Help Rebuild Inferno Woodfire Pizza

Last year I purchased a mobile pizza business from Pauanui, I brought it to Auckland and called her "INFERNO WOODFIRE PIZZA"!

I spent $30,000 buying her knowing she had great potential. But as we entered Auckland along came lockdown. It took me months and over $1000 just to register with the Auckland council.

I was eligible for the government payout and received the first one offered to businesses, but they became harder to get as each one came out. As a new business starting out I had no previous accounts to compare with. I did however manage to accomplish 6 markets in 1 year. But all with trial and error. Most of them I just broke even after paying wages, ingredients, stall fees, and petrol etc.

Before I know it, Christmas was here and I hadn't been able to set up at any major events due to the instability of the markets. Inferno was running at a loss. Thoughts of selling floated through my mind but I loved making pizza and enjoyed my new career.

I begged and borrowed from my mum, if she could fund this popular yearly Chinese festival coming up next week. It was $380 for the stall. I prepped for a crowd as $25,000 went the year before I could see it being very busy. Even if 5,000 came a good percentage would buy pizza. But on the day it was like we were foreign to everyone. The organisers failed to mention it needs to be authentic Chinese cuisine, they just wanted their stalls hired out as turnout for them too was low. I lost over $1,000 with hiring the stall, wages and ingredients

I was reluctant to ask again, but the Kumeu Show was coming up and I had already pre booked the year before. It was time to pay the $650 stall fees. I asked mum again knowing she too sustained a loss on my last venture. But in business you live and learn, I wasn't going to make that mistake again. And she generously gave to help me get up and running. I just needed that one festival to bring in a decent amount of money to sustain itself.

And it worked! Kumeu was a success. I made enough money to pay mum back her $650 pay my workers and expenses and have enough left to hire at the next event.

Last week I was on my way home when my son called me.. MUM THE PIZZA TRUCK IS ON FIRE! ITS TOTALLY GONE, WHERE ARE YOU? Somehow I knew telling him where the fire extinguisher was located on the truck was pointless. As I entered my road all I could see was .. an INFERNO. 😔 She was ablaze alright. The flames 2 stories high.. Both the truck and trailer. Someone had torched my beautiful pizzeria I worked so hard to get going. She was absolutely destroyed in 9 minutes.

I really don't know what to say, the fact someone could stoop to such a level is beyond me. Arson is a serious statement to make. I'm not a nasty or vindictive person. And certainly have never done anything to anyone to deserve such punishment.

And the first thing everyone asks me is did you have insurance? And it's embarrassing to say no. Because I know better. I knew getting insurance was important but with it not bringing in an income to carry itself I didn't get insurance. I put it in the same box as all the other expenditures when really it's one thing everyone should have regardless. It was an asset. And a big one once set up right.

I've had cheap offers from people to buy both truck and trailer and was currently in the process of trying to get the best price. But then what?, I have no work no income and back at square one, trying to decide what to do in life.

All my friends and family are guttered, most loved the pizza truck and are all for supporting me to rebuild. Some are approaching people and businesses they know to see if they could donate me something I need to rebuild with. A couple of cupboard doors, or some door handles, a small fridge, or paint, anything that can be used to help rebuild.

Whatever the case it's all very exciting and gives me hope. So I hope that others can help me too.