Flour delivery means fresh bread for all

FLOUR POWER: Twenty-eight tonnes of flour is loaded into the silo at Walter Findlay Ltd yesterday which means it can continue to bake and supply bread to Gisborne. Picture supplied

GISBORNE will not run out of bread, thanks to a new supply of flour to local bakery and supplier Walter Findlay which bakes the Nature’s Fresh range of breads.

“We were very happy to get a truck through with 28 tonnes of flour on board,” Water Findlay marketing manager Alyx Findlay said.

The truck was part of a supply convoy that made its way through Waioeka Gorge to Gisborne yesterday.

The flour was safely stored in the silo at the company’s Grey Street factory.

Ms Findlay said they were nervous the delivery might not get through in time and had started to ration and conserve flour.

“We didn’t bake yesterday (Wednesday) and had also frozen a lot of loaves as a precaution.”

The fresh supply means they can meet the needs of local stores and supermarkets and people do not need to worry about Gisborne running out of fresh bread.

“We are taking verbal orders from our local stores and will continue to supply to our current customers,” Ms Findlay said.

Walter Findlay would typically supply Wairoa and Mahia and as far up the East Coast as Wharekahika/Hicks Bay, but damage to the roads meant they could no longer get there. They were able to deliver to Tolaga Bay.

Buns and rolls were not being baked at this stage to conserve flour and water, but Ms Findlay said plenty of bread would be available.

“Our team has been fantastic and it’s great they can still work when everything feels so uncertain.

It has been difficult running the business without the internet but we’re managing well so far.

“We should get another flour delivery in next week.”

Findlay Ltd is only delivering in the daylight hours to guarantee the safety of its team.

“We hope the restrictions on bread will be able to be lifted at supermarkets soon but it’s important people only take what they need.”