MEET YOUR {OUTSTANDING} MAKER - ROBBIES

Photos include; Josie and her husband Gus; Robbies award-winning Black Garlic Sauce and Josie and her daughter Amelia receiving the Free From Champion Award from ONZFPA judge Connie Clarkson of Homeland.

When Robbies Artisan Collection Noir Gärlik, Black Garlic Sauce was named Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards Free From Champion 2022 and received a gold medal, Gore’s Josie Robinson was rewarded for all the trial and error, tears and driving over the past few years.

Taking a chance and following her gut instinct led Josie Robinson to create Robbie’s Pickles in 2015. Since then she’s become known as Mrs Pickles and the business – named after the Southland contraction of her last name - has built a reputation for organic, high quality pickles, relishes and other preserves which are ‘just like Nan made’. 

Having always been passionate about making organic, high quality food, Josie often whipped up homemade relishes for friends, based on her grandmother’s recipes. People always commented on how fantastic her creations were and this support, combined with a strong gut feeling that never went away, prompted Josie to channel her ambitious nature into starting up Robbie’s Pickles. In Josie’s words her inspiration for starting Robbie’s Pickles was “a gut feeling that never went away, the need to eat what I grew up with and a big life collision.”

Striving for excellence in every aspect of her life, Josie has always been ambitious, with her business venture being no different. “In previous lifetimes, I have excelled in whatever I’ve done, I’ve always worked to a really high level,” she says.

Since starting the business, Josie has faced no shortage of tests. “There have been many challenges, when you overcome something, then another thing happens,” she says. “It was knowing what event to go to, what stock to take, what vehicle to buy, what to make. Asking ‘what do people want? Are they going to buy it?’…it was so many things”.

“Nothing was written when I began this, I was only making tomato relish from the tomatoes I grew. We didn’t have ingredients or money or anything, we went without so much,” she says. “It’s pretty powerful when you have to follow your heart and gut, even if it will jeopardise everything you have.”

However, Josie’s determination to follow her instinct and put everything on the line has paid off. “I had to work it all out through trial and error, tears and driving” she says.

The success Robbies Pickles found at the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards has been a rewarding and validating experience for Josie. Demonstrating that her hard work, dedication and passion has truly paid off. “The gold medal gave me validation for what I make. There was love from so many people because they noticed how hard I had worked. To get that award….. it was amazing”.

Creative freedom and the ability to incorporate her philosophy of creating fresh, homemade products without hidden chemicals and preservatives keeps Josie going. “I love the creative freedom, I love that I can create things from my head or my gut. I never stop thinking, so I love being able to live in the creative artisan part of me,” she says.

“It’s just like Nan made. I use those methods, it’s either what my grandmother did or how she did it. I feel all my heritage and history,” she says. “Making food like we grew up with, without the rubbish, and restoring my favourite food memories, I love that what we do creates that.”

Purchase Robbie’s from their website or find Robbies Artisan Collection Noir Gärlik, Black Garlic Sauce at Homeland in Auckland.