Claire Edwards

Co-owner & marketing & sales manager, Tora Collective

Claire Edwards is the co-owner of Tora Collective, a wild, caught-to-order seafood business based on the Tora Coast in the Wairarapa (additionally, one of our previous Top 50 Women in Food & Drink). Originally from Marlborough, Claire worked in the wine industry before moving to Tora where, together with co-owner Troy Bramley, she has built a business centred around some of New Zealand’s freshest seafood. Claire’s role spans marketing, order fulfilment and logistics but she’s also hands-on, manually harvesting seaweed and sourcing pāua, crayfish and kina. “We respect the moana, work with nature rather than against it, and try to leave the coastline in better shape than we found it.” Everything is harvested directly to order and delivered live within around 24 hours of being underwater, with mostly compostable packaging used to minimise the business’s environmental impact. In this role, Claire has learned to embrace the unexpected. “It’s taught me how much I enjoy problem solving and figuring things out as I go.” Looking ahead, Claire is excited to create a space at the property where visitors can enjoy fresh kaimoana. “I’m really looking forward to giving people the chance to slow down, connect with this magical place, and have an authentic food experience right on this coastline.”
Instagram – @tora_collective
Linkedin – @ClaireEdwards
Website – toracollective.co.nz

Tineke-Maree Sutton

Producer & business owner, Taste of the Alps

Tineke-Maree Sutton is the owner and maker behind Taste of the Alps, an award-winning artisan producer of small-batch preserves, curds, sauces and chutneys, all handcrafted in Wānaka and inspired by the produce of Central Otago. The business, which this year marks its 10-year anniversary, embodies Tineke-Maree’s passion for preserving the flavours unique to Central Otago. “With a background as a chef, food has always been a big part of my life. Taste of the Alps started while I was pushing a pram around Lake Wānaka, thinking about how I could capture what makes this place so special and get it into a jar.” Ultimately, it’s the diversity of her role and being involved in all aspects of the business which continues to make it memorable. “What I love most about my role is the variety. I love being involved in every part of the journey, from the first idea to seeing a jar on someone’s cheeseboard.” For Tineke-Maree, creating The Sojourner Sichuan Pickled Cherries has been one of the most rewarding experiences of the past year.

Instagram – @taste_of_the_alps
Facebook – @tasteofthealps
Website –taste-of-the-alps.co.nz

Kaz Staples

Founder & author, Wildly Delicious

Kaz Staples is the powerhouse behind Wildly Delicious, a small, fermentation-focussed business based in Matakana that creates products including kefir, kraut and kimchi. A familiar name in New Zealand’s food industry, Kaz founded PureDelish in 1997, growing it from seasonal Christmas cakes into the successful cereal and snack brand it is today. She has also written a memoir The Cereal Entrepreneur, and was awarded an MNZM in 2018 for services to the food industry. In Kaz’s eyes, the joy lies in turning ideas into something tangible. “I love creating, innovating and turning an idea into something real. With Wildly, I’ve been able to take that passion into traditional fermentation, gut health and wellbeing, which feels incredibly relevant to how people want to eat and live today.” Kaz is excited to continue innovating in the non-alcoholic beverage space while staying true to Wildly’s fermentation roots. Her ambition is clear: “To see Wildly become one of New Zealand’s most recognised and trusted wellness food brands and then take a little bit of our Wildly magic from Aotearoa out into the world.”

Linkedin – @KazStaples
Instagram – @wildly_nz
Website – wildly.co.nz

Auda Finan

Founder, Savour Vegan Creamery

Auda Finan continues to hit the ground running in the food-and-drink industry. At the helm of Savour, she has spent almost a decade expanding the possibilities of dairy-free products, while delivering the familiar flavours customers know and love. Founded in 2017, Savour has become a trusted name for those choosing to go dairy-free, with Auda at the heart of its growth. This year’s judges at the New Zealand Food Awards commended Auda for her clever and hands-on approach to product development and the technical understanding she exhibits to create distinct, innovative and impressive textures and flavours for plant-based products. “I love making healthy, delicious food for myself and others to enjoy – the ‘Yes, that’s it’ moment, is priceless.” Creating and releasing two new products in the last year has taught her that there’s always more to learn, while resilience is essential as the business continues to grow.

Instagram – @savournz
Facebook – @savournz
Website – savour.co.nz

Elly Otty

Co-owner & chocolate maker, Be Happy Chocolate

Since 2018, Elly Otty, co-founder of Martinborough-based Be Happy Chocolate, has been creating innovative plant-based chocolate alongside her partner, Jon Cottrell. What began as a personal craving for a delicious dairy-free chocolate bar soon became something much bigger. Elly wanted to create chocolate that was dairy-free, cane-sugar-free, highly nutritious and made in New Zealand, leading her to experiment with different recipes until she landed on something she loved. “I had no intention of selling the chocolate initially but friends began to say that I should.” Today, one of the most rewarding parts of her role is seeing customers discover the range. “When someone discovers our chocolate for the first time and they’re nervous because it’s dairy- and cane-sugar-free and then they realise that it’s delicious and that they can eat the full range, that brings me so much happiness and is always super rewarding.” Values are also at the heart of the business, with Be Happy donating five percent of its profits to the Rainforest Foundation, supporting indigenous communities working to protect the rainforests of Peru, Brazil, Panama and Guyana.

Instagram – @behappychocolate
Facebook – @behappychocolate.co.nz

Nominations for our Top 50 Women In Food & Drink Aotearoa, New Zealand for 2027 are now open. Head to wifd.co.nz to discover more and find information about this national initiative created to network, educate and support women across the sector.