FAQs

NEW ZEALAND
Each supermarket banner selects the range of products you see on their shelf. Unfortunately, Barker’s aren’t able to control which of our products are available in your local supermarket.

If you can’t find what you are looking for while shopping in-store or online, we suggest you ask in person at the Customer Service Desk in-store, or email your local supermarket. They may be able to order products in for you.

You can always buy from our Barker's online shop (barkers.co.nz/shop) to see our full range of products (including bulk sizes) and get them delivered straight to your door!

AUSTRALIA
A selection of Barker’s products are sold in Australian supermarkets and in our Australian online shop (barkers.com.au/shop). We welcome you to visit us!

OTHER COUNTRIES

Unfortunately, we are not fulfilling international orders at this point.

Previous experience has taught us that with international freight there is a high breakage of the glass packaging and often the high cost of international couriers is greater than the cost of the product! We are sorry for the inconvenience.

Almost all of Barker’s retail products are gluten-free. We clearly mark this information in the product page online and on the product label.

Some products are 'gluten nil detected', which means that some of our ingredient suppliers have not been able to guarantee that there is no risk of gluten contamination in their harvesting or processing. If you have an allergy or intolerance, it's always a good idea to make your own informed decisions before consuming.

Click here to read more about the differences between Gluten Free and Nil Detected.

We’re unable to accept used and cleaned bottles for return or recycling directly. However, glass bottles and jars are widely accepted through council-run curb-side recycling programs throughout New Zealand.

We recommend giving your empty bottles and jars a wash before placing them in your curb-side recycling bin. You can check your local council’s website for specific guidelines, as services can vary slightly by region.

We do, however, strongly encourage upcycling your jars and bottles and have a bunch of inspiration available in our Food Journal - Our Sustainability Journey.

As more Kiwis look to moderate their sugar intake, we’re committed to developing products that support health and wellness, without compromising on flavour.

“Reduced Sugar” means our syrups are lower in calories and contain around 50% less sugar than the regular Barker’s range. We achieve this by replacing some of the sugar with natural sweeteners like stevia, while still delivering great flavour.

Stevia is a natural, plant-based sweetener extracted from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant. It has been used in South America for hundreds of years. It is 250–300 times sweeter than sugar, but has no impact on blood sugar levels and contains very few calories (11kJ per gram).

Our "Reduced Sugar" and "No Refined Sugar" products are carefully crafted to ensure you still get the same full flavour, just with fewer sugars and calories.

When a product is labelled Gluten Free, it means it meets the required standard to make that claim, with a 0g gluten status shown on the nutritional panel.

“Nil detected” means the product has been formulated using ingredients known to be gluten free and has been tested, with no gluten detected.

However, even when no gluten is detected, we may choose not to label a product as Gluten Free if an ingredient supplier cannot guarantee there has been no cross-contamination anywhere in the supply chain. While any potential presence would be extremely low, we take a cautious approach.

Whether to consume these products comes down to individual preference and sensitivity. Some people may feel comfortable, while others with higher sensitivity may prefer to avoid them.

To help you make the right choice, full nutritional information is available on Barkers.co.nz under the nutrition tab on each product page.

In 2014, Barker’s made the shift from traditional jam to fruit preserve recipes. This change involved reducing added refined sugar by 17% and increasing the fruit content, reflecting evolving preferences for less sugar and more fruit.

Under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, a product labelled “jam” must contain at least 65% soluble solids (about 650 g/kg). These soluble solids are made up mostly of sugar and are what give jam its firm gel texture and long shelf life.

By reducing the refined sugar, our recipes move away from this traditional jam style. Instead, we let the natural fruit flavour shine, creating a product that is: less sweet and more fruit-forward and softer and smoother in texture rather than firm and set.

Sugar also plays a role in structure and preservation. With less sugar, fruit softens more during cooking, resulting in a less structured, more natural texture.

We also do not add preservatives. Because sugar acts as a natural preservative, it’s important to store our fruit preserves in the fridge after opening.

While we are not vegan certified, Barker’s of Geraldine is pleased to confirm that many of our retail products are vegan-friendly and available in supermarkets.

We recommend checking the ingredient list on each product to ensure it aligns with your individual dietary preferences.

Barker’s has a philosophy of not adding artificial colours or flavours to our products.

When needed, we may use natural colours and flavours to help maintain quality, taste, and appearance throughout shelf life. However, most of the time this isn’t necessary, as we rely on high-quality fruit and vegetables, often chosen for their naturally vibrant colour and flavour.

Some fruits — particularly more delicate varieties like tropical fruits — can naturally lose intensity over time. In these cases, a small addition of natural colour or flavour helps ensure the product continues to meet expectations.

Natural colours and flavours are sourced from ingredients such as:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Flowers and herbs
• Spices
• Algae and other plant-based sources

For example:

• Reds and purples from berries or beetroot
• Yellows from turmeric or carrots
• Greens from leafy plants like spinach

We also aim to keep our labelling simple and transparent, using clear ingredient names instead of code numbers. For example, we use “beta carotene” rather than E160a.

Chilli is used as a natural flavour enhancer, adding depth and warmth to a range of our savoury products. In many processed foods, chilli can be listed simply as “spices,” making it difficult for those with allergies or sensitivities to identify.

Chilli contains natural compounds called capsaicinoids, including capsaicin, which give it its heat. For some people, the body may react to these compounds, triggering a sensitivity or allergic response.

To make this clearer for our customers, since 2021 we clearly list “chilli” on our labels wherever it is used, rather than grouping it under general terms like “spices.”

Grapefruit (and similar fruits like Seville oranges) can affect how some medicines are processed in the body. In certain cases, it can increase the level of medicine in the bloodstream, which may raise the risk of side effects or alter how the medication works.

Some Barker’s products — particularly certain fruit preserves — may contain grapefruit or Seville orange and could have a similar effect.

If you are taking medication, it’s important to check whether grapefruit should be avoided as part of your treatment.

For personalised advice, we recommend speaking with your doctor or pharmacist, or referring to trusted health organisations such as the NZ Heart Foundation, especially for medications like statins.

FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols — groups of carbohydrates that can trigger digestive symptoms in some people.

Because tolerance to FODMAPs can vary from person to person, we encourage you to make the choice that best suits your individual dietary needs.

To support this, full ingredient lists and nutritional information are available online for all Barker’s products. Simply select your product of interest and view the ‘Nutrition’ tab to help you make an informed decision.