Reducing Waste, One Loaf at a Time
There’s something remarkable that people don't often know about Kapiti Pure Foods Limited, according to its owner Richard Parry, who took over the eco-conscious bakery brand in 2020, and trades as Purebread.
Of the 30-plus nutritious, organic, and gluten-free products that come from the company’s bustling Paraparaumu factory, zero percent goes into landfill. Instead, leftovers are frozen and turned into breadcrumbs or donated to Kapiti’s Kaibosh Food Rescue, who distributes it to people in need.
Then, additional scraps are turned into feed for animals on Richard’s Otaki lifestyle block, where he settled after two decades working overseas in IT development.
“There’s a huge food wastage problem in the food and beverage industry and from an ethical standpoint, having it going to the landfill while people are in need is not the right thing to do,” says the former global product manager, who purchased Purebread at the start of the first lockdown.
“If any of the bread we put into supermarkets doesn't sell, we’ll pick it up and bring it back to our premise to freeze and use how we can. We also try to be as eco-conscious as possible with our packaging.”
That means offering hand-wrapped fresh bread for customers who shop via their online bakery, using greaseproof and food grade newsprint papers.
But Kapiti Pure Foods doesn’t only manufacture organic, nutrient rich bread. It has multiple sister brands under its artisan umbrella, including Gluten Free Goodies Company, 4 Ever Free, and Puregood- a new division that boasts a fair-trade coffee roast.
“We produce gluten free cakes, snacks, pancake mix, and bread mix that we sell into supermarkets and cafes and restaurants,” Richard enthuses.
“It’s fulfilling putting out high quality, healthy products that are also tasty.”
While he spent the first two years strengthening the business internally - fixing quality control and process improvement capabilities to increase sales and manufacturing rates - Richard ensured Kapiti Pure Foods stuck to its origins.
Behind the scenes at Kapiti Pure Foods Limited
Behind the scenes at Kapiti Pure Foods Limited
Behind the scenes at Kapiti Pure Foods Limited
Behind the scenes at Kapiti Pure Foods Limited
Kapiti Pure Foods Limited
Kapiti Pure Foods was founded in 1975 by Robert Glensor, who was passionate about sustainable living, healthy food, and community care.
Back then, Robert saw organic as the only way forward after watching an episode of Country Calendar about organic farming and visiting an organic farm on the Kaipara Harbour.
He proudly went on to create New Zealand’s first Bio-Gro certified organic bread, which earned product and bakehouse certification in 1996.
“Organic was at the heart of his little bakery from the beginning,” says Richard, whose products are still manufactured in Purebread’s original factory from the nineties.
“We’re continuing Robert’s philosophy of producing fresh and safe food through sustainable production to grow business.”
Updated company practices have seen the enterprise switch from being paper based to electronic. As well as plans to focus on wholesale and website sales, the brand has welcomed a modern and colourful revamp.
“The trend in the marketplace is that people are more aware of the types and quality of the foods they're eating now. In the past, special dietary breads were sort of the domain of elderly people, but we're seeing younger people with needs such as gluten free or wanting to eat organic.”
Another milestone was the purchase of the Rosedale fruit bread business, which Richard moved from Auckland to Kāpiti, where it’s manufactured and shipped to national Foodstuff locations and 200 Countdown stores. The growth has meant more job opportunities and training for locals.
“When I took over the business, the bakers used to work night shift. The labour market has been incredibly tight and trying to convince somebody to come to a small company and work in the middle of the night was hard,” Richard admits.
“We moved the baking shift to daytime and made it available as a job share in the middle of the day, so parents with school kids can do a few hours and re-enter the workforce.”
Next, Richard is gearing up to expand with the introduction of breakfast cereals and granolas, while working alongside major retail chains to sell their vegan gluten free options nationally.
“It’s unexpected that right here in Kāpiti, we're making high quality organic products that are being shipped all over the country!”