Streetwise coffee wins best in company

The score was made up of mystery shopper feedback and things like mentoring other franchisees and overall results.

‘‘Rod runs a fantastic business. His staff are really good.

‘‘We were all delighted that he got it because he deserved it,’’ he said.

Streetwise is the biggest coffeecart operation in the city, with peak hours between 6-11am.

Te Whatu set up his first cart in Rangitikei Street, opposite the Arohanui Hospice shop, in May 2008.

The second was set up in Main Street in 2011 and the third outside Pak ‘n Save in 2013.

He got the idea while travelling in his previous role as a Government employee. Frequent stops at the Streetwise cart in Otaki got him thinking.

‘‘I got talking to the franchisor over time and asking more and more questions. I loved the coffee.

‘‘I had always had the desire to be self-employed, but didn’t know what that elusive ‘thing’ was,’’ he said.

After meeting with the franchise operators, he decided to give it a go.

‘‘It was a mixture of fear and excitement, but we opened and it was day-by-day, by day.’’ The leap of faith has paid off. ‘‘We’ve kept it simple,’’ said Te Whatu. ‘‘Everything we do is to make people happy.

‘‘We sell coffee, but it’s about people. That’s what makes the job fun.’’ Alzheimers Manawatu had a walk to remember as the sea of purple shirts went through The Square on Saturday. A group of family and friends walked through The Square before finishing up at the Palmerston North City Library. Alzheimers Manawatu manager Donna Hedley said the walk was about raising awareness about alzheimers and dementia. MPs, councillors and the mayor attended the walk, as well as family members who have lost loved ones to the illness.