What I Learned at the Christchurch Outdoor Expo: Flavour Comes First!
Oct 09, 2026
Three days, hundreds of conversations, plenty of taste testing and more dogs than I could count!
I've just returned from the Christchurch Outdoor Expo, and what a fantastic few days.
As someone who's naturally an introvert, spending three days chatting to strangers is definitely a workout for my social battery. But getting out and talking to people about Vince is also one of the most valuable things I can do for the business.
And this weekend gave me some pretty interesting insights.
Turns Out, Flavour Really Does Come First
If there was one thing that stood out from my conversations, it was this: people want outdoor meals that actually taste good.
Of course, weight, convenience and nutrition matter when you're packing for a tramp. But again and again, conversations came back to flavour.
People want something they'll genuinely look forward to eating at the end of a long day, not just something to fill them up.
As a chef, I loved hearing this.
Flavour has always been a huge part of developing Vince. When I started working on our Instant Meals, I didn't just want to create something convenient that you could add boiling water to.
I wanted to make food that tasted really good.
After all, when you've spent the day climbing hills, dinner should be one of the highlights!
Apparently, Packaging Matters Too!
Something else that surprised me was how many people commented on our packaging.
Our Instant Meal pouches are shorter and wider than many traditional outdoor meal bags, and people really appreciated that.
The wider opening makes it easier to eat straight from the pouch without digging around with your spoon. A small detail, perhaps, but a pretty handy one when you're eating on the side of a mountain!
And quite a few people told me they simply liked how the bags looked.
It's lovely to hear that those little details are being noticed.
Good Food, Wherever You're Heading
One of the things I love about Vince is that it isn't just for serious trampers heading into the backcountry.
Our Instant Meals are just as handy for camping trips, campervan adventures or those days when you simply want something easy.
They're made with real vegetables, beans or lentils, and plenty of flavour. Just add boiling water, leave for 10ā15 minutes and you've got a satisfying meal.
And with warmer weather on the way, it's a great time to start planning your next adventure.
Stock Up for Your Next Adventure
If you've got a few trips coming up, our Adventure 6 Pack is an easy way to get your meals sorted.
Featuring our Mexican Black Bean & Rice and Italian Ragu with Pasta & Lentils, it's six veggie-packed meals ready to go whenever you are.
Thanks, Christchurch!
A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by the stand, tried a sample, shared their thoughts or simply came over for a chat.
When you spend so much time working on a product behind the scenes, it's easy to get caught up in all the little details.
Getting out and hearing what actually matters to customers is a wonderful reminder of why I started Vince in the first place.
And if there's one thing I'm taking away from this weekend, it's that convenience might get a meal into someone's backpack, but flavour is what makes them want to pack it again.
Happy adventuring!
Debs š
Founder of Vince
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