Cookie Time Limited Donates Comfort Food In Christchurch; Expects To Be Back To Full Production Next Week

Christchurch-based food company Cookie Time Limited has this week distributed more than 25,000 cookies, bars and One Square Meals to Christchurch residents and rescue workers.

The company’s Templeton factory, 20km south west of the Christchurch CBD, re-opened on Monday with 95% of staff turning up and keen to get the business back on its feet. All staff were safe, though a couple had lost their homes and many more homes had major damage. Childcare facilities have been set up on site so people can have their children with them, and many are working flexi-time.

The factory, which sustained minor structural damage in the earthquake and was closed for the remainder of the week for engineering work to strengthen the ceiling and walls, was now in catch-up mode to replenish stocks. The company expects to be back to full production by next Tuesday – two weeks after the quake.

As part of the relief effort, CTL has donated and delivered more than 25,000 cookies, bars and One Square Meals to the Pioneer Station emergency shelter; Civil Defence headquarters and the Airforce.

Lincoln Booth, CTL general manager, says the company is glad to be able to help and relieved to have its team of 90 back at work. “We’ve been through a really tough time and I am just grateful that everyone is safe. The damage to homes is an enormous blow, but we’re all rallying together. And we’ve got the company up and running which is really important. This is our people’s livelihoods, and having some sense of security and normality in being able to come to work is just so essential at this time."

Many Christchurch businesses faced tough times in the months ahead and would need the country’s support to remain viable. “We are very lucky. We supply 7000 outlets nationwide and we know we are going to be able to get stock back into all those very quickly. Other businesses are not so lucky, and will be affected for months to come. The best thing people can do is support Christchurch companies where they can,” he says.

Booth says local CTL suppliers have mostly come through the earthquake unscathed, enabling the company to focus on getting production up to speed. Buffer stocks had been depleted but these would be replenished over time. The immediate priority was getting full stocks to the 42 franchised distributors nationwide.