NZ Bakels

About NZ Bakels

Operating since 1904, NZ Bakels develops, manufactures, and distributes innovative ingredients and formulation solutions for bakers and patissiers globally. Serving commercial bakeries, foodservice operators, craft bakers, and home enthusiasts alike, the company provides technical expertise and ingredients tailored to professional breadmaking, cake decorating, and confectionery.

From specialized bread improvers, sourdoughs, and premixes to iconic Pettinice colored fondants and gluten-free ranges, NZ Bakels delivers industry-grade baking products. Backed by dedicated applications specialists, research and development, and accredited training centres, they support bakers across New Zealand with quality ingredients and practical bakery solutions.

Inside NZ Bakels: Engineering Quality Ingredients for New Zealand Bakers

Since 1904, the Bakels name has been synonymous with commercial baking innovation and technical ingredient manufacture. Across all five continents, Bakels develops, manufactures, and distributes an extensive portfolio of ingredients engineered to assist both commercial plant bakeries and artisan patissiers. In New Zealand, NZ Bakels plays a foundational role in the nation's baking trade, delivering reliable mixes, leavening agents, and release solutions designed to perform under demanding production schedules.

At the core of the company's offering is a deep focus on product development and functional food science. Rather than treating bakery inputs as generic commodities, NZ Bakels designs targeted systems—from enzyme-driven bread improvers and shelf-life extenders to specialty fat emulsions and sourdough cultures. These formulations help commercial bakers overcome common flour variances, manage fermentation stability, and achieve precise crumb textures and crust finishes across high-volume runs.

Signature Ingredients and Trusted Formulations

Among the company’s most widely recognised innovations is Pettinice, a pliable, ready-to-roll coloured fondant icing that has become a staple for professional cake decorators and pastry chefs crafting celebration cakes. On the bread side, products like Bakels Tiger Paste provide bakers with an easy-to-apply topical paste that bakes into the distinctive cracked pattern, crunch, and aroma characteristic of artisan tiger bread.

NZ Bakels has also adapted closely to evolving consumer preferences through specialized product lines. The Gold Label range, initially formulated around core traditional recipes by master bakers, offers premium cake and sponge pre-mixes with dependable crumb resilience. Complementing this is an extensive lineup of gluten-free flours and mixes, allowing craft and commercial bakeries to produce high-standard gluten-free loaves, rolls, and sweet goods without compromising on hydration, elasticity, or oven spring.

Training, Industry Support, and Development

Beyond raw ingredient manufacture, NZ Bakels maintains a comprehensive footprint in trade education and technical support. The company operates the Bakels Training School, delivering NZQA Category 1 baking qualifications up to Level 4 across facilities in Palmerston North, Auckland, and Christchurch. This educational investment directly fosters apprentices and bakery technicians entering the trade.

Additionally, NZ Bakels champions the broader baking sector by hosting and backing key industry fixtures, most notably the annual Bakels Supreme Pie Awards. Through specialized Centres of Competence and global Baking Centres, the company continues to pair ingredient supply with practical application guidance for bakeries of every scale.

Signature items

• Bakels Tiger Paste
• Pettinice Fondant Icing
• Gold Label Baking Mixes
• Gluten Free Baking Mixes
• Bread Improvers

Menu

Bakery Mixes

• Gold Label Baking Mixes — Master baker-developed cake, slice, and sweet baking mixes, including gluten-free varieties.
• Gluten Free Baking Mixes and Flour — Specialty gluten-free flour and versatile premixes in convenient pack sizes.

Pie Ingredients

• Pie & Savoury Fillings — Commercial savoury sauces and pie fillings developed for pie-making applications.

Icings & Decorating

• Pettinice Coloured Icing — Ready-to-roll coloured fondant icing designed for celebration cakes and confectionery work.
• Icings & Coverings — Professional coverings, fondants, and finishes for specialty baking.

Bread & Savoury Solutions

• Bakels Tiger Paste — Specialty paste providing tiger patterning, distinctive flavour, and crunch on bread crusts.
• Bread Improvers — Formulations engineered to improve dough conditioning, volume, and crumb structure.
• Sourdough Products — Sourdough bases and concentrates for artisan loaf production.

Education & Industry Services

• Bakels Training School Programmes — NZQA Category 1 Level 4 bakery training delivered across Palmerston North, Auckland, and Christchurch.

Fillings, Sauces & Confectionery

• Caramel & Fruit Fillings — Bakery-stable sweet fillings, fruit sauces, and glazes for pastries and pies.
• Compound & Real Chocolate — Drops, blocks, and ganache bases formulated for patisserie and decorating.
• Whippable Toppings — High-yield whippable creams and toppings for cakes and desserts.
• Release Solutions — Baking pan and tin greasing agents for clean release.

Frequently asked questions

What types of products does NZ Bakels manufacture?

NZ Bakels manufactures commercial bakery mixes, bread improvers, specialty fats, fondants, gluten-free premixes, fillings, chocolate, glazes, release agents, and technical baking ingredients.

Does NZ Bakels offer gluten-free baking options?

Yes, NZ Bakels produces dedicated gluten-free flour blends and sweet and savoury baking mixes designed for reliable baking performance.

What is Pettinice?

Pettinice is a ready-to-roll coloured fondant icing produced by Bakels, widely used by professional cake decorators and home bakers for celebration cakes.

Does NZ Bakels provide accredited bakery training?

Yes, the Bakels Training School provides NZQA Category 1 bakery training up to Level 4 in Palmerston North, Auckland, and Christchurch.

What is Bakels Tiger Paste?

Bakels Tiger Paste is a topical preparation applied to bread dough prior to baking to create a distinctive cracked tiger crust pattern, flavor, and crunch.

Does Bakels support commercial pie makers?

Yes, Bakels supplies pie fillings, batters, seasonings, and technical solutions, and organizes the annual Bakels Supreme Pie Awards.

Tips

• {"body":"The ready-to-roll fondant is formulated for smooth draping and clean edges on celebration cakes.","title":"Explore Pettinice for Cake Decorating"}
• {"body":"Apply tiger paste prior to baking to add extra crunch and a patterned finish to artisan loaves.","title":"Test Tiger Paste on Crusty Loaves"}
• {"body":"Bakers seeking formal qualifications can explore Level 4 NZQA-accredited courses at regional training centres.","title":"Look into Training School Offerings"}

Good to know

• {"dietary":"Produces dedicated ranges of gluten-free baking flours and premixes."}