Founder Belinda Broughton (centre), and Opaki School pupils Lucy Wyeth (left), 9, Alex Anstis, 9, Ollie Summers, 6 and William Anstis, 6, enjoying the first week of the new online business, Tuckabox. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
By Jake Beleski
A new initiative at Opaki School is giving time-strapped parents one less thing to worry about.
Belinda Broughton’s online business, Tuckabox, allows parents to pre-order wholesome, home-made lunches that are then delivered straight to school.
She is using Opaki School to trial the new business and do important market research before rolling it out across the region later in the year.
The idea for the business came from a “lightbulb moment”, she said.
“I was walking down to the coffee cart outside Hadlow School and I thought it was so cool that you could text your order and your coffee would be ready for you.
“I suddenly thought parents day in, day out, do school lunches and that must be quite exhausting.”
Orders must be made by 8pm Sunday, and lunches can be ordered for Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday at a cost of $5.50, or $6.50 for a Mega Tuckabox, which includes two extra items for older children or those going through a growing phase.
Miss Broughton grew up around catering, and was previously a chef in Queenstown and overseas.
She is also a graphic designer and was enjoying getting the chance to put all her skills to use.
There were already plans to expand the business further afield, she said.
“I’m trying to accommodate the modern Wairarapa family.
“I’m planning to go throughout Wairarapa but could go further than that.”
Tuckabox lunches include one savoury baked product, such as a corn fritter, and one sweet-baked product with minimal sugar, such as a home-made muesli bar.
They also include fresh fruit and a mini pizza, ciabatta roll or an equivalent item.
For 6-year-old Ollie Summers, the lunches are “yummy”.
“I really liked the breakfast bar and the kiwifruit,” he said.
The lunches are delivered straight to school before the morning break in a recyclable brown paper bag, and are made at a commercial kitchen located at the Kittyhawke Café at Hood Aerodrome.
Miss Broughton bakes and assembles the lunches three times a week with the help of her mother, Cordon Bleu-trained Sarah Broughton of Wairarapa catering business, Broughton and Moore Catering.
Opaki School also receives two extra lunches a day, which can be given to staff or pupils that may have come to school with no lunch.
The school’s principal, Dave Finlayson, said Tuckabox was a great initiative designed to make life convenient for parents and to fuel kids with nutritious and delicious food.
For more information on Tuckabox including pricing and lunch options visit www.tuckabox.co.nz.
Amazing Belinda providing a wonderful consent. We hope it will come to the South Island someday?
Fantastic!