Food hubs
Government has invested in several food hubs to support regions in Aotearoa New Zealand with their regional economic development capability.
These initiatives are important for economic growth as they provide essential infrastructure and resources that small-scale producers often lack. By fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, they stimulate job creation, particularly in rural areas where agriculture thrives.
Learn about some of Kānoa’s supported food hub projects below:
Hawke's Bay Food and Innovation Hub
In 2019, Hawke's Bay was earmarked as a priority region in terms of Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) investment to build on its farming and horticulture strengths and provide employment opportunities and higher wages for locals.
The Hawke's Bay Food and Innovation Hub received a $12 million PGF grant to construct a space to facilitate collaboration, innovation, and develop operating capability in the food sector – while also creating employment and economic growth.
The Southern Pioneers Food Hub
The Southern Pioneers Food Hub received a $518,580 PGF grant to go towards the establishment of a facility benefitting the community. The Hub enables food and beverage entrepreneurs and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to use at minimal cost, and be supported by other locally established food producers in the sector.
This project supports the extension of the breadth of food innovation across the region, creates a platform to promote regional differentiation, local economic development, efficiency, and waste minimisation as well as export – all a part of the Southland Regional Development Strategy (SoRDS).
The Food Factory
In 2020, The Food Factory in Nelson opened its doors to a collaborative environment for start-up food producers after receiving a $774,215 PGF grant in support of its construction. The grant enabled the creation of 4 enclosed, fully equipped, commercial food-grade kitchens to enable aspiring food and beverage entrepreneurs to test their products' concepts, potential scalability, and marketing in a supported environment.
As well as supporting each other, tenants of The Food Factory also have the mentor support of an on-site business manager to help navigate the vagaries of the marketplace – benefitting the region both socially and economically.