Nadia's business venture is delivering success

Former Telecom boss Theresa Gattung (left) and clebrity chef Nadia Lim launch My Food Bag in the Bay of Plenty. PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER

All eyes have been on Nadia Lim since winning the MasterChef New Zealand crown in 2011.

The celebrity chef said she was treated like a "rock star" wherever she went, with people wanting to talk to her and get her autograph.

Since the show finished, she has launched a cook book as well as a website and will soon feature on the New Zealand series of My Kitchen Rules as a guest judge.

Lim said she got to eat some amazing food during the show.

"I can't give anything away though."

She said she was now used to the attention she was given and said the influx of cooking shows on TV had inspired people to get back into the kitchen and cook for their friends and families.

In addition to being a celebrity chef she was one of three women behind My Food Bag, a company which delivers customers with food and recipes, aiming to take the stress out of cooking.

The service has taken off in Auckland, Wellington and Hamilton and is now being launched in the Bay of Plenty.

My Food Bag was developed by 2013 Young Entrepreneur of the Year Cecilia Robinson together with Lim and prominent business leader Theresa Gattung.

Lim and Ms Gattung were in Tauranga this week as part of the Bay of Plenty launch, which they said was spurred on from high demand in the region.

A distribution centre creating one full time job and six part time jobs was set up just north of Matamata to service the new catchment areas.

Local Bay of Plenty and Waikato suppliers to My Food Bag include Frank's Sausages, Smokey Seafood and Harmony Meats. Lim, who said she frequently visited the Bay, said the area was well known for its fresh produce.

"I love the food you have in the Bay."

Lim said the main focus of My Food Bag was to enable people to eat healthy and nutritious food, without the stress of planning and shopping.

"I just wanted to be able to help people and give them the education about eating healthy food."

She said she was stoked with the reception the business has received.

"I knew it would be popular but I didn't expect it to be this popular," she said.

"We have had some amazing feedback from people."