And in case you knead a trip down memory first:
The bread most likely to pop out of Kiwi toasters every morning is
made by the iconic Tip Top brand - but don't get it confused with
the icecream bearing the same name.
It was launched in New Zealand in the early 1950s by George Weston
Foods, when the Australian company purchased Stormont’s
Bakery in Auckland, and is now run by its subsidiary Allied
Foods.
Also in the 1950s, George Weston expanded in to the Wellington
suburb of Newtown, buying Denhards Bakery - established on the site
early in the previous century - and renaming it the Tip Top Bread
Centre. Despite it being the toast of Wellington for decades, the
owners recently put the factory up for sale having closed its
operations early last year.
This caused a bunfight between two supermarket giants over the land
which is situated next to a proposed Countdown supermarket. Rivals
Progressive Enterprises and Foodstuffs both failed to buy the
plant, which was purchased for twice its rateable value by an
Auckland developer.
In newspaper articles, Ryan Johnson, of realtor CB Richard Ellis,
said the bread factory had been sold to an Auckland developer who
made the best offer among the five tenders received. But he could
not comment further as the deal was subject to strict
confidentiality clauses.
However, it is understood the property and buildings sold for about
twice its 2007 rating value of $3.7 million. Demolition is expected
to cost at least $500,000.
Check out this slice of Wellington history while you still can
...
