Gia’s Grab&Go: Leveraging Amotai connections for catering success

Founded by Ana Ma’ilei Savio in 2019, Gia’s Grab&Go is a venture inspired by 15 years of culinary experience and her daughter Gianna’s food allergies. On a mission to provide allergen-friendly, nutritious, and healthy catering, Ana has incorporated the Tongan, Samoan, Italian and New Zealand, cultures of Gianna (Gia), whom the business was named after, into the food she creates.

A platform for connection

Having registered as a supplier with Amotai in 2023, Ana credits the supplier diversity intermediary for opening doors to catering opportunities and enabling her to make meaningful connections.

One of these connections was with Karina Kaufusi, Associate Structural Engineer and Chair of the Pasifika Network at Beca. Karina was first introduced to Gia’s Grab&Go at an Amotai Buyer event held in 2023, where she was so impressed by the catering and their business ethos of Pasifika infusion, that she immediately sought to include Gia’s Grab&Go catering into her own events.

“We have a Pasifika network at Beca that is all about creating an environment that allows our Pasifika staff to thrive and connect beyond our job roles, support our wider community, and look at projects in the Pacific that we could get involved in,” says Karina.

“I knew Gia’s Grab&Go would be a great fit for catering our network events, but they’re now set up in Beca’s system and are catering for events across the organisation.”

Showcasing Pasifika flavours

Ana’s cultural heritage and diverse experiences have been instrumental in shaping the identity and ethos of Gia’s Grab&Go. Raised in Tonga amidst a background of love and traditional cooking, Ana’s upbringing instilled in her a deep appreciation for Pasifika hospitality from an early age.

“Nurturing others and showing our love through cooking is something I’ve always been around, and it just comes naturally to me,” says Ana.

“I’ve also been able to work in a variety of restaurants internationally, from Sydney and London through to Italy – it’s been a journey from the small village of Ha’ateiho in Tonga where I grew up.”

In Italy, Ana found herself drawn to the richness of regional cuisines, influenced by her husband’s heritage. Learning the ways of Italian cooking not only expanded her toolkit but also deepened her connection between food, culture, and community.

It is these multicultural experiences that underscore the Pasifika and Italian flavours that define Gia’s Grab&Go. And for Ana, it’s not just about providing flavourful food, it’s also about promoting allergy awareness and healthy choices.

“Our daughter’s food allergies have propelled us to create delicious, nutritious, and safe food options that are free from common allergens,” says Ana.

“We specialise in providing dairy-free, allergen-friendly, and vegan-friendly meals that not only accommodate our daughter’s dietary needs, but also cater to a broader audience seeking healthy food options.”

Navigating capacity constraints and setbacks

Ana’s journey with Gia’s Grab&Go hasn’t been straight forward. Despite getting an initial surge in demand facilitated by Amotai connections, the business has encountered significant challenges along the way, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Like many businesses in hospitality, we had a tough time during the pandemic as a result of lockdown measures, event cancellations and restrictions. One of the major challenges for us was the loss of a contract to provide catering within the film industry, which had previously provided consistent business for us,” says Ana.

“On top of that, our premises in Onehunga which were already expensive, suddenly had its rent increased. Just like that I found myself on an open lease and they found a new tenant– I got two weeks’ notice to vacate.

“We had just gained a whole lot of new work through Amotai but we got so busy, I wasn’t ready for it. We lost some opportunities with the move as we just couldn’t execute the jobs until we could find a new kitchen.”

Despite the obstacles and stress, Ana was able to eventually secure a new space on K Road through a friend of hers, which meant shifting all the operations into the city and fitting it out with a new kitchen and essential equipment such as ovens, dishwashers, and refrigerators.

“It was a very hectic and tough time during that period so I’m very grateful to be settled into our new premises and ready to deliver on corporate catering jobs.

Enhancing cultural diversity

From client meetings to networking gatherings and board meetings, Gia’s Grab&Go has consistently delivered outstanding catering services that have left a lasting impression on Karina and her team at Beca.

“Through Gia’s Grab&Go catering we’ve been able to foster a real sense of community and cultural appreciation within our organisation – it’s the first time I’ve seen pacific food being served in a corporate environment,” says Karina.

“One of the things I notice is their flexibility and customisation – whether it’s catering for intimate gatherings, team meetings or large-scale events, Gia’s Grab&Go has demonstrated an ability to tailor menus and experiences to suit the specific needs of each occasion.”

As an Amotai registered buyer that actively celebrates diversity, Beca have numerous initiatives underway including a partnership with the South Pacific Professional Engineering Excellence organisation, which Gia’s Grab&Go has also provided catering for.

One of the most memorable opportunities for Gia’s Grab&Go, was supporting Beca’s Pasifika Network to host and cater for a board meeting.

“For this event we set up an afternoon tea and kava tasting – incorporating as much of our culture as we could into the experience, which sets us apart from other caterers,” says Ana.

“I was able to explain what kava is and how it connects me to my grandfather who has since passed away and was a very special man. And we served it with appetisers before heading in to a 3-course meal using local and sustainable ingredients that were all allergy friendly.”

Achieving a work-life balance

For Ana, the goal now is to continue to raise awareness with food allergies and sustainability, continue to deliver exceptional food for clients and to prioritise her time with daughter Gianna and husband Adriano.

“It’s hard in this industry not to work twelve hours a day seven days a week,” says Ana.

“My goal now is to have evenings off and ensure we have a better work life balance.”

To do this Gia’s Grab&Go is attracting talented Pasifika youth who share in their values of connecting with and preparing excellent cuisine, so that they can continue to develop local talent.

Ana expresses her gratitude to Amotai, and the wider community that has supported the business over the last year.

“We’ve been really fortunate that through Amotai, we’ve been able to connect with and introduce ourselves to other Māori and Pasifika businesses, and have direct access to the corporate world,” says Ana.