About Us
'I believe in the magic of home cooking
to brighten any day.'
I'm Lulu, a mum of three, and what started as a small kitchen experiment—with self-printed labels glued onto coffee bags—has grown into something bigger than I ever imagined. When my career as a digital marketer was upended by COVID in 2020, I took it as a chance to finally 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 joined forces to create baking mixes that would bring a little joy to our community. What started in a home kitchen is now stocked in over 700 stores across New Zealand and the Pacific, and we’re always dreaming up new and exciting products to share. Our goal is simple: to be your secret kitchen ally, helping you whip up delicious food with ease.
What's so special about Secret Kiwi Kitchen?
I know firsthand how hectic life can be. Sometimes, you need a treat that doesn’t take all day to make, or you want your kids to experience the joy of baking their own creations. But easy shouldn’t mean compromising on quality. That’s why our products are made right here in New Zealand using all-natural, premium ingredients—no artificial additives, just pure goodness.
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 gangbusters.
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, or Lulu, is an American-born Kiwi with Japanese-European roots who’s called New Zealand home for the last decade. She grew up in the USA, lived in France, London, and Italy, and her eclectic mix of cultures has given her a lifelong love of exploring global flavours and culinary traditions.
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.
This year, Lulu is setting off on her very own spice trail, travelling to Moorea, the Cook Islands, the Azores, Morocco, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean. Along the way, she’ll be diving into local flavours, unearthing unique spices and botanicals, and gathering inspiration for future creations. She’s also hard at work on Secret Kiwi Kitchen—dreaming up new products, staying connected with customers, and keeping things running smoothly. No matter where she is, she’s always just an email away and loves hearing from fellow food lovers!