Sponsorship Partnership Programme
Kāpiti Food Fair relies on sponsor partnerships as it takes a village and a big budget to run an annual foodie festival. Our generous sponsors help us to bring it all together to deliver a memorable event that will be bring visitors back year after year. Thank you to amazing sponsors who support our journey. We value their commitment. It's what makes the Kāpiti Food Fair possible!
PLATINUM SPONSORS
Kāpiti Ice Cream and Tip Top Ice Cream Company are a match made in heaven as a new Platinum Sponsor of the Kāpiti Food Fair. Kāpiti Ice Cream was founded in 1984 by Ross McCallum & Neville McNaughton at Lindale Farm on the Kāpiti Coast. With a single-minded devotion to creating an experience to savour using the finest dairy in the world, they started producing cheese. As the business grew, they were generating a surplus of fresh cream, so they used it to make ice cream. Word soon spread through the Wellington Region about the most delicious ice cream turning the farm into a food destination.
Today, Kāpiti premium ice cream is made in New Zealand by the Tip Top Ice Cream Company and while the scale of production has grown significantly over the years, they still honour the delicious creaminess and innovative flavours that set Kāpiti apart all those years ago.
Liz O'Meara, the Marketing Innovation Manager for Tip Top is clear on why they have chosen to be a sponsor of the Kāpiti Food Fair, “to connect with the local community and the birthplace of Kāpiti Ice Cream.” She goes on to say, “Kaitiakitanga is also important for us through community and land protection projects that benefit future generations. This is why we are also partnering with WildArk TiTi Bird Conservation, the Department of Conservation and Kāpiti Island to make a difference to the lives of people, wildlife and the environment.”
Kāpiti Food Fair is proud to have the support of Platinum Sponsors, The Chris and Melinda Leatham Charitable Trust. With successful corporate careers and property investment portfolios behind them, Kāpiti locals, Chris & Melinda Leatham turned their attention to helping local groups spread good throughout the community by establishing a registered charity in 2019. The purpose of the Trust is to work with organisations and groups within the local community and those who assist Kapiti's youth.
When asked why they decided to partner with the Kāpiti Food Fair, Chris highlighted the regard he and Melinda have for the Kāpiti Coast. “We love Kāpiti and its community. With a big, blended family of our own, we know the importance of nurturing the next generation. One of our goals is to help other young people enjoy a solid foundation and the types of life experiences that will enable them to grow into amazing adults. By supporting the social agenda of the Kāpiti Food Fair we know that will do good for young people in our community.”
GOLD SPONSORS
The local NZME team based in Kāpiti have been a long-term Gold Sponsor of the Kāpiti Food Fair since the beginning. Their marketing support is far reaching with print and digital exposure that is critical for the Fair to continue its growth strategy.
“We love sponsoring the Kāpiti Food Fair because their ethos aligns with our brands,” said Ali Drury. Speaking on behalf of two of their brands, Kāpiti News and The Hits 92.7, Ali says, “it’s an easy decision to sponsor the Kāpiti Food Fair, as they have grown to be Kāpiti largest major event and they’re all about bringing the community together while also bringing more people into the Region which is great exposure for us."
SignCraft Kāpiti is based in Waikanae and provides comprehensive sign, graphic and digital printing services for businesses throughout the Greater Wellington Region. They have been a Gold Sponsor of the Kāpiti Food Fair from the beginning, 15 years ago.
Supporting local businesses and growing the local economy is one of the most important things for SignCraft Kāpiti. They have watched the Fair become a sustainable event which is important, as they also practice sustainable policies in their business. “We are more than proud to be a sponsor of the biggest local event on the Kāpiti Coast, and we are looking forward to many more years to come,” shared Helge Rithammer, Owner of SignCraft Kāpiti.
