Today we visited Coupland's in Hamilton brunch, one of New Zealand's largest independently owned bakery chains, for the first time today!
About Coupland’s Bakeries
Founded in 1971, Coupland’s is a long-established bakery in New Zealand with a history spanning over 50 years.
With stores and factories in Christchurch on the South Island, as well as in Hamilton, Rotorua, and Tauranga, it is one of the bakeries beloved by local Kiwis.
You can find more information about the store and Coupland’s on their website:
Coupland's Website : https://www.couplands.co.nz/
My Visit to the Hamilton Store
I visited the Hamilton store.
Located a bit off the beaten path in an area filled with factories, I wouldn't have known about this place if it hadn't been recommended by a friend.
Even from outside the store, the delightful aroma of freshly baked bread welcomed me warmly!
The interior was somewhat more spacious than a typical bakery, and it seemed like you could also order coffee at the counter (though this might vary by location).
New Zealand’s National Dish Loved by Kiwis
When it comes to New Zealand’s national dishes, lamb, oysters, and fish and chips are often mentioned, but the first thing that comes to my mind is the "pie."
Not the sweet pies like apple pie or chocolate pie, but savory pies such as steak and cheese pie or mince pie.
Back in Japan, I rarely ate pies, but since moving to New Zealand, I often enjoy them for breakfast or lunch.
Just like convenience stores in Japan, there are many bakeries in New Zealand, and one of my favorite activities when visiting different towns is to compare the pies from local bakeries.
Coupland’s offers a variety of these beloved local pies, as well as sausage rolls, quiches, and frozen croissants.
Coupland’s Bakery Bread, Pies, and Cookies: The Best Deals Around?
Recently, prices have been rising sharply in New Zealand, but Coupland’s seems to be quite a bit cheaper compared to supermarkets and other bakeries!
Especially the bread. Supermarkets like Woolworths and Countdown, which I frequent, offer huge loaves of bread.
While this size might be perfect for a family of four, for a household of two, it’s hard to finish.
I always wished for a "just right" size like the ones sold in Japan.
At Coupland’s, I found bread that’s about half the size of what you typically see in supermarkets—exactly what we were looking for!
And at under $2 each, it's a great deal!
We bought some for making sandwiches.
We also got an assortment pack that included sausage rolls, quiches, and mince pies, allowing me to try a variety of items.
Popcorn for $2.75!
The Sweet As popcorn often seen at Countdown is slightly less in quantity and either the same price or a bit more expensive, so it seems Coupland’s offers good deals on snacks as well as bread.
Donuts and sandwiches were displayed on self-service shelves, with a wide variety to choose from. The colors of the donuts were striking!
Discovering a Biscuits Called Yo Yos
While walking through the store, we found cookies labeled Yo Yos.
Curious if they were named after the toy, I asked and found out they indeed were.
The cookies were shaped like yo-yos, with cream sandwiched between two cookies.
A quick search revealed that yo-yo biscuits might have originated in either the UK or Australia. Is that true?
For Affordable Pies and Snacks in New Zealand, Visit Coupland’s Bakery!
After returning home, we tried the cheese and bacon savory from the assorted set. It was delicious, with a moist interior even after being toasted!
If you have the chance, I highly recommend visiting Coupland’s, one of New Zealand’s renowned bakeries.
They also offer online sales and catering services!
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