Stockist Spotlight: Pippy's Pantry, Tauranga

Tucked inside Waipuna Park in Welcome Bay, Tauranga, you’ll find Pippy’s Pantry — a container café with a big heart, strong community ties, and cabinets stocked with plenty of Volare goods. Run by husband-and-wife team Pippy and Matt, this small family business has quickly become a local favourite.

From Queensland to Welcome Bay

The idea for Pippy’s was years in the making. As they told us:

“We arrived in NZ from North Queensland in 2016 with a five-month-old and a three-year-old, with a plan of opening a small family-run food business, mum being the chef and dad running the front of house. Finally, early in 2021 we had a solid plan of opening Pippy's Pantry in a local sports and recreation reserve, Waipuna Park. With the help of Commissioner Stephen Selwood we opened the doors in January 2022.”

A Day in the Life

It’s an early start, six days a week.

“The alarm goes off at 5:35 am and the day begins from our home registered commercial kitchen. Pippy bakes a variety of fresh scones and muffins daily and starts preparing foods such as the daily soup during winter or the fresh salads during summer. Matt heads over to the container to sort furniture and prepare fresh sandwiches and rolls. We open for trade at 7:30 with many regulars waiting in the wings.”

The regulars? Everyone from tradies and school teachers to parents on the school run. They’re here for coffee (made with Kōkako beans), a fresh sandwich, or a loaf of Volare sourdough to take home.

The Community Hub at Waipuna Park

Set right beside a playground and wide green spaces, Pippy’s Pantry is perfectly placed for families, cyclists, and locals milling about. With plenty of parking and warm smiles behind the counter, it’s no wonder this container café has grown into a community hub.

As Matt and Pippy put it:

“We hope to remain in the Park for many years as we've grown to be a part of the community and in the near future we hope to explore opportunities to provide more options and events for the locals to take part in.”

Volare on the Menu

Their connection to Volare goes way back:

“We discovered Volare years ago when Matt was running the kitchen in a burger bar and sampled the brioche burger buns, a perfect carrier for any burger. So when we opened Pippy's we knew we wanted to supply and use Volare as our bread and pastry suppliers.”

On any given day, you’ll find sourdough loaves, cronuts, and marmite scrolls in the cabinet. The loaves are also toasted into epic toasties, while ficelles are filled fresh for lunch. And yes — cronuts are a firm favourite among their regulars.

The Highs (and the Wild Weather)

Like any small business, there have been challenges — but plenty of rewarding moments too. One story sticks out for them:

“One of our biggest challenges was during a birthday celebration where we decided to run an evening event. All was going to plan until the weather turned nasty. Long story short, we supplied over 550 plates from a makeshift kitchen through squally winds and rain! Memorable for many reasons.”

What’s Next for Pippy’s Pantry?

They’re here for the long run — and looking to grow with their community.

“We hope to remain in the Park for many years… and in the near future we hope to explore opportunities to provide more options and events for the locals to take part in.”

📍 Find them at: Waipuna Park, 25 Kaitemako Road, Welcome Bay, Tauranga 3112
☕ Our tip: Get in early, pre-order your Volare loaf, and don’t leave without a coffee and a pastry.