OUR JOURNEY

In 1998 Duane and Chris met on the battlefield of the Kelloggs Nutrigrain Ironman Series, Duane was the Auckland team captain and Chris represented Canterbury.

Their paths crossed again in 2005 when Duane was appointed Director of Sport at Kristin School, Auckland where Chris was also employed during the winter months. In the alternate seasons, Chris worked as a ski instructor at Mammoth Mountain and in 2005 a Pita Pit franchise opened in the resort. It was a huge success and one day the lightbulb moment occurred that New Zealand could really benefit from having Pita Pit.

They embarked on a wild journey that saw them open the first location at the start of the 2007 Global Financial Crisis, however they then went on to open over 100 locations in a ten year period elevating the brand into a Top 7 national fast casual retail group.

The COVID period then gave rise to BOWL’D and EGG’D, two virtual restaurant brands now each offered in over 60 locations. In 2022 the school foodservice business was entered due to the success of the involvement in Ka Ora Ka Ako. The brand Tuckr was then developed in 2023 and is now exploding through schools across NZ, most recently into Westlake Boys High School, Rangitoto College and Auckland Girls Grammar School with multiple locations in development.