Wishbone Onboard at Wellington Airport

Press Release for Immediate Release

Wishbone Onboard at Wellington Airport a Welcome Arrival

Wishbone, New Zealand’s own ‘ready to go’ food brand has taken flight by launching its first concept store at Wellington Airport.

Built on the success of Wishbone’s conveniently located retail stores in Auckland and the capital, its owners and directors Andrea Gibson Scarlett and Shayne Scarlett saw positioning the brand closer to the comings and goings of Arrivals and Departures as an obvious next step and an exciting opportunity.

The Wellington-based company’s commitment to charging no more than High Street prices for their extensive menu is music to many travellers’ ears who until now have had no choice when it comes to value for money. And according to Wishbone’s store staff it’s the flight crews and ground staff who have been the first to thank them for getting onboard.

“Typically airports in New Zealand offer travellers a limited choice of healthy food at reasonable prices and we saw an opportunity for that to change. We’re really proud to offer people an affordable, healthy and convenient option and we’re delighted with the glowing feedback we’ve had from customers already” says Wishbone’s CEO Ms Gibson Scarlett.

“We know from experience in our Auckland and Wellington CBD stores that people are getting busier and have less time to prepare their own meals but they still believe in eating well. And people whose careers revolve around airports, far from a streetful of cafes and restaurants, are most in need of what we have to offer” she adds.

Wishbone has developed a reputation for making quality, fresh food for people in a hurry, in convenient locations. With a footprint considerably bigger than its average inner city store, the company has been able to take the brand’s winning formula to a new level. An evolution of their successful CBD model, the new concept store allows passengers to dine-in while waiting to board. And the store’s bar-like design means customers can stop for ‘coffee in a real cup’ - a pastime proving popular with those waiting to meet and greet family and friends.

Located en route to the airport’s domestic arrival and departure gates, the store’s layout makes it quick and easy for customers to access the extensive menu. Open chillers lining one wall tempt passersby with fresh food made by professional chefs for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Muesli with fruit, sandwiches, salads, wraps, hot soups and chowders, Heat ‘n’ Eat meals, muffins, scones, cookies, slices, and hot and cold drinks. Every product is labeled with nutritional information. And the Wishbone Strip™, a quick and easy guide for customers to differentiate between low G.I, low fat, gluten free, dairy free and vegetarian meals, is currently being rolled out on all Wishbone’s products.

Open 7 days and licensed, the new concept store has allowed the company’s R & D team to develop a number of new product ranges aimed at the busy traveller. The Easy Meal is packaged as a single serving and already heated so quick and easy to eat on the go. Included on the Easy Meal menu is Smoked Chicken Pasta, Cottage Pie, Butter Chicken with Rice. A new range of larder products including relishes, jams, marinated calamata olives, feta and antipasto is also available in pottles for taking away. And every Kiwis’ favourite sweets – jaffas, milk bottles and jetplanes - sold in pottles are the perfect in-flight treat.

Wishbone identified a gap in the market and approached Wellington Airport about the potential to improve the quality and choice of food on offer at the airport. The idea for Wishbone to have a presence amongst the existing catering companies, who until recently have operated as a duopoly, was soon born and has since become a successful reality.

Wishbone’s Managing Director Shayne Scarlett explains “There is a trend for large multinational catering companies to dominate Arrival and Departure lounges in airports around the world, and in most cases meals are no longer complimentary onboard short domestic flights. Wishbone is a much needed and long awaited alternative. And a great advertisement to support New Zealand’s international reputation for quality food and hospitality.”

Opening the new concept store has seen Wishbone employ an additional 8 retail staff and 4 chefs. This takes the company’s total number of staff to over 75 and includes a core team of professional chefs who work around the clock to ensure fresh food is delivered daily to its now 12 stores (9 in Wellington and 3 in Auckland). Wishbone also supplies its popular Heat ‘n’ Eat range to supermarkets.

Founded in 2000 with a single store in Woodward Street (Wellington), Wishbone’s fast paced growth, vision and drive was acknowledged in 2003 and 2004 when ranked in the Deloitte/unlimited Fast 50 Companies, an elite ranking of the fastest growing companies in New Zealand.

Given the positive response to Wishbone’s launch at Wellington Airport one can only imagine its traveling fan club will be putting their hands up for Wishbone in other New Zealand airports soon. In response to whether Wishbone’s latest move towards the tarmac is the beginning of a plan to climb aboard other New Zealand airports, Ms Gibson Scarlett sounds enthusiastic.

“We’re always looking for new ways to bring Wishbone closer to people who appreciate fresh, quality food in a hurry so if the opportunity arises we’ll certainly have a good think about it!”

ENDS

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