Budget unbalanced overall says Hospitality New Zealand –
Budget 2023 does not do enough to further support small businesses and contains little acknowledgment of the current economic environment’s impact on business in general, says Hospitality New Zealand.
Chief Executive Julie White said there were some helpful moves on the budget, but overall, it was a disappointment.
“The additional $17.6 million, over five years, of funding for the Major Events Fund to support the ongoing attraction of major events to Aotearoa will be welcomed by the sector.
“This is essential for us to attract big events and add immense vibrancy to our main centers, driving tourism and economic spending.
“We also support the Tourism ITP funding announcement and the importance of placing it in great workplaces and training our staff. It’s important to ensure operators’ voices are heard in this process, and we look forward to contributing to the development of the ITP.”
“And the funding for ongoing recovery from the North Island weather events, to help the affected regions get back on their feet, will be welcomed by businesses in those areas.
“But, on balance, there is little for most New Zealand businesses in this Budget.
“Businesses are right now in the grip of a real cost crisis, and although some sectors may have received some support, small businesses in particular will continue to struggle without tangible support for workforce and costs.
“Despite big increases in wages across the economy, that has not translated to increased productivity.
“Funding for the Tourism Industry Transformation Plan is unlikely to influence productivity in the tourism sector.”
Cauliflower star vege in 2023 NSSCC competition! –
Mashed, roasted, au Gratin, casserole, made into soups, pizza bases and taco shells, you name it and the humble cauliflower has co-operated!
And this year it is the key ingredient in the National Secondary Schools’ Culinary Challenge.
Entries open on June 1, and close June 30 at the end of Term 2, for high school students to prepare and perfect the most delicious cauliflower entre dishes they can.
The National Secondary Schools Culinary Challenge is an annual event run by the Culinary Arts Development Trust. The competition is designed to encourage the next generation of culinary talent, provide career pathways for students, and to foster relationships between secondary schools and the hospitality sector.
The competition consists of two parts. Part one is a Regional Competition with judging held online. Part two sees the winners of each region travel to Auckland to compete in the National Final on September 6 at the Manukau Institute of Technology.
Each of the eight regional competition’s winning teams will participate in a live cook-off and experience the New Zealand Culinary Journey the following day. With a total prize package valued at over $11,000, the competition is highly competitive .
Super ideas for Mother’s Day Promos –
If you haven’t already fixed your marketing plan for Sunday May 14, take a look at these promotional ideas to grow your repeat business!
1) Promotions That Maximize the Entire Day
Brunch: Try a Little Trendiness
You can’t go wrong with omelette and waffle stations. But these trendy, menu-based Mother’s Day promotions are the way to her heart.
- Bottomless Mom-mosas: Just for Mum…it might be her dream come true. Serve mimosas in a mason jar or other special glassware she can take home.
- Avocado Toast Trio: Prep 3 variations of this trendy toast.
- Gourmet Yogurt Bars: From house-made granolas, to shaved chocolate – set out gourmet toppings and let Mum choose. It’s the brunch version of the sundae bar. Or prepare a Bloody Mary bar as one of your Mother’s Day promotions. Think crumbled bacon, fresh herbs, and hot sauces.
Mid-Afternoon High Tea, Dahling
When 2 pm hits, tap into the British tradition of high tea for your Mother’s Day promotions. Complete with tasty finger foods and an array of teas, it’s the perfect mother-daughter event. Use the BBC’s guide to high tea to plan an authentic tea time.
Farm-to-Table Prix Fixe Dinner
Fixed price menus make for popular Mother’s Day promotions at every meal. Guests love knowing how much they’ll spend in advance. Plus, limiting choices means your kitchen can work more efficiently (hello, faster table turn).
Create a special Mother’s Day dinner inspired by the farm-to-table trend. Focus on in-season, local fare.
2) Free Gifts for the Win
A little Mum-spoiling goes a long way in building loyalty. Show your appreciation with a small gift as part of your Mother’s Day promotions.
- Sweet Succulents: All the other restaurants will offer her a rose. Go trendy with a little potted succulent. Already ordered those roses? Print out a few lines of epic Mother’s Day poetry to go with each rose or plant.
