About Us
Ripe Deli was created in 2001 when owner/operator Angela Redfern noticed a gap in the Grey Lynn/ Ponsonby area for a deli offering home-made style, quality, take-out food. Six months later, that gap was filled when Angie opened the doors of Ripe Deli Richmond Rd which is now fondly referred to as the Mothership.
Angie ventured into business on a shoe-string budget but with plenty of help and support from friends and family. Kiwi-born, Angie was raised in England. Her passion for food is in her blood, passed down from generations of mothers who have always loved to cook! Her career started in The Savoy in London. She then went on to work with Tricia Guild at the Designers Guild before returning home and basing herself in Auckland.
Angela has gone on to become a bit of a legend in the Auckland food scene & paved the way for many of the healthy eateries we have today. Since opening the first Ripe Deli in 2001 she has gone on to open four more very successful stores in Auckland - The first, known by the locals as "Baby Ripe" or GNR - is positioned inside the Giltrap headquarters building on Great North Rd, so you can now get a delicious salad and coffee with your Maserati! The second edition to the family is the big beautiful Deli on the North Shore at Smales Farm - The Gooodside - which is a great architecturally designed (by Paul Izzard) dinning precinct in Takapuna, next came "The Piano Shop" or GSR, where Ripe has a little Deli inside the Lewis Eady Piano Shop in 75 Great South Rd, Remuera. Ripe Deli's latest edition to the family is a little cafe at the Heart Foundation, 9 Kalmia Street, Ellerslie.
Angies philosophy is simple: she believes in offering fresh, seasonal, nutritious food that tastes delicious & is made with love. With a little bit of creativity, Angie and the team in the kitchen add an innovative touch to traditional recipes. Not even mum can cook a better smoked-fish pie or serve up a more mouth-watering lemon meringue pie!
Ripe Deli offers a selection of delicious nourishing salads, gourmet sandwiches & wraps, decadent home-baked slices, cakes and brioches. The cabinets are always brimming with freshly baked marinated free-range chicken & salmon, vegan cakes, quiches & more. There is all away something to tickle your taste buds. Freezers line shop with comforting take home frozen meals, soups & puddings. From 3pm Monday to Thursday take home dinners are served, these are a great way to feed the family on those nights when you don't have time to cook.
A catering service is available from Ripe and you will often see the catering Ripe vans around Auckland. It couldn't be easier to feed the crew or a family event - just order online or email catering@ripedeli.co.nz if you need any help.
Ripe Deli has produced four wonderful cookbooks, all of them are highly regarded and many people around the country refer to them as their favourite "go to cook book" The first book "Ripe Recipes" is lovingly known as the Red Book & is a long standing favourite. The second book "A Fresh Batch" (Green Book) and "A Third Helping" (Blue Book). The latest Cook Book "Thought for Food" (Orange Book) released in 2022. Ripe Recipe books are known for great salads, baking and homely meals full of delicious flavours. The recipes are easy to follow and are great addition to any kitchen.
Although the offerings at Ripe Deli are all packaged to take-out, there are seats are available in front of the shops where people will often gather informally, sharing tables. There is a real easy-going, family feel about the place. Like Angie herself, the staff are friendly, efficient and equally passionate about quality foods and the products they sell.
At Ripe they are intent on making a difference and are environmentally friendly offering sustainable, compostable & recyclable packaging for all their food. All Poultry, Eggs & Pork used is free-range. All red meats are grass fed and Ripe Deli uses by locally produced products & produce whenever possible. They are absolutely committed to supporting local groups in the community through their various sponsorships including supporting local schools and fundraising initiatives.
