Meet the Team
There is a core group of staff which make the Bakery and Café tick on daily basis, and they are listed below.
John - Master Baker and Owner | Lisa - Shop Manager | Others
We have a new baker!
Glen Popplewell has been baking for 6 years now. He took the opportunity to come work here a month ago and is keen to learn even more from John. Glen was born and breed in sunny Hawkes Bay. He even went to Karamu High School. He has lived in Auckland and Hamilton learning the trade. Glen has fitted in very well after only one month working with the team. His specialty is making a delicious dutch apple tart. He looks forward to you trying his creations.
John van den Berk
John is the Owner/Operator, and Master Baker who was instrumental in turning this business into the vibrant cafe and bakery you see today.
He started out working in his fathers bakery in Waipukurau at just 10 years of age, so has baking in his blood. John would bike the 2k to work every morning to help his father before biking to school. Obviously no one was at all surprised when he took off to Wellington to start a baking apprenticeship. From Wellington the apprenticeship transferred to Napier, and eventually John completed his time in Hastings at the Woodward cake kitchen.
John rejoined his father in Woodville where another family bakery had been setup, and worked there for awhile so his father could travel overseas. Once his father had returned John then went to work for a pie company and ended up managing the business for a number of years.
Following a stint of overseas travelling himself, John returned to New Zealand to manage a bakery in Napier, but eventually went into business with his father and a couple of family members until the business was sold a few years later.
John then got married to his wife Jeanette and they decided to set up their own business - so they bought the worst place in Hastings and transformed it into the award winning Bakery it is today.
16 years, 15 staff and 3 children later, John has followed his passion for baking and has even trained as a Barista. He now boasts he makes the best coffee in town using local coffee bean roasters Hawthorne.
Lisa has been with Johns for 5 years now, starting out as a roll maker quickily progressing to shop supervisor.
Having trained as a Barista Lisa makes an awesome coffee. Karla Lisa's sister is the full time barista. She makes super cup of coffee.
Working in the hospitality industry since leaving school Lisa really enjoys a challenge, and does a great job of running the day to day aspect’s of the shop and the orders that come in daily.
Special thanks
Like any food and beverage business there is a number of part time workers who contribute to the Johns Bakery and Café team, and we salute and thank them for their contribution everyday.