Clareville Bakery voted very best

WINNERS: Rosie and Michael Kloeg of Clareville Artisan Bakery are the winners of the Mindfood producer of the year 2015.

Wairarapa is proving to be the food basket of the Wellington region with four Wairarapa businesses taking out top spots at this year's Mindfood Producer Awards for Visa Wellington on a Plate.

Wairarapa businesses who won awards included Mela, Longbush Pork, Lot Eight, and Clareville Bakery who was the overall winner.

Mike Kloeg from Clareville Bakery said he didn't expect to win but he feels very privileged for his business to have come out on top.

"Our vision for our business is becoming a reality, and our hard work is paying off and is being appreciated by our customers and the rest of the region," he said.

"We've certainly got plans in the not too distant future to expand our premises but the main thing is to strive to constantly better our best.

"Like we've got to make the best loaf of bread today, and then tomorrow say, I'll do it even better.

"You're only as good as your last product that's gone out, and we've got to make sure we're consistent."

The signature product that won the award for Clareville Bakery was The Clareville Cracker, a lavash-style flatbread that the judges were highly impressed with.

Visa Wellington on a Plate festival director and judge Sarah Meikle said Clareville's "exceptional product, service and offering, coupled with a clear growth plan and strategy" made them the clear front-runners of this competition.

"The Clareville Bakery is a fantastic family-run business and is one to watch".

Mr Kloeg said he was happy for the other Wairarapa businesses that won Mindfood Producer Awards.

"Wairarapa punches well above its weight," he said.

"It's really a primo place to live in and we're surrounded by like-minded business people."

Because Clareville Bakery is the overall winner of the awards, they will receive an integrated editorial package from Mindfood, including a 6-8 page feature in Mindfood magazine, a feature on the company and radio interview on mindfood.com, plus a recipe including their product used on the popular Food e-newsletter.

"Publicity is a massive part of it," Mr Kloeg said.

"It will be absolute magic for us because it will help in consolidating our business and what we do."

Winners of the other awards will receive a feature on the company and radio interview on mindfood.com.

Mela won the award for Established Small Producer, Longbush Pork for Environmental, and Lot Eight for Emerging Exporter.