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Small Business Driver: Unpakd
Unpakd is a zero-waste ‘fill your own’ whole food store located in the beautiful seaside village of Ahuriri, Napier. Focused on making a positive impact to the environment they occupy and maintaining that for future generations, Unpakd’s goal is to show people how easy it can be to live a non-wasteful life.
Stocking all goods in store as unpackaged products in bulk dispensers means customers can fill their own reusable containers, bottles and Tupperware with their weekly essentials. Unpakd’s vision is to help reduce to enormous amounts of packaging waste in our current food system, and bring healthy food to the Hawke’s Bay community at affordable prices.
Unpakd sell predominantly organic fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, pulses, teas, coffee, and spices. They also supply body care and cleaning products, along with kombucha on tap. Jane, the founder of Unpackd, is a trained homeopath, meaning the store now also offers a health package and consultation option too.
As a relatively new business (open for under 12 months), the pandemic struck Unpakd hard, closing their store for both Levels 3 and 4. The nature of the pandemic meant that although Unpakd was beginning to build a good zero-waste clientele in Napier, most customers chose to shop at supermarkets throughout the pandemic for health and safety reasons, meaning Unpakd seriously felt the financial squeeze of drifting in and out of higher alert levels. Building a website and working on their online orders was a big focus for the business during Level 3, with non-contact deliveries serving as a lifeline.
Receiving a Toyota Highlander through Toyota’s Small Business Driver initiative has been a huge morale booster for the team at Unpakd, with winter on the horizon and another drop in their sales expected as the small seaside town gets quieter. Similarly, the Mediaworks advertising package has allowed the business to focus on continuing to build their local clientele to get them through these slower periods.
As one of only 23 zero waste grocers across the country, Unpakd are going above and beyond to reduce the use of single use plastic, something that is causing devastation to our oceans and planet. If you’re ever passing through the Hawke’s Bay area, stop in and say hello to the Unpakd team – and grab yourself some treats on your way through! https://www.unpakd.co.nz/