website to launch in the next couple of months."
