Bakery adds Towai to empire

From left, Avalon Bristow, husband David Bristow, manager Anahera Wynyard and Bunny Brown inside the newly opened bakery at Towai. Photo / John Stone

Returning after 16 years in 'the lucky country' to Kawakawa in 2010 has been beneficial for Avalon and David Bristow - their bakery empire has just increased yet again.

The Bristows have opened their third bakery, this one in Towai, to go with Bay of Islands Bakeries 'head office' in Kawakawa and a branch in Moerewa. The new premises at Towai has two staff, manager Anahera Wynyard and Bunny Brown, two fulltime and one part-time staff in Moerewa as well as six fulltimers in Kawakawa.

They had started looking for a third retail premises some time ago but when they were driving past the empty former cafe at Towai they both looked at each other and knew that they had found their next premises.

"Three years ago we went to the former owner (when he was closing down) and bought some stuff from him, and thought about the site as a bakery, but we had just bought the bakery at Moerewa and couldn't take on another business."

Once they had sorted the lease at Towai, they gave themselves two weeks to renovate the cafe into a functioning bakery.

Mrs Bristow says the time frame was arbitrary "but once we've made the decision we commit ourselves full on - we put in some long hours." And they did a lot of the work themselves. "We've done this sort of thing before," Mrs Bristow laughs.

However, she would like David to back off from new projects.

"That's it," she laughs. "He says just one more but he doesn't know when to stop. I need to retire in the near future."

The bakery will supply the same as what is available in Kawakawa with a few additions, including providing light meals.

- If you have any business news, tips or ideas contact me at biz@northernadvocate.co.nz or (09) 470 2838.