Bertrand Jang was a member of the very first cohort to go through The Kitchen Project and is a true Auckland food success story. Fijian-born, living in NZ for nearly a decade, he loves Aotearoa as if it were his own country, which is why it is his life goal to bring awareness of the flavours of the Pacific to New Zealand.

Sweet and Me is a Pasifika-inspired cakery that specialises in unique island blends. The team love the old and new array of bakes and try to keep the best of their grandparents’ way of cooking alive, with modern twists. The main reason Bert is still involved in this programme is that he knows how hard it is to start a business from nothing. “It’s not easy, but with great leadership and guidance from experts and friends, your dreams can come true with hard work and perseverance.”