9.png

Peter Torrington has over 30 years’ experience leading commercial strategies for major brands across Europe, Asia, and Australasia, including senior leadership roles with Colgate-Palmolive, Chief Sales Officer at Whittaker’s, and CEO of The Produce Company. Through Ask Pete, he now works with New Zealand brands such as Bostock Brothers, Kiwigarden, Serious Food Co, and Grin Natural Products to expand locally and internationally.

This guide focuses on solving NZ brand founders’ biggest blockers — from structuring and funding your startup, to pitching retailers, scaling online, and preparing for exit.

Peter Torrington | AskPete

From Idea to Shelf: The Tactical Playbook for NZ Consumer Brands

Clear, NZ-specific answers on funding, trademarks, retail pitching, ecommerce, and building a brand worth acquiring.

How to Kick-off and Fund a NZ Consumer Brand Startup:

<aside>

Part 1: How to Structure and Protect Your Brand

Part 2: How to Fund Your NZ Product Brand - Without VC

Part 3: How to Pitch to NZ Retailers as a New Brand

Part 4: Which Ecommerce Platform Works for NZ Brands?

Part 5: How to Exit a NZ Consumer Brand — Without VC

</aside>

Consumer Brand Case Studies:

<aside>

Girl Native: Building New Zealand’s Indigenous Beauty & Skincare Brand

Six Barrel Soda: Building New Zealand’s Craft Soda Brand

Ārepa: Building New Zealand’s Brainfood Brand

FTN Motion: Building New Zealand’s First Electric Motorcycle Brand

</aside>

Consumer Brand Case Studies

<aside> <img src="notion://custom_emoji/8c512b4b-3b9c-48d6-9077-f4e1229f1ddd/261b7f25-b3aa-8054-a175-007acf1e9008" alt="notion://custom_emoji/8c512b4b-3b9c-48d6-9077-f4e1229f1ddd/261b7f25-b3aa-8054-a175-007acf1e9008" width="40px" />

Six Barrel Soda

Building NZ’s Craft Soda Brand

</aside>

<aside> <img src="notion://custom_emoji/8c512b4b-3b9c-48d6-9077-f4e1229f1ddd/261b7f25-b3aa-8046-a7c4-007abf9e7837" alt="notion://custom_emoji/8c512b4b-3b9c-48d6-9077-f4e1229f1ddd/261b7f25-b3aa-8046-a7c4-007abf9e7837" width="40px" />

FTN Motion

Building NZ’s Electric Motorcycle Brand

</aside>

<aside> <img src="notion://custom_emoji/8c512b4b-3b9c-48d6-9077-f4e1229f1ddd/261b7f25-b3aa-80ad-ab64-007a3bb8886d" alt="notion://custom_emoji/8c512b4b-3b9c-48d6-9077-f4e1229f1ddd/261b7f25-b3aa-80ad-ab64-007a3bb8886d" width="40px" />

Ārepa

Building NZ’s Brainfood Brand

</aside>

<aside> <img src="notion://custom_emoji/8c512b4b-3b9c-48d6-9077-f4e1229f1ddd/273b7f25-b3aa-8014-84a7-007a07309f76" alt="notion://custom_emoji/8c512b4b-3b9c-48d6-9077-f4e1229f1ddd/273b7f25-b3aa-8014-84a7-007a07309f76" width="40px" />

Girl Native

Building NZ’s Indigenous Skincare Brand

</aside>

Part 1: How to Structure and Protect Your Brand

Wondering how to structure and trademark your NZ consumer brand? This part covers the exact costs, legal setups, and IP protections founders search for when launching.

Part 2: How to Fund Your NZ Product Brand (Without Venture Capital)

Venture capital rarely backs consumer brands—so how do you fund inventory, launch costs, and growth? This part explains 8 alternative funding options founders actually use.

Part 3: How to Pitch to NZ Retailers as a New Brand

Not sure how to pitch to NZ retailers? This part gives you the checklist, benchmarks, and 10-slide pitch deck outline buyers expect.