Kurrajong Kitchen - Where Love Is Made

Recently, Kurrajong Kitchen provided hampers and products to a variety of community group, primary schools, high schools, pre-schools, early childhood centres and sporting groups.

When asked about their outstanding support of the wider community, the answer was simple - “It’s part of who we are and what we do.”

Kurrajong Kitchen has been a fixture in the Hawkesbury for 30-plus years, founded by Ben and Karen Lebsanft back in 1993.

Baking Lavosh - a middle eastern flatbread for cheese platters in their small restaurant in Kurrajong, this new sensation became popular with their customers who wanted to take it home and impress their friends.

From a basket at the door, customers grabbed their take-home packs that had been baked locally at the North Richmond bakehouse, which the couple sub-leased during its downtime, before being bagged and sealed on the ironing board in their restaurant after service had finished.

As the demand for Lavosh grew slowly, Ben and Karen moved from hospitality to face the inevitable challenges of FMCG - (supermarkets and beyond).

From the 30 packets per week to potentially baking over 1.2 million pieces per day, and as a team of two to now over 40, the business has overcome those challenges, faced more like other businesses, and stayed true to their beginnings by continuing the same family recipe that started the journey 30 years ago.

“If you had ever told us we would be a national brand three decades on, I’m not sure I would have believed you,” Karen said.

More recently, after building a business on baking Lavosh flatbread only, investment was made to bring the next generation of product to the table.

Named after Ben and Karen’s three granddaughters, who are also Hawkesbury-based, Jersey Maes, Oaklees and the youngest Darcies, can now be found on the shelf.

“These have come about with a message of ‘love is made’,” Karen said.

“These three little girls have brought much joy and love to us, and we felt strongly about taking that message to the tables of families and friends.

“When someone brings a platter together or prepares a meal, it is an expression of love.

“The time and effort and love is expressed to family and friends by sharing of a meal.

“We have long known that Kurrajong Kitchen Lavosh is loved.

“It is the greatest message we hear from our amazing customers.”

Karen believes staying true to their values has been the recipe for their success.

One of those values includes a strong connection to the community.

Kurrajong Kitchen has always been involved in the local community through business and community committees, school and sport and, in more recent years, maintaining a strong connection with Nova Employment who supports people to showcase their abilities through employment.

The desire to support the community has included, on a larger scale, donation to Hawkesbury Helping Hands, Oz Harvest and foodbank and reflects just part of who Ben and Karen are.

Karen said that more recently, they had some excess stock that they felt the community could benefit from, so she popped up a Facebook post encouraging schools and community groups of all sorts to reach out to them.

“I was inundated with the response that I had to set up a spreadsheet to make sure we got to everyone,” Karen said.

“I am so happy to say that nearly all requests have been met with either excess stock or hampers for fundraising.

“We have been blessed to remain an Australian manufacturer building a natural brand over the past three decades.

“Our community of workers, other businesses that support us whether they be local to the Hawkesbury or local to Australia is all part of our ethos.

“Community and business grows as a circular economy.

“We support them, they support us, and on and on it goes through the supply chain.

“It just so happens that we make very much-loved products so this is our opportunity to share the love back to our community.

“That’s how love is made.”

• Topics:

• Food / Beverages
• Business
• Local Business / Economy