- Treat Bag: Welcome Mums to your restaurant with a gift bag filled with chocolates. Ask nearby businesses if they’d like to include coupons or offers, too.
- Branded Merch: Send it home with a souvenir like a coffee mug or pint or wine glass with your logo. Each time she sips, she’ll see your logo – so these freebie Mother’s Day promotions are worth the investment..
3) Mother’s Day Promotions (That Bring Them Back)
For most restaurants, Mother’s Day is already a big business. Use the event to earn repeat business with these Mother’s Day promotions that bring ’em back:
- Mum’s Night Off Certificate: Create a free meal certificate that Mom can “redeem” any weeknight in May when she doesn’t want to cook. Of course, she’ll bring in the rest of the family.
- The Envelopes, Please: Give Mum a sealed envelope. She can bring back the envelope (in 2-3 weeks) for the server to open – and reveal her surprise offer. Include a free dessert or appetizer voucher. In a few envelopes, throw in a $10 or $15 gift card.
- Father’s Day Deal: Try Mother’s Day promotions that encourage guests to book future reservations – on the spot. For example, give a $25 credit if the family books their Father’s Day meal with you.
4) Cater to the Kids
The fastest way to Mum’s heart? Mother’s Day promotions that entertain her children at your restaurant. Translation: she’d love to sip that rosé in peace please, can you help make it happen? Here’s how to be mother’s little helper:
- Make Mum a Card: Hand out blank cards and crayons for kids. Ask them to play Picasso and make her a handmade card.
- Digital Arcade Games: This is one Mother’s Day gift that keeps on giving all year. Bring in restaurant tablets loaded with trivia and arcade games for both kids and adults.
- Mini Me Meals: “I’ll have what Mum is having, thank you very much.” Older kids have a thing for ordering from the grown-up menu. Cave into their demands by offering small portions of your main dishes.
Do you make the best pies in NZ? –
Entries are now open at pieawards.nz for the Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards with plans underway for a huge celebration to mark their 25thth anniversary.
NZ Bakels managing director, Brent Kersel says: “Yes, that’s right! We had to postpone the 25th anniversary a couple of times due to Covid, but now we can’t wait to celebrate this milestone.”
“And for our 25th anniversary, we’ve asked Al Brown, one of New Zealand’s most recognized chefs, to help us judge the pies. We couldn’t have chosen a better person to be our celebrity chef judge. Al won’t hold back on any aspect of judging day on July 27.
He’ll be right in there among the other judges looking at pies, checking out the quality of the pastry, their ingredients, tasting them and thinking, constantly assessing if they are worthy of a gold award and whether he will see them again at the Supreme judging stage.
Al is that passionate about everything he sets his mind to and we’re very lucky to have him back for this monumental year.” Al was previously the celebrity chef judge in 2012.
He is recognized as a leading New Zealand chef, restaurateur, television presenter, author and entrepreneur. He owns Federal Delicatessen and Eatery depot in Auckland, Best Ugly Bagels with locations across NZ, Good Joe Coffee Co, Tipping Point wines, and he has launched several fine food products under his Al Brown brand.
Al says: “We are putting a lot of effort into our condiment products, especially ‘Old Yella’ Habanero Mustard and ‘Simply Red’ Kasundi Ketchup. We have just been ranged in 200 Woolworths in Aussie, so it’s exciting times getting into the overseas markets. Funnily enough, they are the perfect sauce to accompany any savory pie!
“The humble pie plays such an important role in the culinary fabric of Aotearoa. It is an honor to play a small part in helping to choose the best pie of the year.”
So what will Al be looking for?
“While thinking outside the box and being innovative is important, for me much of it is about nailing all the foundations of what makes a delicious eating pie. Texture of the pastry, does it work with the filling, filling to pastry ratio, balance of flavours, seasoning etc.”
Brent Kersel says: “If you think your pies are the stuff of legends, like those of our past Supreme winners, then get your entries in before they close on June 23 at 5pm. And may the best pie win!”
The 25th Bakels Supreme Pie Awards will be announced in Auckland on Tuesday August 1.
Go Coconuts for NEW Monin flavours! –
Bring the sunshine in this winter with MONIN’s two new tropical flavours – MONIN Coconut Puree and MONIN Le Mixeur Pina Colada.
