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Matakana caterers Matthew Casey and Laura Leeson have found a way to adapt their business in lockdown and help out others who are struggling.
Source Kitchen, on Matakana Valley Road, caters to large corporate events, parties and weddings, but has been twice shut down by Covid-19 restrictions.
In order to survive, Matthew and Laura pivoted their business to home-delivered meals, which are dropped off to homes in Rodney and central Auckland.
They use the same restaurant quality ingredients but in a “heat ’n’ eat” box for couples and families. They have four options each week, but their most popular dish is the Te Mana lamb shoulder with potatoes and braised cabbage.
During lockdown, for every family meal box sold, they have provided a meal made from the same ingredients to Rodney Women’s Refuge to help struggling households put dinner on the table.
“While we might think we’ve had it tough, for some women and children being stuck at home has really amplified their struggle,” Laura says.
The modified business has taken off, with customers ordering from as far as Parnell and Remuera, thanks to wordof mouth spreading via Omaha bach owners.
Matthew says that Source Kitchen has been able to donate around 189 meals to Rodney Women’s Refuge and other charities across the two lockdowns.
Their website also allowed customers to specifically purchase a meal for Women’s Refuge at a subsidised rate of $12.
While this was a temporary offer, when order volumes were low, Matthew says he will introduce it again this month for Labour Weekend.
Meanwhile, Matthew and Laura are hoping that lockdown restrictions will soon ease, allowing them to cater events again.
They say they have a busy summer of bookings ahead of them, if they are able to trade, with events and couples returning to New Zealand to be married.
