Proof in the pudding for firm

The team at Kiwi Kai load up steamed puddings as business sales boom after getting a national contract with The Mad Butcher chain. Photo / Stephen Parker

A Rotorua Maori food takeaway business is proving a hit around the country, after signing a deal to supply its steamed puddings to a major retail chain.

Kiwi Kai's steamed puddings had already been lining The Mad Butcher shelves from Whangarei south to Hawkes Bay, including 14 outlets in Auckland.

The rapid rise of the "addictive" pudding has been so successful owner Chris Poipoi had to take on more staff and buy a new chiller truck.

"The new contract has opened the door for me to have my puddings throughout the whole country," he said.

He said he had new ideas and products under development and would need to expand further.

Mr Poipoi puts the success of the pudding down to using real ingredients - real butter and real milk.

"The plum jam pudding mixed with the butter makes it addictive. It's popular and people come back and get more and more.

"The comment we get is that it's luxurious - quite decadent."

Since opening two years ago the business has built up a big reputation for its popular supplies of fried bread, hangi meals, boil ups, seafood chowders and rewana bread.

At first Kiwi Kai sold 30 puddings a week. It now sells 1000 a week.

A spokesperson for The Mad Butcher confirmed Kiwi Kai was an approved supplier.

The Amohau St business' pudding was developed from a family recipe and although "mum's didn't quite work", with a little tweaking and tasting it's been adapted for commercial consumption, while still retaining its original home-baked artisan taste.

Mr Poipoi thinks the runaway success is due to the niche market he's created, which is Maori baking. And it's not just the steamed pudding that has developed a loyal following.

"The big waha nui burger is loaded with half kilo and layers of meat - it's a big burger - that's what makes the difference and people come back for more," he said.