Marianne Archibald didn’t set out to become a lettuce farmer. But when an unexpected opportunity emerged in rural Waverley, she and her family stepped into the world of hydroponic growing, transforming a rundown site into Salad Brothers, a thriving, family-run operation supplying fresh greens to cafés, wholesalers, supermarkets, and households across Taranaki and beyond.

In this episode of the PowerUp Podcast, Marianne shares how she, her husband, and her brother-in-law taught every part of the business from scratch. From building systems and efficiencies to maintaining consistent quality, she reflects the realities of running a values-led family business in a demanding environment.

The kōrero also explores the importance of holding firm on price and standards, and what it means to reach a crossroads and thoughtfully prepare a business for its next chapter.

A grounded conversation about determination, teamwork, and building something meaningful from the ground up.