Darrell and Nicola Liddington, pictured with son Bodhi, expect to be testing their new units next week.
Nearly eight months after a Sunday night fireripped through their business, Darrell and Nicola Liddington can see the “light at the end of the tunnel”.
The owners of Te Awamutu’s Kiwi Pies have pencilled in a mid-December reopening date, and the resumption of a business closed since April when their Rickit Rd bakery and an adjoining gym were torched.
Police subsequently charged two teenagers with the arson which caused damage initially estimated at $1 million.
The December date is nearly three months after the Liddingtons first thought they would be back on their feet.
The couple – whose son Bodhi also works with them – have endured several delays which have also meant they missed what is normally their busiest time of year.
“Being closed for this long has certainly been a big hit,” Nicola said.
The Liddingtons, who have owned the business for 15 years, said closing for good never crossed their mind.
“We honestly had no idea it would take this long though,” Darrell said.
Insurance cover enabled the company to retain – and return with – all nine of their staff.
The Kiwi Pies team makes the pies by hand – and at the time of the arson they were making 15,000 a week.
Replacing two key pieces of equipment lost in the fire proved an issue.
A replacement $70,000 oven and a pastry break – which rolls out pastry and costs about the same – were both sourced from Italy.
“First, the oven was going to be here in 16 weeks, then it was 20 weeks, then 24 weeks. And we had no choice but to wait,” Darrell said.
The good news is that once one last component for the new oven arrives this week, the team will prepare for a series of test bakes next week before finally opening their doors.
“Going through this has shown us just how much the Te Awamutu community – from all the trades people to our customers – cares for us,” Nicola said. “We are grateful to be part of such an amazing community.
“When we’re open again it is simply going to be business as usual and I’m really looking forward to seeing all our customers again.”
