The new location is located off Customs Street, just along from the Mercure Hotel, and offers the same grab and go lunches which are a perfect addition to the busy area of downtown Auckland.
According to Lisa King, founder of Eat my Lunch, the idea has been in process for six months, and the finished project is something all people involved with the project are happy with.
The new location was designed by Nat Cheshire from Cheshire Architects. The design of the space is small, yet perfect for the model which doesn’t require a lot of space.
“It’s a very small space and so with the help of the incredibly talented Nat Cheshire, we designed a space that not only brings to life the story of Eat My Lunch and the impact we have, but also a warm, inviting space for customers to come in and be able to have a coffee and grab some delicious food. It’s completely different to anything else in Britomart and that is how we wanted it.”
The wall backing the shop is covered in framed photos and thank you notes from the companies many recipients.
“The store is another way that people can help make a difference to the many kiwi kids who go to school without lunch. It also means people can just drop in and get lunch while doing good. We’ve got freshly made salads, sandwiches, snacks, drinks and coffee.”
Open from 7am Monday to Friday, the store will be run by Debbie who used to be a courier driver for EML, and barista Michael has been hired from the disabled community through the Cookie Project, so far EML have given lunches to over 1,000,000 Kiwi kids.
“We love supporting other business doing good,” says King. “The Cookie Project currently use the Eat My Lunch kitchen to make their cookies. They work and support people with disabilities, so when it came to looking for a barista, they told us about Michael. Michael is great and with training from L’affare, we have an amazing barista who loves making coffee for our customers.”
“We really didn’t know what to expect and the response has been great. Our first week exceeded our expectations and through just the store itself, people have Given almost 300 lunches to kids.”
