| 11 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Makikihi Fries No secret to award-winning fries T T Russell Fredric Simon and Jazzmin Bleeker’s Makikihi Fries won gold at the 2022 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards. Makikihi Fries newest owners Simon and Jazzmin Bleeker were in the right place at the right time to reap the rewards of their family’s legacy and vision for the South Canterbury business. This year Makikihi Fries scooped gold at the 2022 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards for their unique 2 Scoops of Jacket Fries as well as being a finalist in this year’s ARA Business Excellence awards. Simon and Jazzmin, who are in their early 30’s, took over the company late last year and although the succession had been wellplanned, it was a very hectic time and the change “pretty dramatic”, Simon says. “I’ve been helping run the business for the last five years or so,” Simon says. It is the first time the business had been entered into any awards and the result came as a complete surprise. “We are very proud of what we do. We were stoked, I couldn’t believe it.” In addition to being able to benchmark the business against others, the awards provided the opportunity to network with people in the wider business community, he says. The secret to the success of 2 Scoops of Jacket Fries is actually no secret. Makikihi Fires exclusively uses Agria potatoes and the great flavour is achieved by frying them skin-on in good-old-fashioned beef dripping for a full flavour. “It really reflects every flavour you can get out of that Agria. We try and retain as much natural flavour as we possibly can in our fries, you can taste it straight away. I love them, it’s a lovely taste.” All Makikihi fries are made from Agria potatoes because, as well as their consistent oval shape and being ideal for roasting and chipping, they have an appealing golden flesh and skin. The foundation of the company is the classic story of a Dutchman emigrating from Holland with next to nothing and creating a thriving business through hard work and enterprise, Simon says. Simon and Jazzmin are the third generation in the family business which was started in 1983 by Simon’s grandfather Jac Bleeker, who emigrated from Holland in 1952. Jac began growing potatoes for other manufacturers and when the factory he had built for a crisp producer in Makikihi became empty Jac decided to start making french fries. His son Mark, Simon’s father, took over the factory operation and also grew potatoes, while Jac’s other son Jeffrey supplied potatoes and became the sole supplier until the grower base was eventually diversified to spread risk and to ensure the security of the business. Today, Makikihi Fries employs 17 staff and runs three trucks. While its products are predominantly sold through various outlets in the South Island such as supermarkets, stores, fish and chip shops and restaurants, they are available nationwide in supermarkets and through wholesale distributors. “We are definitely making inroads in the food service sector in the North Island.” It seems the provenance of even the humble potato fry is important to some and it is very satisfying to dine at a restaurant and see Makikihi Fries specifically highlighted on a menu, Simon says. “We don’t want to be the biggest we just want to be the best.” “We are very proud of what we do. We were stoked, I couldn’t believe it.” Proud to be the preferred refrigeration contractor to Makikihi Fries Dedicated to Temperature Maintenance Email: office@atr.co.nz Address: 14 Norwood Street, Timaru Mobile: 027 2848 345 Telephone: 03 688 7311 - 24hr phone Andy Turner - Managing Director 85 Meadows Road, Washdyke, Timaru • All your Industrial and Commercial Refrigeration needs • Milk Silo refrigeration needs • Preventative Maintenance Programs • Industrial Commercial HVAC Maintenance Programs Smarter Electrical Solutions COMMERCIAL • INFRASTRUCTURE • FARM & DAIRY 0800 DSE 247 | WWW.DESSCOTT.NZ | OFFICE@DESSCOTT.NZ Proudly supporting Makikihi Fries
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