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When life threw lemons at Lauren 'Lulu' Taylor, she didn't just make lemonade; she baked up a storm, creating Secret Kiwi Kitchen.

 

Over the past three years, the dynamic duo has taken their baking business from strength to strength, proving that even in uncertain times, a sprinkle of Kiwi ingenuity, a dash of ambition, and a whole lot of determination can create something truly sweet.

 

Secret Kiti Kitchen was born during Auckland’s second COVID lockdown when Lulu, like so many other Kiwis, lost her job due to the pandemic. 

 

With a mere $1,000 at their disposal, Lulu and a fellow mum embarked on their entrepreneurial journey, determined to turn their dream into a reality. They started small, with improvised solutions, from gluing paper labels onto pouches during the first lockdown to building their website and handling graphic design, marketing, and product development themselves.

 

They left no stone unturned. Their families joined in, with their husbands assisting with financial modelling and distribution to their kids packing orders, and applying stickers.

 

Strong growth

 

Secret Kiwi Kitchen now graces the shelves of more than 500 retailers, including major names like Countdown, Briscoes, and New World. But the journey hasn't been without challenges. From supply chain hiccups to unprecedented inflation, Lulu and her partner have faced their share of trials.

Both still juggle extra jobs in addition to Secret Kiwi Kitchen – Lulu as a marketing executive and cookbook author. As so many small business owners know, owning your own business means you pay yourself last. 

 

Local roots, global dreams

 

Although opportunities to expand to Australia and Singapore have arisen, Lulu and her partner remain focused on growing their local footprint before overextending themselves overseas. They understand the importance of supporting local businesses, and they proudly champion the idea that when you buy from a small business, you're investing in someone's dreams, whether it's ballet lessons for the kids or helping them to share their passion.

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As Lulu humorously puts it, if they were as successful in the US and England as they are in New Zealand, they might be rich and not juggling multiple jobs and passions.

 

But they wouldn't have it any other way. They take immense pride in what they've achieved – offering great products featuring New Zealand ingredients and connecting with their loyal customer base.

 

“Our goal is to keep creating products that make Kiwis' lives easier and that are delicious,” explains Lulu. “We are proud to offer a local alternative that tastes great and embraces premium New Zealand ingredients. We believe New Zealand has the best ingredients in the world and our passion is to keep developing next-generation mixes that feature the finest New Zealand has to offer.

Their current award-winning product range includes: Triple Fudge Brownie mix; White Chocolate Blondie mix; Chocolate and Vanilla Cake & Cupcake mix; Buttermilk Pancake Mix and a range of edible botanicals.

 

Sweet future ahead

 

As Secret Kiwi Kitchen continues to flourish, Lulu’s dreams are boundless. With a treasure trove of ideas and products already formulated and ready to go, the future holds tantalizing possibilities.

In their pursuit of expansion, they acknowledge that seeking outside investment and expertise may be a logical step. This infusion of resources would not only fuel their growth but also bring fresh perspectives and strategies to propel them even further forward.

 

Link to full article  here

Editor’s note: This article has been lightly edited from its original version to protect the privacy of a former business partner.