Bryan and Eileen Shaw purchased bare land in Waimauku — once a cart track and a paddock of cows.
They planted boysenberries, then expanded into raspberries, logans, and blackberries. The first crops were sold via pick-your-own.
Eileen began making small batches of jam. After a wet Christmas and a fruit surplus, Bryan and Phil tried their hand at jam-making — with a flying Edmonds cookbook and plenty of trial and error. Shaws Berry Farm jam was born.
Bryan handed the jam business to Phil. Phil left Air NZ to take the brand full-time, expanding into supermarkets with flavours like strawberry, kiwifruit, and marmalade.
Innovation thrived — from chocolate sauces for Ross McKenzie to "Squeeze & Spread" jam pouches. A chance encounter with Mrs. Easiyo led to Shaws’ first contract manufacturing job, laying the foundation for the next chapter.
As food safety standards evolved, Phil built a new factory — completed in 2003 — transitioning the business from farm-based to commercial-scale production. Key clients included Multipack, Health Pack, and Easiyo.
A cancelled Woolworths hamper order led to a wave of retail pop-up stores. At its peak, Shaws employed 53 staff. Luka Crosby joined as operations manager and later launched his own brands — still made by Shaws.
Contract manufacturing became the focus. Long-standing partnerships and consistent innovation fueled growth. In 2013, the original caramel cooker "Big Bertha" was replaced by “Bonnie & Clyde,” two 1200L steam-jacketed pans still powering the kitchen today.
Shaws Berry Farm was passed to new custodians — Ben Connelly, Barnaby Marshall, and Connor Nestor — to lead the business into its next era of product development and full-service manufacturing.
Under its evolving name, Shaws Foods, we’re building on the same great inputs to deliver exceptional products for the next generation of food brands.
