A slice of Heaven in Marewa

Good family banter and a passion for food are just some of the reasons for Heaven's Bakery's success /Photo Paul Taylor

Good family banter and a passion for food are just some of the reasons for Heaven's Bakery's success /Photo Paul Taylor HBT18072928

Georgia May

Nestled in the heart of the Marewa shops sits the well known family establishment - Heaven's Bakery.

Owner Jason Heaven happily chats to customers through the window of the kitchen, where people can see where the magic happens.

Earlier this week, the Baking Industry Association of New Zealand judged Heaven's Bakery as the country's best bakery in a 12-item competition.

It's the ninth time the bakery has won the award and Heaven spoke to Hawke's Bay Today about its key to success.

A passion for food, baking and creativity were just a few factors that came to mind.

Heaven's son, Sam, even surprised the judges by putting a native herb - horopito - into the croissants.

Traditionally, fresh leaves of horopito were chewed or boiled for toothache and stomach ache and is known for it's "hot" flavour.

"The judges actually had to research what the herb was, as they had never heard of it," Heaven said.

The bakery was established in 1974 and Heaven started going to work with his father, Graham Heaven, at a very early age.

"It was a real Ma and Pa business, I'd be there on the weekends, just helping them out- basically so I didn't get in the way and annoy them. I was probably about 8 years old."

"It's always something I've wanted to do, even going through intermediate and high school. I just used to make cakes and really enjoyed baking."

"I think if you're a foodie, you have to think artistically and think how you can spin that off. My Dad's got that potential, I've got it and my son's got it."

Sam Heaven is currently at Sky City in Auckland working as a pastry chef, but still comes to work during holiday periods.

"With the three generations, there's a bit of banter, which makes it a lot of fun - in saying that, things can get heated.

"My youngest will come in and say 'those pastries don't look as good as Sam's' - so I'm still striving to be as good as the younger generation.

"People ask us who's actually in charge; is it the founder, the owner or the son?

"At the end of the day, I'm a cake baker, my son's a pastry chef and my father is a bread baker, so we work really well together."

The Heaven have a stream of loyal customers and are always happy to give back.

"We have a couple who come in regularly and they've been married a really long time."

"They can remember when the bakery first started, so that was really special. I said when their 50 year anniversary comes up, morning tea is on us."