Ann Atkinson grew up in Thailand and when she moved to Tasmania 2017 she missed the flavours of her home, which were sometimes hard to recreate here. So she decided to create her own sauces to bring the bold flavours of Thailand into everyone’s kitchens.

We’ve been delighted to support Ann’s journey from the early days and caught up with her recently to have a chat about how she got started, and what’s special about her products.

Q: What do you produce and where do you produce it?

A: I produce a range of fresh Thai curry sauces. We offer a delicious and authentic Thai meal solution for customers who want to create a beautiful, homemade Thai meal at home. We've also just launched a new stir-fry range, which is a very versatile meal solution perfect for stir-frying or as a flavourful marinade.

Q: How did you start in this business?

A: My journey began when I was living in the UK, where I ran a Thai cookery school and a small catering business. The most common feedback I received was from clients who loved the food they made in my classes but lacked the time and resources to replicate it at home. They continuously asked if I would sell my products.

Ann Atkinson of Thai Larder

This planted a seed, and the idea of creating a retail product line—made with local, quality ingredients and traditional methods—was always in the back of my mind. Fast-forward to Tasmania in 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic: we decided to produce home-cooked Thai meal deliveries, which was the perfect opportunity to bring this idea to life! It was a chance to finally share our authentic Thai flavours with a wider audience, providing a convenient and delicious solution for people to enjoy at home.

Q: Tell us about your business today.

A: Today, Thai Larder is dedicated to making authentic Thai cooking accessible for everyone. Our mission is to provide delicious, convenient 'meal solutions' that allow people to enjoy the true flavours of Thailand at home without the fuss. Building on the success of our fresh Thai curry sauces, we've recently expanded our range to include a versatile stir-fry sauce line. We are always innovating and currently working on exciting new products, including salad dressings, dipping sauces, and Thai condiments. We love hearing from our customers and welcome their ideas and suggestions on what they'd like to see Thai Larder produce next.

Q: How did you come to work with Hill Street?

A: Our partnership with Hill Street was a goal from our very first year. We admired their reputation for supporting small local producers, and it was a dream to have our products featured on their shelves. The opportunity arose through a fantastic "Cultivating" program, and we seized it immediately. We were invited to Hill Street’s head office to present our products, so we cooked a curry using our sauce and provided a curry tasting for all the staff. The feedback was amazing. This led to Hill Street giving us the incredible opportunity to become a supplier, and we've been proud to be part of their community ever since.

Q: What is special about your products?

A: Our Fresh Thai Curry Sauces: Our curry sauces stand out because they are made with a passion for authenticity. We use a traditional blend of fresh herbs and spices, combined with pure coconut cream, to create a flavour that, as our customers often tell us, doesn't taste like packaged food. It's the next best thing to a curry paste made from scratch. This unique approach allows you to create a beautiful, authentic Thai curry at home by simply adding your choice of protein and vegetables and letting it simmer. It's the perfect solution for a flavourful, homemade meal without the time-consuming preparation.

Our Versatile Stir-Fry Range: Our newly launched stir-fry range is all about versatility and customisation. The base stir-fry sauce is the foundation for countless Thai dishes, allowing you to easily create your favourite meal. This means you don't need to stock multiple bottles of different Asian sauces, as everything you need is in this one bottle. For example, you can add fresh ginger and spring onions for a classic ginger stir-fry, or garlic and white peppercorn for a fragrant garlic stir-fry. It also doubles as a fantastic marinade for Thai-style barbecue.

Additionally, our Thai Chilli Jam is the perfect base for popular dishes like stir-fried cashew nuts or Pad Thai, offering a spicy kick. For a different flavour profile, our peanut sauce can be used as a delicious dipping sauce for grilled meats, a rich stir-fry sauce, or a flavourful salad dressing.

Q: Which is your personal favourite and why?

A: It's a tie between our Thai Red Curry sauce and our versatile stir-fry sauce.

I love the Thai Red Curry sauce because it's incredibly versatile. Beyond making a classic red curry, I use it to add a spicy kick to pumpkin soup, create a delicious Thai red curry noodle soup, or even make a traditional Thai steamed fish curry. The possibilities are truly endless!

Our stir-fry sauce is a game-changer for me as a busy parent. It helps me get a delicious, authentic meal on the table quickly, taking the stress out of meal preparation. Both products are a constant in my kitchen, and I love seeing my family enjoy a fresh, flavourful Thai meal with them.

Q: What do you like most about being a producer in Tasmania?

A: I love being a producer in Tasmania because of the access to such beautiful, fresh produce and the vibrant community of talented food producers. We all tend to share a similar ethos and values, with a strong focus on being natural, clean-label, and supporting our community. This collaborative and supportive environment, combined with the exceptional quality of Tasmanian ingredients, makes this a truly special place to create our products

Q: What are the challenges?

A: One of the key challenges is balancing the cost of sourcing the best local ingredients. While Tasmanian and Australian produce is exceptional, it can sometimes be more expensive than imported products. We also find that some consumers mistakenly believe that only imported products can deliver authentic Thai flavour. We see this as an opportunity to educate our customers and demonstrate that authentic flavours can be achieved with the highest quality Australian ingredients. It's a privilege to prove that authentic taste and local support are not mutually exclusive. The current cost-of-living pressure is another factor, but we're committed to providing a product that is not only delicious and authentic but also offers great value for a homemade meal.

Q: Is there a recipe that you would like to share with our customers?

Yes, here’s my Stir Fry Chicken with Cashew Nuts. It’s a perfect week-night meal and features my Thai Chilli Jam Stir Fry Sauce. Enjoy! See the recipe here.

Thai Larder’s sauces are on promotion in all Hill Street stores in August - check out our Weekly Catalogue here for some great pricing!

And breaking news: Ann will be one of our stallholders at our Meet the Producers event on Saturday 23 August from 1-4pm, so come along and say hi! More details to come on our socials.