Affordable, quality, fresh food. Delivered straight to your door.
Lisa’s frustration with the current food system meant she needed to create a solution: more affordable, sustainable and accessible options for families on a budget. Lisa’s passion for people, community and learning are what drive Kete Kai’s core values, which are based upon redesigning food systems within New Zealand. Her long-term vision is to be part of the change that accomplishes Kete Kai’s Kaupapa which is to end hunger in Aotearoa by 2030.
Kete KaiHow did your past contribute to Kete Kai?
Having a family young meant I had to figure out how to feed our tamariki on a small budget. During my career in marketing I saw the amazing technology that was being produced for anything except the food industry. Food has always been at the heart of my life, but my frustration at seeing stats like 1 in 5 people living with food insecurity drove me to find a better way of connecting people and food.
How did Kete Kai, as we know it, come to be?
We as a team were curious about the food system, driven by high food prices in a country which we know produces enough to feed us all ten times over. When we unpicked what was creating the high prices, it seemed that there was a lot of economic leak through bad system design. When you look at people who are struggling to feed their whanau it is hard not to feel moved, angry and passionate about pushing for change: this now drives us and our kaupapa to end hunger in New Zealand.
Are there any standout hardships you’ve come across?
There are so many such as people who are in poverty and struggle each week to put kai on their table: something as simple as an unexpected doctor’s bill can strip them of their means to purchase kai for their family that month. Not knowing if they will even be approved for a meal parcel when times are tough just adds to the anxiety and stress. But it’s worth remembering that money is not the only contributing factors in food insecurity: we were shocked to meet young people who had been in the system and experienced food trauma through having food withheld , which drives their unhealthy eating behaviours today. In order to look at hunger in Aotearoa you have to pull apart the whole system to find the why. There are many stories that keep me awake at night.
What advice would you have for someone in business?
If you have passion, and your mahi has purpose, you will attract the right people. Be vulnerable and be curious, invite collaboration and feedback. Find your tribe: people who empower you and make you feel strong in your vision. SheEO has been one of the shining lights for me on this journey.
What does success mean to you?
Success is zero hunger in Aotearoa, a reduced dependency on food parcels, people feeling mana in their food experiences. I would love for New Zealand to be seen as the shining light in a new food ecosystem that can be shared with the world. I want to see communities empowered, small businesses enabled. Success is not one hero, success is everyone collectively working together.
Where do you hope to be five years from now?
Sharing our tech with the world and empowering other cultures to curate their food future.
Find out more at ketekai.co.nz
