OUR STORY
Base Woodfired Pizzas is a family business created in late 2010 by Chris,
Andy, Gill and Rod Thomson. What started out as a way of enjoying good food with
family and friends evolved into a business venture largely due to the many
positive comments made about the pizzas. As a family they had spent time
gathered around their own woodfired oven at home trying out different
flavour combinations until they felt they had got it right. It became a social
event with the neighbours often joining in to share freshly baked woodfired
pizzas....
“Immediately after the September earthquake we found ourselves cooking in
our woodfired oven for all our neighbours due to the power outage and that
was when the business idea was born.”
First came the Mobile woodfired oven concept – fast food with a difference
that was well received at many events and festivals all over Canterbury.
“Base” credits the SCIRT World buskers festival for launching them into the
wider Christchurch community.
Following a conversation between Chris and Paul Lonsdale , the then Re:Start
manager ,“Base”
took up the offer of a spot in the food court at the mall in May of 2010, initially
with the mobile unit and then with a custom fitted shipping container –
freeing up the mobile unit to continue to attend events and functions
Canterbury wide.
Every inch of the 10 foot high cube shipping container was utilised –
centrepiece was a large wood burning pizza oven imported from Italy. Bricks
recycled from demolished Christchurch buildings line the walls to give a
feeling of permanence and stability. It was a nod to the Christchurch of old and
a symbol of hope for the new Christchurch.
All ingredients for the pizzas are fresh and locally sourced therefore
enabling Base to support other Canterbury businesses– simply the best NZ
has to offer.
When restart mall came to an end the Base family were the pivotal part of their new home Little High Eatery.
Here we operate 7 days a week alongside 7 other family owned eateries.