The past year has been a chapter of growth, evolution, and impact for The Kitchen Project, as highlighted in our 2024 Annual Report. 

Over the past 12 months, five cohorts of emerging food entrepreneurs from across Tāmaki Makaurau completed our core programme. More than 70 businesses have now come through The Kitchen Project, reflecting a diverse and vibrant community of Māori, Pacific, migrant, and local food innovators.

This year also marked an important step forward in our physical footprint. We established our headquarters, Whare Kai, at the Caretaker’s Cottage in Albert Park, and expanded into Franklin with a satellite site at 1 Roulston Street, Pukekohe.

The report captures a year of meaningful progress: from strengthening our core programme and partnerships, to launching new initiatives such as the Whare Kai pop-up store and events like Kai Franklin Chef’s Table, which brought communities together through shared food experiences.

At its heart, The Kitchen Project continues to support entrepreneurs to turn ideas into sustainable businesses, while building community wealth, celebrating cultural identity, and contributing to a more resilient local food system.