Stockist Spotlight: Waihi Sustainable Pantry

If you’ve spent any time in Waihi, chances are you’ve heard someone mention The Sustainable Pantry – usually right after they say “I’ll just pop in for one thing”… and then leave with a tote bag full of good decisions.

The Sustainable Pantry is a store for people shopping wholefood, organic, or alternative ways of eating – from low carb and keto through to vegan. It’s also a place where you can shop more consciously, with refill options and discounted bulk buying that make it easier to stock the pantry without the extra packaging.

Built for people who need better options.

The store began with a simple observation: there was a gap in Waihi for gluten free, vegan, and wholefoods products. That’s where the idea started – and over time it’s grown into what it is today, shaped directly by the people who shop there.

The Sustainable Pantry has expanded and evolved through customer needs, requests, and suggestions. It’s practical, responsive, and very rooted in community.

Sourdough on the shelves

The team took over stocking Volare from The Platter Board, and have been keeping a spot in-store for good sourdough ever since.

Customer favourites are the reliable staples – Volare Grain and our San Francisco Sourdough – the loaves people come back for week after week.

For the team, though, it’s our Turmeric, Cumin, & Onion Sourdough. It’s their pick for platters, and just as good alongside salads or pasta — the kind of loaf that makes simple food feel properly sorted.

The reality of small business (and what makes it worth it)

Running a small food store isn’t always tidy. The hardest part is the juggle: work, family, school drop-offs, pick-ups, and all the life-admin that doesn’t pause just because you own a business.

But the most rewarding part has been the relationships – the friendships built with customers, and the chance to keep bringing interesting, genuinely useful products into Waihi for people to enjoy.

Why Waihi works

Waihi is the kind of town where people show up. The Sustainable Pantry has a base of loyal locals, plus out-of-towners coming through during summer on the way to beaches and holiday spots. The team is the first to acknowledge that support is everything – and it’s a big part of why the store is still here, still growing, and still improving year on year.

Looking ahead

The focus for the year is simple: keep expanding in ways that reflect what the community wants and needs. More of the right products, more of the things customers are actually asking for, and the same grounded approach that’s built the business in the first place.

Good to know

You can pre-order Volare through The Sustainable Pantry – orders close 2pm, 48 hours in advance. If you’ve got a favourite loaf and don’t want to miss out, it’s the easiest way to lock it in.