From starting his working life as a dishy, to owning his own business, Giovanni Barni has come a long way.
As the new face behind Raglan Bagels, he’s using his Italian flair for food to take the successful foodie enterprise to the next level.
Originally from Florence, Italy, Gio has worked in hospitality since he was 20 and has always dreamed of owning his own food business.
“I’ve worked in almost all parts of the hospitality trade. When I got offered the business it seemed like the next logical step.”
Gio spends several days a week baking around 500 bagels to supply to cafes and stores in Raglan, Cambridge and Hamilton.
When he’s not baking bagels, Giovanni works at Wyld, but his long-term goal is to open a deli in Raglan.
With the purchase of Raglan Bagels in January this year, he now has firm ties to Whāingaroa and can commit full-time to Raglan Bagels.
“If I could find a little shop that I could rent I would just focus on bagels because they’re selling very well and everyone’s very happy with the quality. But there is nothing available at the moment in town,” he says.
Currently, the bagel-making magic happens at the Raglan Old School Arts Centre commercial kitchen; an incubator for many successful food enterprises, including Raglan Yoghurt now Raglan Food Co and Raglan Gelato.
“The ladies at the Old School are super supportive but unfortunately I only have limited times.”
In the meantime, Giovanni will wait for a commercial space to come available in town.
“The bagels will be the stepping point. With a commercial space and being able to use it whenever I want, eventually I will turn it into a deli. Being from an Italian background, I’ll make schiacciata (Sicilian stuffed flat bread), focaccia, have good cheeses and cured meats. And the bagels of course,” he says.
Gio came to Aotearoa nine years ago and settled into the hospo industry in Wellington, but Raglan’s surf was always calling.
“Every other summer I was coming up to Raglan to visit friends and surf, and enjoy the community and the town.”
After working in Auckland and Akaroa for a spell, Gio made the move to Raglan nearly three years ago.
With the purchase of Raglan Bagels in January this year, he now has firm ties to Whāingaroa.
Raglan Bagels can be found locally at Supervalue, Wyld, Indi’s and Orca Eatery & Bar. The Old School commercial kitchen is available to hire – contact info@raglanartscentre.co.nz.
