Toast

What Toast does

Toast (Toast Limited) is a privately held, founder-owned creative digital agency headquartered in Wairau Valley, Auckland, New Zealand, founded in 2000. The firm delivers branding, design production, web development, and strategic/creative services, with deep specialisation in two core technology platforms: SilverStripe CMS (where Toast is a Certified Professional Partner supporting traditional, hybrid, and headless architectures, including the SilverStripe subsite feature for multi-site management) and Shopify (for custom ecommerce themes, B2B/wholesale stores, and integration with Xero and Tradelink PIM). Supporting integrations span HubSpot, Salesforce, AWS, Google Maps, Elasticsearch, Discover Childcare, MasterSpec, GiftUp!, and MailChimp.

Toast serves three primary customer segments: New Zealand government and public sector agencies (e.g., Callaghan Innovation, Te Ara Ahunga Ora / Sorted), enterprise and corporate clients (e.g., Gallagher, Pencarrow Private Equity, Medtech Global), and purpose-led organisations such as not-for-profit and education providers (e.g., Busy Bees, Apollo Kindergarten). The go-to-market is consultative, quote-based project sales delivered through free strategy consultations and direct enterprise engagement, with supplementary retainer and hosting/maintenance recurring streams. Pricing is fully bespoke, with deposits of up to 50% required upfront and a 20% supplier-cost surcharge.

The firm operates from offices in six New Zealand cities — Auckland (HQ), Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown, Tauranga, and Hamilton — and has delivered limited international work for clients in Australia, the USA, and China. Independent and bootstrapped, Toast has no disclosed external investment, has recorded 3,000+ projects, 320+ websites and 137 brand identities over its 25-year history, and most recently won Bronze at the 2025 Best Design Awards and Best Plain Language Digital Tool 2025 for the Sorted.org.nz government platform rebuild.

Name

Toast

Legal name

Toast Limited

Website

https://toast.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Toast is an Auckland-based, privately held creative digital agency founded in 2000 that delivers branding, design, and custom web development on SilverStripe and Shopify for New Zealand government, enterprise, and purpose-led clients, supplemented by retainer and hosting services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wairau Valley

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Project-Based Professional Services: Bespoke web development, branding, and design projects charged on quotation basis. Projects range from branding packages to full website development, typically with 20-50% deposits and progress payments.
2. Retainer Agreements: Ongoing web support and maintenance retainer agreements with clients like Fair Dinkum Builds, providing regular updates and continuous enhancement of digital platforms.
3. Hosting and Maintenance Services: Reliable hosting solutions for SilverStripe websites including high-performance servers, security monitoring, and website speed optimisation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Toast is a creative digital agency based in Auckland, New Zealand that delivers bespoke branding, design production, and custom web development primarily on SilverStripe CMS and Shopify. The agency offers end-to-end services spanning brand identity creation, graphic and packaging design, custom website and ecommerce platform development, and digital strategy for government, enterprise, and purpose-led organisations. It operates as a Certified SilverStripe Professional Partner with deep expertise in CMS implementations, ecommerce builds, and complex third-party system integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot, Xero, AWS, Elasticsearch).

Product overview

Toast is a creative digital agency based in Auckland, New Zealand, offering a comprehensive suite of digital services. The core offerings span four main areas: Branding Development (identity design, logo development, brand guidelines, visual identity, collateral), Design Production (motion graphics, business cards, packaging, signage, print materials), Web Design & Development (custom websites, CMS implementation, ecommerce), and Strategy & Creative Direction (campaign management, business strategy, social media). Toast specialises in two primary technology platforms: SilverStripe CMS (Certified Professional Partner offering traditional, hybrid, and headless architectures) and Shopify (custom ecommerce development). The agency also provides API integration services connecting third-party tools including Salesforce, HubSpot, Google Maps, Instagram, MailChimp, Xero, and Elasticsearch. The portfolio includes 25+ years in service, 3000+ projects, 320+ websites, and 137 brand identities. Toast has received industry recognition including Bronze at the Best Design Awards 2025 for Sorted.org.nz and a Plain Language Award 2025 for the Retirement Navigator tool.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Branding Development Comprehensive branding services including identity design, logo development, brand guidelines, visual identity and typeface development, and range of collateral for organisations requiring distinctive brand identities.
• Design Production Graphic design services including motion graphics, business cards, flyers, brochures, presentation folders, packaging, building and vehicle signage, posters, magazine production, newsletters, and advertising/promotional materials.
• Web Design & Development Custom website development, UI/UX design, CMS implementation, ecommerce solutions via Shopify, social media solutions, digital strategies, API integrations, re-marketing, and online marketing research.
• Strategy & Creative Direction Strategic services including strategy and implementation, campaign creation and management, business strategy, marketing and social media strategy, and creative direction.
• SilverStripe CMS Solutions Certified SilverStripe Professional Partner service offering custom website development on SilverStripe CMS with traditional, hybrid, and fully headless SilverStripe architectures, plus subsite features for multi-site management.
• Shopify Ecommerce Development Custom Shopify theme development and ecommerce solutions with wholesale logins, custom pricing, Shopify-Xero integration, and scalable ecommerce architecture for growing retailers and wholesalers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of Sorted users trust the information provided by the platform
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration16 records

