About Us
'I believe in the magic of home cooking
to brighten any day.'
I'm Lulu, a mum to three, and what started as a small kitchen experiment with self-printed labels glued onto coffee bags has grown into something much bigger than I ever imagined. When my career as a digital marketer was suddenly upended by COVID in 2020, I saw it as a chance to pursue my lifelong dream: creating and sharing beautiful, artisanal food.
Secret Kiwi Kitchen's journey began during Auckland's second lockdown when my friend Clare and I banded together to create baking mixes that would help brighten our local community.
It’s been a whirlwind of a journey, and I’m incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support from our amazing customers and community. Secret Kiwi Kitchen is now stocked in over 600 stores throughout New Zealand, and we’re constantly adding new and exciting products to our lineup. Our goal is to be your secret kitchen ally, making it easier for you to whip up delicious, homemade treats that everyone will love.
What's so special about Secret Kiwi Kitchen?
I know firsthand how hectic life can be. Sometimes, you just need a plate to share that doesn’t take all day to make, or you want your kids to experience the joy of baking their own treats. Easy doesn’t have to mean compromising on quality. That’s why our products are made right here in New Zealand, using all-natural, premium ingredients like locally sourced dairy—no nasty chemicals or unpronounceable additives.
My hope is that our products help you create not just beautiful food but also cherished memories with your loved ones.
Lulu's favourite product?
I had to pick, I’d definitely start with our Triple Fudge Brownie Mix. When I was 12, I crafted a brownie recipe for my family’s stand at the Martha’s Vineyard Farmers Market. We sold egg rolls and Vietnamese cold rolls—pretty exotic back then but we needed a good marketing ploy to draw customers in for that first bite! My plan was to attract kids with my brownies so they’d bring their parents over. And it worked! Those brownies, with chocolate chips and a splash of Kahlua, were a huge hit and my family's stand is still going gang busters.
I’m also incredibly proud of our Buttermilk Pancake Mix. Perfecting it took hundreds of tries. It's our top selling product. It’s still a bit of magic to me how just a few grams of ingredients can make such a big difference!
On a personal note, I also had a blast creating the Make Your Own Hot Sauce Kit with my husband, Noah. He learned to cook from his Mexican Uncle Rudolfo, and experimenting with different Mexican peppers and flavours together was such fun.
And let’s not forget our Dried Edible Flowers. I'm obsessed with flowers and adore using them to sprinkle a bit of beauty everywhere. Because really, who doesn’t love a touch of extra prettiness?
About Lulu
Lauren Taylor, better known as Lulu, is an American-born Kiwi who’s been happily calling New Zealand home for over a decade. Growing up in the USA and having lived in France, London, and Italy, Lulu is now grateful to be settled in Auckland.
A portrait photographer for over 20 years, she’s also written a couple of cookbooks—Real Thai Cooking with Chawadee Naulkair and Feasting on Flowers—both of which can be found on Amazon, if you’re curious. She is currently at work on her third cookbook- Thai Food Stories, scheduled for international release by Tuttle Publishing in 2026.