SILVER SPONSORS
The local team at ANZ Kāpiti continue to support the Fair as a Silver Sponsor. They undertake a valuable role at the Kāpiti Food Fair by running the Ticket Office for us. “Our ANZ team is passionate about the community we live and work in. Our volunteer programme supports many local businesses and being part of the Kāpiti Food Fair is exciting for us,” said Dennis Renshaw, Branch Manager.
In 2023 we welcomed Big Mac Slabs Furniture as a Silver Sponsor. This team prides itself on being a sustainable manufacturer and retailer of robust timber indoor and outdoor furniture for all New Zealanders to enjoy. Through their love and appreciation of original art, furniture, sculpture, ceramics, wood, glass & metal art, homewares, jewellery, gifts and more, they developed the Creative Centre that has become an integrated part of the art scene in Kāpiti Coast.
“We are happy to help the Kāpiti Food Fair through our Silver sponsorship. The Fair is not just a great event, it has created a community of exhibitors, is a tourist attraction and encourages visitors to shop and engage with local producers. We are a big believer in collectives and collaborations like what we have created with the Kāpiti Food Fair as it brings out the best opportunities for everyone”, says Steph Smith, Co-owner of Big Mac Slabs Furniture.
In 2024 we welcomed a new Silver Sponsor, Electra, owner and operator of the electricity distribution network that conveys electricity, safely and efficiently, from the national grid to homes and businesses in our part of the world. Electra are special because they are 100% locally owned by the Electra Trust, that supports growth and electrification of our region, and shares the benefits of local ownership with their consumers, and communities in Kāpiti and Horowhenua.
Electra have chosen to support the Kāpiti Food Fair as it raises the profile of local businesses which is in line with their objective of supporting regional growth. Raising the profile and awareness of Electra to a large group of local consumers and the wider community is also important to their brand.
Silver Sponsor, Zebunisso Alimova of Mike Pero Mortgages, is continually supporting her local community as a Mike Pero Franchisor. Based in Kāpiti with her own young family, Zebunisso and her team, work the Greater Wellington Region yet love calling the Kāpiti Coast their home.
“I have great passion for food and supporting local events, so when the opportunity came up to sponsor the biggest event in Kāpiti, I couldn’t miss it for the world, as it ticked both boxes for me – food and local event, that’s just perfect for us and we look forward to more exciting times with the Kāpiti Food Fair,” said Zebunisso.
Another long-term Silver Sponsor of the Kāpiti Food Fair is Tuatara Brewing who loves to brew great beers! Tuatara has been a part of the Kāpiti landscape since 2001 and has been their home for the last 24 years. Whilst they look to grow and expand by moving to a new purpose-built facility in Brewtown, their Kāpiti Coast roots are still at the heart of the brand.
Tupu Gregory, the Brewery Manager for Tuatara & Tui at DB Breweries says “we are continuing to invest in the growth of the Tuatara brand and produce great brews to be enjoyed by the local community and wider Kiwi consumers. For this reason, we are excited to be part of the Kāpiti Food Fair alongside other local Kāpiti suppliers. We look forward to creating a special microbrew again in 2024 for consumption at in the Tuatara Bar at the Kāpiti Food Fair.”
BRONZE SPONSORS
Another long-term Bronze Sponsor is ANZIL, Hungarian Restaurant and PartyPerfect Catering based at Lindale. They are foodie entrepreneurs who love to stage memorable events through their love of food and high standard of service. “Our connection to the Fair is enduring as our values align with theirs, exceeding expectations through personalised culinary experience” says Ivett Kerekes with her Chef husband, Andras.
A common thread for the Kāpiti Food Fair team and partners is having an ethos built around connection, community, and contribution. This made the Fair a perfect fit according to Flightdec’s Fraser Carson. “Flightdec’s Kaupapa is about ‘connecting communities’ and helping to make them work better, largely through smart use of digital media and the web. The Fair has become an integral part of Kāpiti and regional communities, and we see our Bronze Sponsorship as an ideal marriage.”
