Gattung back on line with gourmet food venture

From left: Nadia Lim, Theresa Gattung and Cecilia Robinson of gourmet food delivery company My Food Bag.

Former Telecom chief executive Theresa Gattung says a new gourmet food start-up she's helping bankroll has solid prospects as New Zealand has become "a nation of foodies".

My Food Bag, which is modelled on similar businesses in North America and Europe, will deliver meal kits - comprised of ingredients and recipes designed by MasterChef 2011 winner Nadia Lim - to customers' homes weekly.

The service, launched in Auckland yesterday, is the latest twist to tapping into the home delivery food market and the company said it planned to extend to other cities as it grew.

Gattung said My Food Bag's combination of fresh ingredients and convenience should prove popular with consumers.

"Everybody I know is frantic, hectic, with just not enough hours in the day to do everything," she said. "People very much care about what they're eating ... this seemed like a magic concept."

A "classic" service will cost $179 for five meals for a family of four, while the "gourmet" service for two people costs $139 for four meals.

There is no delivery charge.

Despite a tough economic climate Gattung said she thought there would be enough consumers willing to shell out on the service.

"We've worked really hard on getting a model that we think will work, but it's early days."

My Food Bag is the brainchild of Auckland entrepreneur Cecilia Robinson, who saw a similar business on a visit to her native Sweden.

Mike Wales, formerly of grocery store operator Nosh, is the firm's general manager.

Gattung, who was one of New Zealand's highest paid executives while with Telecom, didn't want to reveal the size of her stake or how much she had invested, saying that information was "confidential".

But the Companies Office website says Gattung and Wellington lawyer Margaret Doucas own 40 per cent of My Food Bag, while Lim and partner Carlos Bagrie hold a 20 per cent stake.

The remaining 40 per cent is owned by Robinson, her husband James and a company linked to Auckland law firm Gellert Ivanson.

Wellington-based Gattung said My Food Bag was her main business venture at the moment, although she had made some other investments.