Say Kia Ora to These New Zealand Brands at Thrive Market

New Zealand: an island country filled with jagged, rocky fjords, golden beaches, and mountain ranges straight out of a fantasy film. It’s also home to a robust wellness culture that boasts independent brands creating thoughtful products using ingredients unique to New Zealand.

“Kiwi producers have a unique connection with the land and sea known as ‘Kaitiakitanga’, or care for people and place,” explains Charlotte Simcock, Head of Marketing in North America for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. “It is a belief that when nature thrives, we all thrive.”

We’re proud to carry a well-tailored selection of high-quality products from New Zealand brands, from rich, nourishing skincare lines to plant-powered snacks. According to Simcock, “New Zealand has a worldwide reputation for sustainably produced, high-quality products and ingredients, all made with care. We put integrity at the center of everything we do, and we truly value our relationships — to the land, to the animals, to our customers, and to future generations to come.” 

Read on and say kia ora (a Te Reo Māori greeting loosely meaning “be well” or “be healthy”) to our favorite New Zealand brands at Thrive Market.

New Zealand-Born Brands to Shop at Thrive Market 

Food

Atkins Ranch (*launching soon)
The first lamb producer in the world to achieve Non-GMO Project verification and Global Animal Partnership Step-4 accreditation, Atkins Ranch raises their lambs “as nature intended”. This means the animals are 100% grass fed and raised free to roam on pastures in beautiful New Zealand.

First Light Foods
First Light Foods’ 100% grass-fed cattle are raised on free-range pastures in New Zealand, which has what the brand calls the “the best grass in the world”. With strict sustainability initiatives and a transparent supply chain that includes happy cattle and like-minded farmers, the brand produces wagyu beef and venison that is truly unmatched in quality. 
Try: First Light Wagyu Beef Filet Steak

Frooze Balls
These plant-powered energy balls are 100% vegan — and 100% delicious. Made in New Zealand using only whole, non-GMO ingredients like dates, peanuts, coconut, and berries, Frooze Balls are the perfect protein-packed snacks for health-conscious eaters of all lifestyles. 
Try: Frooze Balls Peanut Butter & Jelly Energy Balls 

Fix & Fogg
Hailed “the best nut butter on the planet” by New York magazine, Fix & Fogg’s nut butters come in flavors like sweet Coffee and Maple Peanut Butter made with Vermont Maple Syrup and spicy Smoke and Fire Peanut Butter with New Mexico hatch chile and manuka smoke. The brand is the first New Zealand-owned food manufacturer to be awarded B Corp certification, prioritizing sustainability at every step of the way. 
Try: Fix & Fogg Everything Butter 

Heilala Vanilla
After the Kingdom of Tonga was hit by Cyclone Waka in 2001, the founders of Heilala Vanilla established a small vanilla plantation alongside a local family in the village of Utungake, New Zealand as an aid initiative to help those affected. Today, Heilala has grown into a global humanitarian brand working to grow a stable, long-term industry for Tonga. 
Try: Heilala Vanilla Pure Vanilla Extract 

Comvita
For nearly 50 years, Comvita have been pioneers in harvesting powerful manuka honey from the forests of New Zealand, where it’s known for its purity and superfood benefits. The brand’s sustainability wins include rescuing 5 million bees from extermination, planting over 8 million trees in New Zealand, and establishing more than 200 beehives in Africa to promote biodiversity and economic stability.
Try: Comvita Raw Manuka Honey Certified UMF 5+ (MGO 83+)

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Beauty

Ethique
Founded in 2012 in Christchurch, New Zealand, Ethique specializes in solid “beauty bars” that nix the plastic-heavy packaging in favor of concentrated formulas in bar form. Founder Brianne studied cosmetic chemistry at university and developed Ethique’s original formulas in her home kitchen. Today, the brand stays true to its roots by paying their staff a living wage; working directly with producers to ensure fair pay and sustainable practices; donating 2% of their sales to charity; making products that are cruelty-free, vegan, and free of palm oil; and, of course, remaining 100% plastic-free.
Try: Ethique Solid Bodywash, Sweet Orange & Vanilla

Essano
The New Zealand-born skincare brand focuses on organic formulations using soothing rosehip oil sustainably sourced from southern Chile. Essano not only prioritizes the planet, but also its people in all of its sourcing: the brand’s rosehip oil is COSMOS certified by Ecocert, ensuring environmentally friendly production and processes with safe and equitable working conditions for all the farmers involved. 
Try: Essano Rosehip Oil

Trilogy
This conscious skincare brand was founded in 2002 by two sisters looking for natural solutions to help soothe their skin sensitivities. Trilogy initially focused on the power of wild-harvested rosehip oil to nourish all skin types, but today, the brand has expanded to include powerful ingredients throughout its vast assortment of products made entirely in New Zealand. 
Try: Trilogy CoQ10 Booster Oil 

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Health & Home

Oi (Organic Initiative)
Perfectly absorbent but super comfortable, Oi period and bladder care range is designed to be better for your health and great for the planet. Uniquely, 100% certified organic (the whole product — not just part of it) Oi tampons, pads and liners are made from only 100% pure certified organic cotton with no toxic chemicals, perfumes or synthetics and biodegrade within 5 years. The women-led brand hails from Aotearoa, New Zealand, and the brand’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Emma Parry is one of New Zealand’s most trusted gynecologists.
Try: Oi Organic Cotton Tampons with BioCompact Applicator 

Lazu
This holistic supplement brand was founded on three pillars of total-body wellness: immune health, weight management, and age protection. Lazu’s  products are formulated with only premium vitamins, minerals, and other natural ingredients to keep you well from the inside out. 
Try: Lazu Keto BHB MAX Capsules

Compostic
Ever wish you could find a more sustainable, compostable version of tried-and-true kitchen essentials like cling wrap and sandwich bags? So did the founders of Compostic — so they created just that. The New Zealand-born brand makes compostable kitchen wares that break down in just 12-14 weeks (instead of hundreds of years) to replace your single-use plastics.
Try: Compostic Cling Wrap