A cookie-making company with its origins in Howick is baking what’s believed to be the only mass-produced gluten-free Anzac biscuits in New Zealand.

Kea Cookies, which was based in Wellington Street for many years before shifting to St John’s, has been steadily building up its baking numbers and product lines of gluten-free biscuits.

This is the first year it has successfully worked up a gluten-free Anzac biscuit recipe and credit for that goes to lead baker Lucy Alexander.

A quick taste-test reveals she’s delivered a crunchy cookie that has all the qualities of the original basic-recipe Anzac biscuit, that’s now approaching 110 years of age.

When the sweet-toothed Times visited Kea Cookies’ bakery and factory in the lead-up to Anzac Day, there’s a delicious smell of freshly made biscuits in the air.

Owner-manager Andrew Hardie, who has run the family business for 11 years, is in the office with factory manager Julie Shew, who has been with Kea Cookies a year longer.

They’ve worked hard with their small team to position the company as one of the market leaders in New Zealand for gluten-free cookies.

Those results are borne out by the fact Kea Cookies products are now available in 120 Woolworths supermarkets across the country, 100 New World stores, as well as Fresh Choice supermarkets, Bin-Inn shops, a few Pak’nSave branches, Gilmours, and at Ballantynes in the South Island, amongst others.

Andrew says a lot of sales are driven through food shows and by supermarket sampling.

The flavours number 15 and range from Choc Chip, Macadamia, Hokey Pokey, Coconut, Double Chocolate to Gingernut, Vanilla, Almond Raspberry and more.

Julie says east Aucklanders can purchase the gluten-free Kea Cookies’ Anzac biscuits at Fresh Choice Half Moon Bay and the Bin Inn health shop in Howick.

They can also be bought via their website www.keacookies.co.nz and at the factory shop at 3/65 Elizabeth Knox Place, St John’s, Auckland 1072.

Julie says the Auckland Council has purchased some for ANZAC Day commemoration events at RSAs including for Devonport, and NZ Blood use Kea Cookies to give to people who have donated blood.