Last Thursday’s Electra BA5, hosted by The Horowhenua Company, featured an inspiring panel discussion with three local food entrepreneurs: Carmen Gray of Elemental Cider, Jude Horrill of Ōhau Gourmet Mushrooms, and Daniel Todd of Woody’s. Each shared their personal journey—swapping corporate and engineering careers abroad for the hands-on challenges of launching food production businesses here in Horowhenua.
From wins to setbacks, their stories were candid and compelling.
Carmen Gray brought an international perspective to the panel. A chemical engineer by trade, with 12 vintages under her belt across four countries, she is now New Zealand’s only female cider producer—competing in a crowded field of 50. Carmen spoke about carving out a place in the industry and the science behind her cider.
Jude Horrill gave insight into her niche market of organic, nutrient-rich mushrooms, grown right on her lifestyle property. She described their produce as “functional food,” with health benefits that go beyond taste. Jude shared how their business has flourished through a mix of online sales and a strong presence at local farmers markets.
Daniel spoke about his transformation from a one-man pig farming operation to scaling up after a pivotal appearance on Country Calendar show. That exposure sparked a bold move to expand production and in 2023 he purchased the former Fresh Pork site, expanded his team, and supplies major supermarkets.
The panel discussion was facilitated by Brendan Duffy,(THCL Chair) who prompted thought-provoking answers with questions like “what keeps you awake at night?” and “what two growth opportunities have you identified?”
Anna Robinson of Heights Farms, a beef supplier for Woody’s, reflected on the evening, saying, “This was such a great event and great to see the faces behind the names. I appreciated the rawness and honesty—as there’s a lot of regulation behind the scenes, and businesses can look all glossy on social media highlight reels.”
Her sentiment echoed the tone of the night: open, authentic, and grounded in real experience.
The next Electra BA5, in partnership with Horowhenua District Council Destination team, will feature tourism strategist Brad Rowe, and Dave Hockly, the director of digital marketing agency, DataStory. Dave and his team help businesses turn data into growth and insights into the future of tourism in our district.
The event will be held on the 15th of May, at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō.
