Jarrod and Kylie Smith first met at Foodtown supermarket where they both were working. Photo / Supplied
Twenty-six years ago, Jarrod and Kylie Smith tied the knot and headed to their happy place: Foodtown Tauranga.
They reckon they annoyed a few customers by posing for wedding photos in the supermarket aisles, but the cherished snaps were worth it.
Three decades on, the couple now live in Auckland, and their connection to the supermarket chain (now rebranded as Woolworths) remains: their kids - aged 23, 20 and 15 - have all worked for the retailer, too. Sadly, dogs Teddie and Charlie weren’t eligible to apply.
As part of the Herald’s new series, How we make it work, Kylie and Jarrod explain their 30-year bond that’s endured shock diagnosis, distance and lots and lots of groceries.
I wish I could say I remember the exact moment I met Jarrod, more than 30 years ago. I was about to start the management trainee programme at Foodtown, now Woolworths, and he was the assistant produce manager with a straight shoulder‑length blonde bob that bounced when he walked.
From the start, I noticed his shy confidence, which I was drawn to, probably as a temper to my overt confidence. Even then, I sensed he’d be someone I could trust to have in my corner.
Our first memorable connection happened in a back‑room shifts trimming greens, talking about anything and everything instead of what we were meant to be doing. It turned out we were only three days apart in age and I’ll claim responsibility for moving things from colleagues to something more.
I always knew I’d be competing with the great love of his life: Woolworths. I’m still surprised I managed to come between them.
We married in July 1999 in my hometown, Matamata, on a perfect, bright winter’s day. On the way to the beach for photos, we stopped at our grocery store to say hello to colleagues who couldn’t make it.
We annoyed customers taking wedding‑party photos in the aisles, but we only planned to get married once, so it had to be done.
The part people don’t always see is how much of a partnership we’ve had to build. We followed Jarrod’s work all over the North Island with three young kids, my own study, and both of us working fulltime.
Then came one of our hardest chapters with our son’s type 1 diabetes diagnosis at age 7, followed by another autoimmune condition.
It felt like the ground shifted under us, but our instinct was to educate ourselves, band together, and teach our kids the same.
Thirteen years on, watching our son navigate life independently and seeing how his siblings rallied feels like one of our greatest achievements.
Daily life these days is weekends spent at sport, walking the dogs, plotting the next holiday and chores, but we carve out time for us, even if it’s just a proper catch‑up at the end of a long day.
Arguments are rare, and end when Jarrod realises I was right all along.
I do the lion’s share of the domestic tasks, but it works for us. I run most of the home, he’s the king of logistics, fixing things and making a mean pork belly and an even better cocktail.
What’s kept us strong is what drew me to him in the produce department all those years ago: his ambition, loyalty and the way he anchors our family. We’ve grown up together. Twenty‑seven years in, with three great kids, there’s comfort in knowing who you are with someone.
Minus global warming, the future doesn’t scare me much, as long as it’s the two of us, still choosing each other, still finding our way, still making it work.
I want us to be around for a long time, happy and healthy. Plus, his KiwiSaver is bigger than mine, so I need him to fund our retirement.
I still remember the first time Kylie walked into the team room at Foodtown in 1997.
I was minding my own business, and then she appeared: confident, sharp, completely out of my league and inconveniently with someone else.
But that didn’t stop me from being instantly smitten. She had this snobby edge, and I was totally drawn to it.
I’d come in on my days off just to chat with her and it didn’t matter if I had no reason to be there. Eventually, she asked me out and the rest is history.
We married in 1999, two years after meeting. Because Woolworths was basically our life, we took wedding photos inside and outside the store, and more than half of our wedding party worked there. Our three kids have all worked for Woolies, so in some way, you could say the place has been the backdrop of our entire relationship.
Having our first child was the biggest shock to the system. Then, when our son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and coeliac disease at 7, it knocked us hard.
We also moved around the North Island for my roles, so there were new schools and constant upheaval. I worked in the South Island for three months away from the family, and everything that could go wrong at home did go wrong - and I wasn’t there to help.
Somehow, we’ve always landed on our feet and I think it’s because we balance each other. Kylie is the “let’s go” one, and I’m the “research and weigh up the pros and cons” one. Together, it works, and we make a good team.
Day‑to‑day life is busy with two demanding jobs, three kids, and two dogs, but we always find ways to stay connected.
We try to have dinner together most nights and enjoy an espresso martini together the moment we walk in the door, before a show on Netflix, before bed.
We are pretty good at giving each other space, talking and resolving any issues. We try to be thoughtful of each other’s feelings and stay kind to each other.
Kylie does more of the household stuff, no question, but the kids have picked up some tasks and I do dishes, some cooking and outside work.
We’re in sync on the things that matter, like values, goals, how we raise the kids and what we want from life.
I’m looking forward to watching our kids become adults with their own partners, and us becoming young grandparents at some point soon and spoiling them rotten.
As for the future, as long as we keep learning, adapting and always doing the right thing for each other and our family, we will be good.