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• SilverStripecoreTechnology or IntegrationCertified SilverStripe Professional Partner with deep expertise in the SilverStripe ecosystem. Toast contributes to SilverStripe's evolution through supporting major version upgrades, building tools and integrations, and helping clients leverage the CMS for complex digital platforms.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationExpert Shopify development partner specialising in custom theme development, Shopify integrations with business systems, and high-performing ecommerce solutions for retailers and wholesalers.
• HubSpotcoreTechnology or IntegrationCRM integration partner for client platforms, enabling personalised user experiences, dashboard functionality, and customer journey tracking. Used in projects like Sorted and Sorted In Schools.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)coreTechnology or IntegrationCloud infrastructure partner providing cutting-edge security for client platforms, used in projects requiring enterprise-grade security and scalability.
• XerocoreTechnology or IntegrationAccounting software integration with Shopify for automated invoice syncing, order fulfilment, and reduced manual data entry for wholesale ecommerce clients.
• SalesforcecoreTechnology or IntegrationCRM integration partner enabling lead generation and campaign monitoring for clients requiring enterprise customer relationship management capabilities.
• ElasticsearchcoreTechnology or IntegrationAdvanced search solution enabling scalable, flexible, modern search experiences with real-time indexing and relevance tuning for content-heavy platforms.
• Google Maps APIcoreTechnology or IntegrationInteractive mapping integration for franchise location finders and geographic service area visualisation across client websites.
• Discover ChildcarecoreTechnology or IntegrationChildcare enrolment platform integration streamlining enquiry and enrolment processes for early learning centre clients.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Springload: Wellington-based NZ digital agency focused on custom web development, UX and design for government and enterprise clients. Closely comparable to Toast in size, NZ market focus and bespoke web platform delivery.
• Flightdec: Christchurch/NZ digital agency providing branding, web design and development for government and enterprise. Comparable in service mix (branding + web + strategy) and target verticals to Toast.
• Click Suite: NZ creative digital agency offering branding, design and web development for SMEs and enterprise. Overlaps with Toast on SilverStripe-style bespoke web and ecommerce builds across the NZ market.
• Absolute Design: Auckland-based design and branding agency with digital/website capability. Comparable on the branding and design production side of Toast's service portfolio.
• Satwant: NZ digital agency providing web development, design and digital strategy to government and enterprise clients. Comparable in target verticals and bespoke delivery model to Toast.

Broad incumbents

• Colenso BBDO: Large NZ full-service creative agency with branding, digital and advertising capabilities. Broader portfolio than Toast but overlaps significantly on brand identity and integrated digital campaigns for NZ enterprise.
• Deloitte Digital: Global digital agency arm of Deloitte offering strategy, design and large-scale digital transformation. Competes with Toast for enterprise and government mandates but at much larger scale and price points.
• Accenture Song: Accenture's interactive, design and marketing services arm. Overlaps with Toast on enterprise digital platform builds and brand-led transformation work for large organisations.

Emerging players

• Webflow: SaaS website builder that enables in-house teams to produce sites without bespoke agency work. An indirect competitive force against agencies like Toast, particularly for SMEs and marketing teams.

Regional players

• Yump: Auckland-based digital agency with branding, web and ecommerce capability focused on NZ SME and mid-market clients. Comparable on Shopify-style ecommerce and brand projects but at a smaller scale than Toast.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/toastnz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/toast-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Toast