Health and nutrition are at the epicentre of Venerdi. Each and every product is designed to deliver on taste, texture and most importantly, personal wellbeing! The team spoke to Venerdi sales and marketing manager Samantha Kelly.
What is your company background, how did you start the business?
“Venerdi started back in 2002 after our CEO’s (Tim Grainger) cattle farmer grandfather discovered that his cattle were not where they should be in terms of quality and performance. After adapting the nutritional makeup of the soil at where they were grazing, the cattle soon peaked to their best! We have taken on this knowledge and adopted the attitude that if you nourish yourself with whole foods it will result in a healthy and successful outcome. These days we spend our time studying, researching and testing the world’s finest and most powerful ingredients. If they pass the test, we use them to make awesome healthy foods for our fans!”
What is the current product range and variants and how do these products stand out in the market?
“We currently have three retail brands; Gluten Freedom, Venerdi Organic Sourdough and Venerdi Paleo. Gluten Freedom is our everyday range of sandwich breads, Lebanese Pita Bread, and our infamous pizza bases. Gluten Freedom breads are reliable, high in fibre and have an incredibly soft texture – the perfect lunchbox staple. Our Organic Sourdough range uses traditional baking methods and the best quality ingredients to make the ultimate vegan friendly sourdough toast breads. Venerdi Paleo is our most recent product range. What we really love about this range is that it directs people back to whole foods, focusing on nutrient-dense ingredients. As with all our products, Venerdi Paleo is gluten, dairy and soy free.”
Has there been any recent company news?
“Since the launch of Venerdi Paleo, it has fast become our number one selling brand and is still growing at 34per cent. Due to this significant growth and the popularity surrounding Paleo Super Seeded and Almond & Linseed breads we have recently launched our Paleo Buns and a tasty fruit loaf, Paleo Banana, Blueberry & Walnut. We are proud to have received an overwhelmingly positive response from all of our loyal customers for both of these products. Venerdi has recently undergone significant upgrades and renovations to the factory and now the whole place is looking fantastic! Venerdi will soon also welcome a new Operations Manager to the team who will be instrumental in helping us prepare for the next growth phase of the business.”
Where are your products currently available to buy?
“Currently, all of our products are available in supermarkets and health food stores throughout New Zealand, as well as our online store at www.venerdi.co.nz. We also distribute to Australia where our Venerdi Paleo range can be found in over 500 health food stores where we continue to experience strong growth.”
What are the plans for the business moving forward, is there any expansion on the horizon?
“Our immediate plans are to further the business in our two core retail markets across Australasia, before looking further afield. Venerdi will continue to produce genuinely healthy and delicious products to our customers and consumers by pushing boundaries and driving product innovation!”
