Wellington’s Alamir Bakery in liquidation after 32 years in business, production halted

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Wellington‘s Alamir Bakery, which has been producing Lebanese food for 32 years, has gone into liquidation.

The family-run business supplies “staple Lebanese” products like pita bread, hummus, and falafel to supermarkets and restaurants around New Zealand.

Alamir Bakery had sold its food to supermarkets, food stores and more than 100 restaurants.

The Companies Register shows Alamir Company Ltd has had liquidator Heath Gair of Palliser Insolvency appointed as of yesterday.

The Miramar-based business supplied a product range of pita bread, hummus, tahini, pita chips, falafel, and baba ghanouj to all major supermarkets, stocked in both Foodstuffs and Woolworths stores nationwide.

Their products could also be found in Wellington’s Moore Wilson’s and Auckland’s Farro Fresh.

Alamir’s product range includes hummus, falafel, and pita bread but customers have noticed them missing from supermarket shelves recently. Photo / Alamir Bakery.

In 2021, managing director Ali Dia told the Herald the company was started by his father as an offshoot of his mother’s catering in 1992 and had “grown like crazy” since.

Dia said at the time they had 28 staff and operated two factories in Wellington “one where we produce the pita bread and the other where we produce our falafel bites, hummus and tahini”.

Business was “rough” during the Covid-19 lockdown, with Dia saying they had to lay off two staff members and drop to 60% of production.

“We’re on our way to get back on track, but this is definitely the worst January we’ve had in a long time” Dia said at the time.

The Dia family, photographed in 2021, are behind Wellington-based Lebanese food manufacturer Alamir Bakery. Photo / Supplied

It is understood production has halted and customers have noticed Alamir’s products absent from supermarket shelves in recent weeks.

Alamir Bakery did not respond to repeated requests for comment, but this morning confirmed the closure in a post on Facebook.

In a joint statement from Ali, Hassan, Abe, Eassa, and Wafaa, the family said they were saddened but overwhelmingly thankful for the support they’ve received over the years.

”Our parents started this company after escaping the civil war in Lebanon - in the early days we had to explain what falafel and hummus was to supermarkets. We’re proud these have become staples for many across Aotearoa.”

The family urged people to support their local businesses.

”We know it’s tough out there but where possible, buy local and directly from the supplier to help keep other New Zealand companies alive”, the family said.

Liquidator Heath Gair has been approached for comment.

Ali Dia (left) and older brother Abrahim Dia. Photo / Supplied

Another significant Wellington food supplier, Wishbone, was placed in liquidation in August last year.

The Woodward Group which owned Wishbone was established in 1999 in Wellington by William Scarlet and Andrea Gibson-Scarlett.

Wishbone had 17 stores at the time of its liquidation, mostly in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin with about 110 staff.

The company’s pre-made meal packs were also sold in Countdown and Foodstuff supermarkets.

In April it was revealed the Woodward Group owed creditors $6.8m.

Ethan Manera is a multimedia journalist based in Wellington. He joined NZME in 2023 and is interested in local issues, politics and property in the capital. Ethan is always on the lookout for a story and can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz.