Te Atatu Peninsula isn’t short of good cafes but, until now, you had to drive off the peninsula to buy a nice loaf of bread, says local Kate James. “And why would you want to leave?”
She and husband Simon have just opened Demolition Deli, a specialty grocery store on the sunny side of Te Atatu Rd. They stock a range of local produce and takeaway items, everything from Wild Wheat artisan breads to Harmony Butchery meats, cheeses, charcuterie, olives and daily cabinet food.
The deli section supplies sausages, cakes, muffins, salads and dry goods. Visitors can order Kokako coffee and hang out at the communal tables in the repurposed De Luxe Dairy and Milk Bar, which Kate describes as “gritty with a touch of pretty”.
“I’ve always wanted to do this,” she says.
Kate studied food technology then worked for an ingredients company, importing and distributing to larger food manufacturers, such as Cerebos, Nestle and Frucor. Simon is a procurement manager for Air New Zealand but is also heavily involved in the business.
The couple moved to Te Atatu about three years ago with their children and quickly warmed to the area’s community feel. “We saw an opportunity to bring in some great food,” says Kate. “There are lots of nice cafes here, so we’re not competing with them but we wanted to be somewhere you could find nice coffee, breads, smoothies, like a mini-Farro. A very, very mini-Farro, at 46sq m.”
• Demolition Deli, 570b Te Atatu Rd, Te Atatu Peninsula.
