About Kai. The leading source of artisan foods from NZ.

Greig and Catherine started Kai as an online marketplace to share what we were discovering at farmers markets around the country. Much as you’d love to, you can’t get to every market in every town every week – so we have looked out for the best for you to fill your pantry. Ordering artisan food from Kai is the next best way to discover food made by passionate small producers, delivered straight to your door.

We love to help artisan producers from all around the country share their enthusiasm for their products and grow their businesses. They buy from local growers or grow their own produce, employ locals and give back to their communities, so everyone wins.

We love to share their stories (there’s always a story) about the stewardship of their land or their suppliers, and their passion for making tasty products that make the journey from their place to your plate.

We’re building a community of keen foodies, market-keepers, stall-holders, producers and eaters.

But on a wider level, we want to support lively conversations about the future of our food systems, connect with scientists developing sustainable food production, urban and school farmers, social activists and entrepreneurs grappling with food security, food waste and cooking skills.

Join us to shop, eat and talk.

What matters to us

We, and our artisans, aim to source our ingredients, packaging and labour in a sustainable way - environmentally, economically and socially - through the whole life of the product. It’s a long journey - we’re not there yet - but our goal is to minimise the environmental impact for the life cycle of the goods we buy and sell. One day (block chain willing) we’ll have traceability across the food system for all Kai artisans.

We’re trying to use recycled (and recyclable) packaging for our shipping (tell us if see more sustainable products or services we should be using). All our office waste is recycled, fresh food waste goes to our suburban chickens. Edible food stock no longer saleable because it has passed its best by date, is distributed to food rescue.

We support the Sustainable Business Network, who have created The Big Shift framework to redesign the New Zealand food system with fair prices to farmers and growers, naccess to markets, whilst enhancing environmental practices, manufacturing and health eating. We also support the National Good Food Network a network of groups breaking down the barriers to provide good food and health advice and get good food into homes and communities.

What matters to our artisans

Our artisans are passionate about what they do, and this shows through in their foods. They put their love into the food and show respect for the terroir, or place the food comes from. Our artisans generally make their products in small batches, in food-grade kitchens they’ve built in their farm shed or suburban garage. That means personal attention and careful tastings.

Good local ingredients

Artisan makers are growing their own produce to process or they are sourcing from local growers, fishers, and farmers. While not everything is certified organic, mostly ingredients are non-GMO, free of artificial chemicals, colours or flavours.

Animal products from humanely-farmed creatures
We are working on more formal certification guarantees from our artisans, but we’re reluctant to bury them in paperwork that takes them away from making good food (we hear your pain, cheesemakers).