This article is part of our Supplier Stories series, where we share the people and stories behind the products in our gift boxes.
Cable Bay sits tucked into the sheltered curve of Doubtless Bay, about as far north as you can go in New Zealand. The climate is subtropical, the pace is slow, and the produce is exceptional. This is where Due North Foods now handcrafts every one of its sauces, jams, chutneys, and relishes.
From Rustenburg to the Far North
Due North Foods started with Pam Sichel-Mearns, who grew up on a farm in Rustenburg, South Africa. Influenced by her mother’s resourceful cooking and the diverse food traditions around her, Pam developed a deep love for bold, multicultural flavours. She arrived in New Zealand in 1985 and was drawn to Northland’s warm climate and the quality of its fresh produce.
Originally based in Kaitaia, Pam began selling at Northland farmers’ markets, creating sauces and preserves that blended African, Polynesian, and Kiwi food traditions. She described this fusion as “Afronesian”, and it shaped the brand’s early identity. Traditional Kiwi preserves sat alongside sauces with African and Asian influences, all made from scratch in a home commercial kitchen.
Today, Kelly Wilde leads the business as head chef. A self-described “proud country girl,” Kelly also runs The Cable Bay Store in the Doubtless Bay community. She brought a fresh direction to the brand, with designer Debra Stratford creating a new website identity. Kelly’s vision centres on creating “a heartfelt, New Zealand-made brand that reimagines everyday meals with bold, gourmet flavours.”
Where the landscape shows up in every jar
What makes Due North stand out is how closely every product connects to the land around it. Olives from the Karikari Peninsula go into their extra virgin olive oil. Kerikeri kiwifruit become jam. Wild Northland blackberries are turned into preserves. Native kawakawa and horopito add a distinctly New Zealand character to the range. The flagship product, the 90 Mile Hot Mango + Manuka Chilli Sauce, takes its name from the iconic Far North coastline.
Everything is made by hand in small batches with no artificial preservatives, colours, or additives. Kelly’s approach is simple:
“The best flavour comes from simplicity and honesty.”
The range runs to over 20 products, from sauces and jams to vinegars, olive oils, mānuka honey, and dukkah. Seasonal availability dictates production, so products genuinely sell out between batches.
We discovered Due North Foods while researching Northland producers, and their relishes and chutneys have become a welcome addition to our Notable Northland Gift Box. Every purchase supports artisan producers like Kelly and helps grow New Zealand’s regional economies. You’ll also find Due North products through their online store and at around 20 stockists across the country.
