To the rescue
With most Kiwis still falling short on their daily fruit and vegetable intake, Nutrient Rescue is focused on making healthy habits more accessible.
For many New Zealanders, healthy eating is something squeezed between work, family, exercise, and the constant pace of modern life. It’s this reality that sits at the heart of Christchurch wellness company Nutrient Rescue – a brand built on the idea that nutrition should feel achievable, not overwhelming.
Founded by Michael and Samantha Mayell, Nutrient Rescue began after the pair experienced the benefits of shifting towards a more plant-based lifestyle. But what started as a personal change quickly revealed a much wider issue.
“With 93 per cent of Kiwis not eating enough fruit and vegetables, there is a clear need to make nutrition more convenient and achievable,” says Nutrient Rescue CEO Maria O’Halloran. “Increasing fruit and vegetable intake can have a significant impact on overall health, energy, and wellbeing.”
The company’s flagship product, the Double Shot, was created as a concentrated wholefood blend designed to simplify daily nutrition. Made with ingredients including blackcurrant, boysenberry, wheatgrass, barley grass, broccoli sprout, green pea, mānuka leaf, and spearmint, the powder delivers naturally occurring nutrients, vitamin C, folate, chlorophyll, and plant compounds – all without fillers, preservatives, or artificial flavours.
“Our products are intentionally simple, with just eight wholefood ingredients and no added sugars, preservatives, fillers, or artificial flavours,” Maria says. “That simplicity is important to us because it means both we and our customers know exactly what is in the product.”
Ease of use has been central to the brand’s success. Designed to fit into busy routines, the Double Shot takes less than 30 seconds to prepare, with travel sachets and compact shakers aimed at making consistency easier while commuting, working, or travelling.
“For us, it is about removing barriers and making healthy habits feel achievable in everyday life,” Maria says.
That practical approach has helped Nutrient Rescue build a loyal following over the past decade. Last year marked 10 years in business – a milestone the company sees as particularly significant within an industry often driven by fast-moving wellness trends.
“In an industry where trends come and go quickly, we are proud to have built a product and community that has stood the test of time while staying true to our original philosophy,” Maria says.
Alongside nutrition, sustainability remains a major part of the company’s identity. Nutrient Rescue works closely with New Zealand growers focused on regenerative farming, biodiversity, and long-term stewardship of the land.
“We partner closely with New Zealand growers who share our focus on quality, environmental responsibility, and long-term land stewardship,” Maria says. “For us, potency, quality, and sustainability are closely connected rather than competing priorities.”
One example is Canterbury’s Harts Creek Farm, where Nutrient Rescue sources its organic wheatgrass, barley grass, and spearmint. The multi-generational farm places strong emphasis on protected waterways, native planting, and regenerative growing practices.
While the business continues to evolve, recently launching Red Shot travel sachets and locally made recycled-plastic shakers produced in Christchurch, the core mission remains unchanged.
“At the end of the day, our mission has always been to make good nutrition more accessible and achievable for everyday people,” Maria says. “For us, healthier people and a healthier planet go hand in hand.”