Since opening the original Barker’s Foodstore & Eatery in Geraldine in 2019, a second location was opened in Ponsonby in 2023.
Cafe Manager of Barker’s Foodstore & Eatery, Ford Young, said it was exciting to expand the concept, bringing the taste of South Canterbury to the city and moving into Ponsonby Central, overlooking the green space of Brown Reserve.
The main objective for Barker’s Foodstore & Eatery has been to create an environment where customers can come and experience the flavours and products on offer from both the Barker’s of Geraldine and Barker’s Professional ranges.
“We have a complimentary tasting station where you can enjoy sampling syrups, chutneys, sauces and our new squeezy fruit preserves,” said Young.
“We are fortunate to work with amazing products everyday and our job is to showcase the many different uses for these, our products can be used in so many more ways throughout the day and we love being able to bring this to life.”
The cafe has taken part in this year’s Ponsonburger festival, introducing a burger designed to offer comfort for the winter. Young added that everything on the menu has been made in-house and each item heroes a Barker’s of Geraldine product. Whether it is brunch, lunch or something from the retail shelf, he said there is something for everyone.
New additions to the menu have included the Malay Curry and Coconut Curry Meal sauces with dishes. Young said customers have enjoyed the sauces in everything from a full meal with jasmine rice, a twist on traditional soup, and have added a zing to pasta salad. He anticipated more inclusion over the coming months.
Having celebrated its first birthday late last year, the cafe was pleased to see the number of regular guests and locals coming in every week. He said hospitality has always been an eventful industry to work in, but Barker’s Foodstore & Eatery was not alone in experiencing optimism and positivity for the year ahead.
Bringing southern flavours to Auckland has made the cafe stand out amongst the crowd. Young said this was a testament to using its products that are still manufactured on the family farm in Geraldine.
“We are proud to also bring our local South Canterbury suppliers on our journey with us. We stock Humdinger Gin, House of Hop Beer, Geraldine Cheese, and our menu features Geraldine Butchery Bacon to name a few,” said Young.
Designing a space where customers can relax, meet and connect with each other was important to the brand and the community. A wall has even been dedicated in the cafe for furry friends, showcasing the community spirit.
Young said all are welcome to come in and say hi at any time.
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