Hot Chocolate Competition returns to support local hospitality this winter

The Kāpiti Hot Chocolate Competition is back for 2026, bringing a little extra warmth, creativity and local spending into the winter school holidays.

Supporting local businesses, one cup at a time

Winter can be challenging for hospitality, retail and visitor-facing businesses.

Alongside destination marketing campaigns, Business Kāpiti is continuing to deliver short, focused initiatives that help drive foot traffic, encourage local spending and give people a reason to get out across the district.

The Hot Chocolate Competition does this in a simple and effective way. It gives residents, families and visitors a reason to visit local cafés, try something new, explore different parts of the Coast and support the businesses behind the counter.

Every visit, purchase and vote helps celebrate the people, creativity and hospitality that make Kāpiti Coast’s café scene part of the local business story.

The 2026 competition builds on the success of the previous campaign, which showed the value of targeted local business support.

With a $2,500 investment, 28 participating businesses helped generate an estimated $100,000 in local economic activity.

That result showed how a simple, well-timed campaign can support local spend, raise business visibility and bring energy into the district during a traditionally quieter time of year.