Hannah Engelsman Gelato crafter, owner of Little ’Lato
A self-proclaimed gelato fanatic, Hannah Engelsman honed her craft at Italy’s renowned Carpigiani Gelato University before founding Little ’Lato. Hannah is dedicated to growing New Zealand’s love of authentic Italian gelato, crafted with Kiwi flair. She left behind a corporate career at Fonterra and traded boardrooms for a tiny kitchen, driven by a dream to share exceptional gelato with New Zealanders. Eight years on, Little ’Lato supplies gelato from Russell to Timaru and continues to expand its reach. “Despite being one of the world’s biggest ice cream-eating nations, gelato is still an untapped opportunity here,” she says. Hannah’s unwavering commitment to quality and creativity has earned more than 120 awards and inspired the development of almost 600 unique flavours – a scoop of mince and cheese, anyone? “At the very heart of it, I am passionate about growing a love of gelato in New Zealand!” Creating, scooping and growing a business dedicated to bringing joy year-round, Hannah counts the recent rebrand and refreshed look of Little ’Lato among her latest achievements. “After eight years of scooping, swirling, experimenting, laughing, crying, and doing all the things that come with building a gelato brand from scratch, it felt like the right moment for a refresh.”
Instagram – @littlelato
Website – littlelato.nz
Jenny Lux Farmer and advocate
In a previous career as a plant ecologist, a decade ago Jenny Lux and her husband co-founded the award-winning, certified-organic market garden Lux Organics in the village of Ngongotahā, on the outskirts of Rotorua. As the city’s first certified-organic vegetable producer she helped meet a growing local demand for high-quality, sustainably grown food. Today, Lux Organic’s vegetables and micro greens are featured at several of Rotorua’s most-loved eateries. A committed advocate for the organic sector and non-GMO agriculture, Jenny has held governance and advisory roles across industry organisations and now continues to network widely in pursuit of a stronger local food system grounded in the values of health, fairness and care. “Human health is dependent on healthy food, which comes from healthy soil that is tended by human hands that care.” A sustainability pioneer, Jenny’s EV van was the first electric delivery vehicle in Rotorua in 2017, and their pack house is now powered by rooftop solar. Jenny’s work both in and beyond the garden is deeply rooted in community, shared closely with her biggest supporter, her mother, as well as her husband, children and dog Skye.
Instagram – @luxorganics
Facebook – @luxorganics
Megan Wyper Co-owner and Creative Director of Acme Cups
Megan Wyper knew from an early age that hospitality was her calling, starting her career in her mother’s coffee cart. Now, as co-owner and creative director of Acme Cups, Megan knows more than most about the ritual of a great coffee. Having spent nearly a decade with the business, she and her business partner Paddy Kennedy took the reins three years ago ready to write the next chapter. Megan is passionate about fostering the future of the industry saying, “It’s really important to show people a pathway within the industry. We can get lost or only get to see such a narrow path. I love this industry and just want everyone else who gets the bug to find their place and not get lost along the way and bail.” While New Zealand’s coffee culture is celebrated quietly at home, Megan believes one of its greatest strengths often goes unrecognised abroad. “One of Aotearoa’s best exports is baristas and coffee professionals, something that very much goes under the radar.” A longstanding champion of the sector, Megan has served on the board of the New Zealand Specialty Coffee Association for the past eight years, including two years as president.
Instagram – @acmecupco
Instagram – @megan.wyper
Website – acmecups.nz
Cath Lewis Founder of Turbo Tonics
As founder and Chief Engineer of Turbo Tonics, Cath Lewis is a problem-solver, entrepreneur and passionate advocate for food as medicine. What began during Covid as simple letterbox drop-offs of her turmeric, ginger and lime tonic to her local community has since grown into something far bigger. Today, she runs a fully fledged bottling plant in Matakana, with Turbo Tonics now distributed nationwide. For Cath, the most rewarding part of the work is making something people find truly useful, a product they genuinely love and weave into their daily wellness routines. She is now focussed on designing new products that are an expression of her deeply held belief that nutrient-dense whole foods have the power to transform health and wellbeing. Cath believes, “As functional food-and-drink producers, there is a responsibility to honour the trust invested by customers by delivering products with true nutritional integrity.” Beyond production, Cath is also committed to supporting the next generation of Kiwi entrepreneurs. She actively mentors young people, sharing practical lessons in business creation, product development and entrepreneurship.
Instagram – @turbo_tonics
Mirella Kostandini Founder of Arte della Pasta
A woman who is very hands-on in her day-to-day (quite literally) is Mirella Kostandini, founder of Arte della Pasta, an artisan pasta shop in Auckland’s Newmarket. After moving from Italy to New Zealand, Mirella set out to impart a taste of Italy to Auckland. What began as a passion has grown into a thriving business built on craftsmanship, community and human connection. “What I love most is creating connections through food. I especially love teaching. Seeing people who have never made pasta before leave with confidence, smiles and a new appreciation for handmade food is incredibly rewarding.” Mirella is passionate about preserving traditional pasta-making methods, particularly hand-rolled pasta, and is dedicated to passing those traditions on to future generations. Through hundreds of pasta-making classes Mirella has shared not only traditional techniques but also the cultural heritage behind them. Mirella’s women-only workshops were particularly impactful, fostering connection, confidence and community among women from diverse backgrounds. Her classes have built a vibrant community where people come together to learn, share and connect through food.
Instagram – @mirellasfreshpasta
