Wonky Box co-founder Angus Simms said that the business is continuing to keep up momentum as it grows its customer base.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019re fortunate in a certain way that we\u2019ve got a proposition in the market that we haven\u2019t really seen come back on us, considering obviously the current economic pressures that a lot of businesses are facing here,\u201d Simms said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a fairly low-cost offering to consumers in the market, whereas meal kits tend to be perceived as being slightly more of a premium.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wonky Box’s Wonky Grocery line adds meats and cheeses from locally sourced producers, including L\u2019Authentique owner Philippe Arregui and his French charcuterie.<\/p>\n
Simms said Wonky Box had positioned itself as a supply-driven business rather than a choice-providing business.<\/p>\n
He said suppliers were excited to sign on board, including Barrys Bay Cheese owner Daniel Shields, and L\u2019Authentique owner Philippe Arregui.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything that we\u2019re doing here at Wonky Box, all the do good that we\u2019re doing, the food waste reduction, the being fairer to our suppliers, we need to put them almost at the forefront just as much as our customers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pitch to suppliers is often quite as simple as, you guys are telling us the challenges, how much supply you\u2019ve got, how much you don\u2019t have, and we\u2019re crafting our box range and our offering around that.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said in designing the Wonky Box offering, the service accommodates for changes in stock or availability. For example, if they are expecting a shortage of pork from a supplier, they can switch the offering to other meats while ensuring the customer still gets value for money.<\/p>\n
The business invested ahead of time at both its North and South Island depots in refrigerator units to accommodate the additional chilled goods.<\/p>\n
Co-founder Katie Jackson said shoppers deserved to know where their food comes from.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn supermarkets, apples are proudly labelled \u2018Grown in the Hawke\u2019s Bay\u2019 or oranges \u2018from Gisborne\u2019. It\u2019s right there on the shelf \u2013 the region, sometimes even a photo of the grower. It helps you feel connected to what you\u2019re buying,\u201d Jackson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, when it comes to meat, that clarity often disappears. Many packs don\u2019t name the farm, or even the region. You might not know which cut you\u2019re buying.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said that some sausages are labelled \u201cbeef\u201d but are really pork with beef flavouring, while others come from overseas and are processed and packaged to look local, but have no transparency about their origins.<\/p>\n
Good Groceries by Wonky Box introduces chilled goods such as meat and cheese under a virtual aisle called Fridge Fillers, alongside Refillables like grains, pulses, and dry goods.<\/p>\n
Grocery competitor?<\/p>\n