Eating fresh food sourced from local producers is the key to being healthy and supporting the local business community. Canterbury family owned and operated and proud of it, that is the philosophy Raeward Fresh has employed since its humble origins, and it’s what underscores its exciting redevelopment. Raeward Fresh, today a Christchurch icon, started in the 1980s as a simple shop selling fruit from its orchard on Johns Road. Its popularity meant it outgrew being a small operation very quickly. Raeward built its flagship site in Harewood Road in 2000. And for the past 11 years, Raeward has been the place to go for fresh quality food, but its redevelopment takes this a big step further. Since August an extensive deli, the opportunity to buy items such as artisan bread, hot cooked Tegel chickens, fresh seafood daily from well-respected local supplier Theo’s, Vivace coffee beans which you can grind onsite, and a beef dry aging unit and café have been in operation. “Our point of difference is our commitment to fresh, quality fruit & vege and quality butchery lines that are sensibly priced, origin of product and an obsessive focus on our supply chain underpin our business”, explains Raeward CEO Mike Barnett. “We understand food production and what it takes to exceed our customers’ expectations, with interests in sheep and beef farms, a stonefruit orchard in Banks Peninsula and in-house butchery units, we have total control over the product that we offer our customers.” It’s the commitment to quality at every level that sets Raeward Fresh apart. Beef and lamb are selected from top South Island farms. All pork sold at Raeward is sow crate free, from Geraldine. Carolyn Kayes, the Produce Buyer has direct relationships with growers throughout Canterbury giving Raeward access to the best local produce and total control of quality. “With a focus on Fresh Food Everyday, it is a farmers market meets your local roadside stall, with a combination of local products, nationwide and international brands, and the freshest butchery and produce items available in the South Island.” “The café completes our instore retail experience. We were inspired by the US and the UK, where the point of origin of food is becoming increasingly important to the consumer. I believe we’re the only operation on this scale of this kind in New Zealand.
Café Culture Since August, Vivace Espresso coffee and fresh delicious food has been served up at Café Raeward.
Raeward family - This family picture shows the Thomas family, who have been involved in Raeward since it started. It shows Belinda Thomas (Director) , David Thomas (Chairman), Brent Thomas (Managing Director) and their kids Sophie and Mollie Thomas.
The aim is to give customers a better understanding of value for money by knowing and buying what is in season. Everything that you can eat in the Café is available to purchase instore – and the team is more than happy to give customers recipes so they can purchase the ingredients and make the meals at home.
Raeward team – Mike Barnett (CEO) , Belinda Thomas (Director), David Thomas (Chairman) and Brent Thomas (Managing Director).
From grab-and-go meal options to cabinet sandwiches and paninis, salads, pastries and slices, to a full service brunch and lunch menu, all bases are covered. Café Raeward also has an on-licence so customers can enjoy a wine or a beer from the beverage list with their meal, including an award winning Pinot Noir from our very own grapes grown at Kaituna Valley. Each Friday night, drinks from 4pm – 7.30pm will be hosted with a selection of nibbles available. The café has a child friendly focus and a great playground, with indoor and outdoor dining areas. All this makes Raeward truly a destination outing – you can buy fresh delicious food for the week, and then relax over a coffee and a meal while the kids play in the fresh air.
Future freshness Mike Barnett sees a bright future for the Raeward redevelopment. In the short term, the company will be working on getting the Harewood Road site running perfectly, but will then roll out the concept into the existing stores in Tower Junction and Nelson. Barnett sees the opportunity for as many as a dozen Raeward stores in the South Island. “We’re really excited about building this concept; we see it as broadening our base. We’ve always believed good food is not just about price - our emphasis is on eating well. It doesn’t have to be expensive. Although we’re growing, we’ve got no intention of being supermarket. Our business is fresh.”
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or rewood Road St Raeward Fresh Ha ad 800 Harewood Ro od Harewo T (03) 359 2772 wer Raeward Fresh To t ee Str e nc are 55 Cl Addington T (03) 341 1110
Junction
lson Raeward Fresh Ne hmond Champion Road, Ric d an y Corner Salisbur T (03) 544 0827
esh.co.nz www.raewardfr
www.canterburytoday.co.nz October/November 2011 | 9