Le Mixeur de MONIN Pina Colada is your bartender in a bottle – simply add equal parts mixer, spirit and ice for a delicious and quick cocktail. Bursting with the fruity sweetness of pineapple and creamy coconut, Le Mixeur Pina Colada will instantly transport you to the tropics when you add it to cocktails, milkshakes and smoothies, or be adventurous and try mixing it in cold brew coffee with coconut milk. You can also try it in your next baked creation or dessert – the perfect tropical twist to a lamington, donut or muffin.
The tropical flavor of rich, creamy coconut in our MONIN Coconut Puree makes it hard not to wish your toes were somewhere in the sand. Take a staycation instead and use our MONIN Coconut Puree to add lightly sweetened authentic coconut taste and texture to smoothies, milkshakes, cocktails and baking until you can actually make it to the beach.
You can have confidence in these products’ clean labels – no artificial flavors or colors, non-GMO, Gluten free, Halal and Kosher. They are shelf stable and provide consistent flavor all year round.
Available via your local distributor or contact [email protected]
Flourishing Food Truck future on the horizon –
At high school in Wellington, Jes Howes was struggling to thrive and fast losing self-esteem. By Year 13, Howes decided it was time to move on and find a different pathway. With the encouragement of her parents, who knew she had a passion for cooking, she researched options at Whitireia and WelTec | Te Pukenga and embraced a new future.
Jes quickly immersed himself in his new, hands-on, practical study in the Commercial Kitchens of the hospitality campus and qualified in bakery, cookery and hospitality management. This experience cemented her ideas about pursuing a career doing what she loved, cooking, and Jes wanted to start her own food truck business.
“I love cooking and baking and it was while I was doing the courses that I came up with my food truck idea,” says Jes.
“I had this vision of a cool truck serving burgers and chips to people out on a Saturday night on Courtney Place. It will be fun and I know everyone loves hot, fresh food when they have a big night out.”
To complement her hospitality qualifications and to help her set up a new business, Howes has returned to learning at Whitireia and WelTec | Te Pūkenga to gain the accounting and management knowledge she needs to get going with her plans.
Howes is now in the process of completing this qualification and recently spoke about her experiences to almost 700 students at the recent graduation ceremony held by Whitireia and WelTec | Te Pukenga.
“When I was at school I had low self-confidence and really did not know what I wanted to do,” says Jes.
“When I started at Whitireia and WelTec | Te Pūkenga I met such lovely people in my class and I realized there was a student support team, who helped me with my learning difficulties.”
Howes described the student support team as being a big encouragement to her, having helped her navigate through her studies and explaining her situation to her tutors.
Disability advisor at Whitireia and WelTec | Te Pūkenga, Rebecca Burns said Jes Howes is an inspiration and despite potential learning barriers, she has achieved both personal and academic success.
“The importance of seeking and receiving support is strongly evident and I know that Jes is a strong advocate for our support services which extends to both students and staff. We have been privileged to walk this journey alongside Jes,” said Burns.
SME concerns grow as risk of recession continues –
A nationwide survey of 1,000+ SME owners, directors and managers from across New Zealand by MYOB has highlighted the ongoing impact of inflation and the Reserve Bank’s efforts to control it are taking its toll on local businesses.
Based on recent inflation increases, more than a third (38%) of local SME leaders could only sustain their business for up to six months before they would need to dip into their personal finances or seek additional finance, according to new data from the 2023 MYOB Business Monitor.
A third (33%) of local SME decision-makers who respondents to the survey are ‘quite’ or ‘very’ concerned about the impact increasing interest rates will have on their business’ finances, and just over a fifth (21%) say their current cashflow levels are poor or very poor, while 44% say they are satisfactory and 35% say their cashflow levels are good.
On average, SMEs estimate their business overheads, such as rent and electricity, have increased by over $1500 per month in the last year, with just 13% of SMEs saying they haven’t seen their costs increase in the past 12 months.
MYOB spokesperson, Jo Tozer, explains that inflationary pressures continue to dampen SME confidence, which has remained stubbornly low over the past year.
“Across the country, SME leaders have pointed to rising inflation and the high cost of living generating the most pressure, with three quarters saying it was having the biggest impact on their level of confidence,” said Jo. “Likewise, the other major influences on SME confidence are also inflation-related, including the cost of fuel (64%) and rising interest rates (61%).”
“As a result, confidence levels among SMEs have remained largely unmoved since our last Business Monitor in March 2022, but these are worryingly close to the historic lows we saw immediately after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Jo adds.
More than two-thirds (69%) of local SMEs believe the New Zealand economy will decline in the next 12 months, one percentage point more than the same time last year (2022: 68%), with 30% believing that decline in economic activity will be significant. Just 16% of SME decision-makers expect the economy to improve – the same proportion as seen in the 2022 Business Monitor, and 13% believe it will remain the same.
Low growth and constrained profitability
“Tough trading conditions and falling consumer confidence have also seen local SMEs struggle to achieve revenue growth over the last year, and profitability in the last quarter has become particularly constrained,” said Jo.
Just over one-in-five (22%) local SMEs saw their revenue improve over the 12 months to March 2023, while more than a third (34%) saw revenue decline. The majority – 43% – say their year-on-year revenue has remained static.
The past quarter has also seen profitability restricted. Forty-five percent of SMEs report that their business has become less profitable over the last three months, while 41% say it has stayed the same. In contrast, only 13% of SMEs say their business has become more profitable over this time.
“In this sort of low growth environment, where businesses are dealing with increasing cost pressures, SMEs are finding themselves with dwindling cash reserves, and becoming more vulnerable to a growing number of external shocks – from natural disasters to a downturn in the economy,” Jo explains.
“With these risks and pressures in mind, heading into the new financial year is a good opportunity for SMEs to review their fundamentals – cashflow, debt levels and the stock they are carrying – and use this as a time to reset their business for a tighter market . Working with their accountant, bookkeeper or financial advisor now to start putting in place strategies could prove vital to their survival if there was further downturn in the economy.”
Risk of recession growing
On top of the most recent StatsNZ GDP data showing the economy shrank by 0.6% in the final quarter of 2022, the falling profitability and revenue amongst SMEs could also point to a possible contraction in activity for the first quarter of 2023.
According to MYOB’s Business Monitor, recession warnings are flashing red for the SME community, with 80% polled saying they are concerned about the risk of the New Zealand economy entering a recession in 2023. If this occurs, the survey insights show it could generate a wave of cost-cutting among SMEs, which will further limit local growth.
When asked what changes they would make to their business plans or operations if New Zealand was to enter a recession, the Business Monitor insights revealed:
- 38% would implement strict cost controls across the business
- 29% would dip into personal savings to keep trading
- 18% would reduce marketing spend to save money
- 14% would freeze wages/salaries
- 14% would need to increase the time they take to pay bills and suppliers
- 11% would close the business altogether
“This is a critical moment for many local SMEs, as they face the risk of recession with very little in the way of resources to give them a buffer against a major downturn in trade. Rampant inflation, a significantly disrupted supply chain and recent extreme weather events have all taken their toll on SME reserves – particularly in sectors like agriculture, hospitality and retail,” says MYOB’s Jo Tozer.
“SMEs give a lot to our local communities and they are going to need a great deal of support this year, so we’d encourage policy makers to give this careful consideration before implementing any changes which could add to the already growing range of costs to SMEs. For the rest of us Kiwis, if it is within your means, please continue to buy local to support our diverse and valuable network of small and medium businesses.”
NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship tickets: Cheapest tickets for LSU vs. Iowa in Dallas
The 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship will feature the No. 3 LSU Tigers vs. the No. 2 Iowa Hawkeyes at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on Sunday, April 2 (4/2/2023) at 3:30 pm ET.
Fans can buy cheap tickets to the March Madness women’s championship at resellers like StubHub, VividSeats, MEGASeats and SeatGeek. If you’re traveling for the game, get the best deals on flights from Expediaand find discounted Hotels with Hotels.com.
At publishing time, VividSeats had the cheapest tickets at $376, but prices are subject to change and availability.
Both these teams cleared through a No. 1 seed in the Final Four to advance to the Championship. LSU beat the Virginia Tech Hokies 79-72, while Iowa beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 77-73.
The games will air nationwide on ABC starting at 3:30 pm ET, and can be streamed live via fuboTV (free trial).
