Bay's 'a great place for business'

BUSINESS IN PIZZA: Pipi Cafe owner Alexandra Tylee says that when her children grow up, she'll look to expand her business internationally, maybe even to New York.PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN

Alexandra Tylee's hot-pink pizza restaurant first opened in a converted fish and chip shop in Havelock North about nine years ago.

Six years later, the business added a mobile truck, then a cookbook. Now a hotel and another cookbook are on the way.

Pipi Cafe has grown from strength to strength in the Hawke's Bay region.

Ms Tylee says staying in the region is "a good way of expanding the business".

"We could have opened lots of Pipis around the country but with a young family, we do things that are keeping more with that."

When her family grow up, Ms Tylee says, expanding the business internationally is on the cards. She talks of New York.

"We did look at franchising but it didn't make sense. There's lots of people moving here, there's always new people."

Ms Tylee says the region is growing and people are really supportive. The hotel opened just three weeks ago and it has been booked out since. The hot-pink pizza boxes are often seen on social media, with families posting favourite dinner times.

Ms Tylee says the cafe has a loyal following of regulars, and word of mouth in the Bay certainly helps. "We thrive on knowing we provide an authentic, genuine experience for our customers."