Delicious, healthy food at Air Chathams-run airport cafe

Published on 08 December 2022

Air Chathams has taken over the Whanganui Airport cafe. JARS Cafe will be run by Loulou Krebs and her daughter Lola. Loulou, originally from Wellington, previously taught bakery and cookery at UCOL and worked at Maria Lane.

Whanganui District Council supported Air Chathams with the set-up of the in-house cafe through favourable lease terms and a coffee machine. Previously, the cafe was leased to private providers. The in-house cafe will be based on the Whakatane Airport model, which Air Chathams also operates.

Duane Emeny, Air Chathams chief operating officer, says the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns meant fewer or no passengers over the last several years, but now passengers are returning and forecasted to grow.

“A great cafe is an essential part of the airport and we look forward to JARS Cafe’s new service,” says Duane Emeny.

“It’s great to have a collaboration between Air Chathams and the council to keep our airport humming, to get Whanganui people back and forth from Auckland and for tourists to access our beautiful district,” says Duane Emeny.

Loulou Krebs says the cafe will provide “good, healthy, uncomplicated and delicious” food, with menu items like “tomato on Vogel’s bread” for early-morning passengers to start the day. Other menu items include scones and muffins, quiches and sausage rolls, all made in the cafe kitchen. Superfood ingredients and home-made preserves will also be in the mix, as well as great coffee.

The cafe’s name is based on Lola’s love of jars as well as Loulou’s preserves, and jars will be used as serving vessels.

JARS Cafe hours are Monday to Friday, 6.00am to 11.00am and 3.30pm to 5.00pm. On Sundays the hours are 3.30pm to 5.00pm. Closed Saturdays. Hours will be reviewed in the new year.