NCAA Tournament gearincluding new hats, t-shirts and jerseys for the 2023 Final Four can be found on fanatics.
You can bet on college basketball from your phone in New York State, and we’ve compiled some of the best introductory offers to help navigate your first bets from BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings, PointsBet, Caesars and BetRivers.
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Story by The Associated Press
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark is the undeniable star of March Madness. Now she will get to play in April.
The Hawkeyes’ high-scoring guard, who was named the Associated Press Player of the Year this week, scored 41 points to lead the Hawkeyes over previously undefeated South Carolina 77-73 in the Final Four on Friday night. The loss denied South Carolina — the No. 1 team all season — a chance at a second straight title.
No. 2 seed Iowa will face LSU in Sunday’s title game after the third-seeded Tigers used a big fourth quarter to overtake top-seeded Virginia Tech 79-72.
Clark has wowed fans for the past month and certainly didn’t seem fascinated by any pressure against mighty South Carolina. She shot 15 of 31 from the field and hit four clutch free throws in the final minute to keep the Hawkeyes ahead.
LSU used a 29-point fourth quarter to rally for its win over Virginia Tech earlier Friday. Alexis Morris led the way with 27 points.
LSU coach Kim Mulkey has taken the Tigers to their first championship game in program history. The flamboyant coach won three national titles during 21 seasons at Baylor before returning to her home state.
GAMES TO WATCH
No. 2 Iowa (31-6) vs. No. 3 LSU (34-2), Sunday, 3:30 p.m. EDT, ABC
The Clark show rolls on to Sunday’s championship game. She’s obviously the focus of the Hawkeyes’ offense, but 6-foot-3 Monika Czinano also had a nice game against the Gamecocks with 18 points and three steals. LSU leans on star forward Angel Reese, who is averaging 23 points and nearly 16 rebounds. Morris was also superb in the Tigers’ semifinal win.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Clark was announced as AP player of the year on Thursday after receiving 20 votes from the 28-member national media panel that votes on the AP Top 25 each week. Reese has 113 points and 79 rebounds for LSU through five wins.
SHINING MOMENTS
Clark had the first 40-point triple-double in NCAA Tournament history to lead Iowa into its first Final Four appearance in 30 years. She followed that with 41 in the semifinals in a performance that somehow managed to live up to the ample hype.
Her stellar postseason has caught the attention of NBA stars. Kevin Durant and Chris Paul were talking about Clark’s performance in the locker room following the Suns’ win over the Nuggets on Friday.
“Incredible run that she’s on,” Durant said. “She’s playing phenomenal basketball, her team is rallying around her, so it’s going to be a good championship game.”
AWARDS SEASONS
Indiana’s Teri Moren was honored as the AP women’s basketball Coach of the Year after leading the school to its first Big Ten regular season championship in 40 years and its first No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Clark won AP Player of the Year after one of the greatest individual seasons in NCAA history with eye-popping offensive numbers, averaging 27.0 points, 8.3 assists and 7.5 rebounds during the regular season to help Iowa go 26-6.
GO DEEPER
Gun violence has cost lives and disrupted college sports all season, touching some of the top programs in college basketball. Coaches have been thrust into uncertain and unwelcome roles in trying to navigate the topic — as well as the fallout from the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
On a lighter note, the women’s tournament has been making a case for its own separate TV deal, and if you think you know the women’s tournament, try this 25-question quiz.
Want to hear from the athletes themselves? UCLA freshman Kiki Rice and injured UConn star Paige Bueckers have each written diaries for The AP about their “tourney journeys.”
VEGAS SAYS
Iowa has opened as a slight favorite — ranging from 1 1/2 to 2 points — according to sportsbooks.
HOW TO WATCH
The title game will be on a national network — ABC — for the first time since 1996.
Every game of the women’s tournament has been available on ESPN’s networks or streaming, with fans encouraged to navigate to the “Watch” tab on ESPN’s sites. There are multiple sites listing game times, channels and other details, including the NCAA site.
WHAT’S NEXT
Where is the women’s Final Four? In Dallas, where the championship game is Sunday. As it happens, the men’s Final Four is a four-hour drive down the road in Houston.