Meet Uncle Joe’s - champions of Aotearoa’s hazelnut industry!

Meet Uncle Joe’s - champions of Aotearoa’s hazelnut industry!

At the heart of a delicious bite of our Dark Salted Caramel Hazelnuts, and our Milk Chocolate Hazelnuts - is the hard work and dedication of Uncle Joe’s, a family-run hazelnut farm nestled in Marlborough. 

Our new chocolate hazelnut range is more than just a decadent treat; it’s a celebration of locally grown hazelnuts by Deb and Alan Whiteside.

Uncle Joe’s hazelnuts are grown in the South Island’s rich, alluvial soils -and the region’s perfect climate for hazelnuts has seen their orchard flourish.

“Most of the hazelnuts you see on store shelves are imported from Turkey or the US, but our soil and climate in Marlborough create something unique,” Deb explains. “We believe Kiwis deserve to taste fresh hazelnuts grown here at home.” 

From Orchard to Chocolate Factory

When we were looking for the hazelnuts to become the hero of our new range, working with the team at Uncle Joe’s was an easy choice. We wanted to find the best quality hazelnuts grown close to home, and crossing the Cook Straight doesn’t get any closer to our Eva Street factory.

“For us, it’s all about working with local growers who put everything into their craft,” says WCF Gabe Davidson. “Uncle Joe’s sources hazelnuts from all over the South Island as well as growing their own - and they taste incredible because they’re fresh and come from a team who cares about what they do. It’s exciting to be able to share that in our chocolate.”

Building a Homegrown Industry

For Deb, this partnership with WCF is a chance to share the story of New Zealand hazelnuts with a bigger audience. “There’s a small but dedicated community of hazelnut growers here, and we’re proud to be part of it. We’re working hard to create demand for local hazelnuts because we know the quality is there. Collaborating with WCF allows us to show Kiwis how special New Zealand-grown nuts can be.”

For all of us at WCF, this introduces Kiwis to the care and craftsmanship behind locally grown ingredients.

So the next time you savour one of our delicious chocolate-covered hazelnuts, know that you’re enjoying the fruits of Uncle Joe’s passion, as well as WCF’s dedication to showcasing local flavours and the pride of Kiwi growers at the heart of Aotearoa’s growing hazelnut industry.