Empowering communities
Five years ago, Sachiko Shimamoto accidentally started a business selling dumplings with her brother. But when she went from selling a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand within a few weeks, there was no stopping her.
Sachi now has a staff of seven and a highly successful café and catering company that not only creates delicious food but has made a conscious choice to give back to her community and create employment opportunities for wāhine who are disadvantaged in the workplace. Kai Connoisseurs’ food and work ethos always comes back to manaakitanga. It is a rare business of hospitality, generosity, and connection.
Sachi’s journey began on the marae, where she learned the art of cooking from her family of foodies. With a Japanese father and a Māori mother, she grew up surrounded by diverse food flavours and techniques from an early age.
The turning point in Sachi’s career came unexpectedly when she was asked to cater an event at her marae after the initial caterer withdrew. Leading the kitchen for the first time, she discovered a newfound passion and talent. The positive feedback from attendees propelled her to explore catering further, leading to her catering for notable events, including those for Ngāi Tahu executives.
Juggling her catering ventures with university studies and motherhood, Sachi faced a pivotal decision. Ultimately, she chose to dedicate herself to her growing business, which evolved into the thriving café and catering company on Hampshire Street in Christchurch today. However, her focus transcends profit, as she aligns her business model with social enterprise principles, aiming to create employment opportunities for disadvantaged women.
Sachi’s business philosophy is deeply rooted in her experiences and values. She draws inspiration from her struggles and triumphs, especially as a solo mother to a child with special needs. Her commitment to using her journey to empower others is the driving force behind her business. Rooted in faith and empathy, Sachi’s journey exemplifies resilience, compassion, and a relentless pursuit of making a positive impact in the lives of others.
Written on the ceiling banisters of the Hampshire Street café is Kai Connoisseurs’ whakataukī: “Mō te kai, mō te hononga, mō te mātauranga,” which serves as a constant reminder of their core values – love of food, the importance of connection, and the sharing of knowledge. This ethos shapes every aspect of the business and is her purpose and her ‘why’.
Listening to her speak, you get a sense of the unwavering tenacity she has towards the positive change and impact she can have within her community. This is a woman on a mission to create change. Her café serves as a lifeline for community engagement, offering a haven where patrons can not only savour delicious bao buns, fried bread, doughnuts, bento bowls, filled rolls, and dumplings but also contributes to out-of-the-box initiatives rarely found in a café. One is the ‘Kai for a Koha’, a pay-it-forward programme supporting those in need, whereby customers can choose to cover someone less fortunate’s meal or groceries.
For Sachi, entrepreneurship is more than just a business venture; it’s a platform to amplify her voice, advocate for causes close to her heart, and extend a hand of hope to those navigating life’s challenges.
Sachi Shimamoto’s remarkable journey serves as a reminder that success is not just measured in profits but in the positive change and empowerment one brings to the world. To find out more about Sachi’s work, Avenues readers can meet her alongside a group of talented female chefs cooking up awesome fare at the next Avenues Eats event: Wāhine Toa – see page 54 for more information.