Built to Last: Why Thoughtful Gifting Matters at BurgerFuel

At BurgerFuel, our business is built on good people. Our staff are at the heart of BurgerFuel – they are the engine under the hood - holding it down in the kitchen, at the head office, or out front keeping the vibe right.

So, when it comes to celebrating our crew, we don’t just tick a box. We make it count. And with the festive season approaching, it felt like the perfect moment to lift the bonnet on why thoughtful gifting matters to us and how we approach it in true BurgerFuel style.

Why We Gift

At BurgerFuel, gifting has become one of the ways we build culture — not just at Christmas, but all year long through our ‘Reward & Recognition’ Anniversary Programme. It’s our way of acknowledging the hours, the hustle, the loyalty, and the personality each of our staff members brings to the mix.

But more than that, our gifts are chosen to reflect who we are as a brand: creative, local, quality-focused, and built to last. No plastic, throwaway trinkets. No generic merch. Nothing that ends up forgotten at the back of the staffroom.  

The Meaning Behind the Gifts

Every year of service earns a custom pin, designed in-house and unique to that milestone. Along with these pins, crew receive a gift that’s been created in partnership with local makers or that has been designed to be treasured, which include:

• Duffel bags made from our upcycled billboards (year three)

• Skateboard deck art and wall mounts with renowned graffiti artist, Haser, creative (years five through seven)

• CW Works kitchen knives with handles crafted from reclaimed timber and old skateboard decks (year ten)

Each gift blends creativity and functionality while celebrating Kiwi craft or giving new life to reclaimed materials. They’re the kind of items that get used, displayed, or passed on — not forgotten in a drawer. Learn more about our Reward & Recognition Programme HERE.

Christmas, the BurgerFuel Way

As Christmas approaches, we’re surrounded by reminders of how powerful gifting can be in its ability to recognise, appreciate, and connect.

And while the season can often lean toward fast gifts and quick purchases, we’ve found real value in choosing pieces with intention. Because at the end of the day, thoughtful gifts don’t just say “thanks”—they speak to values. By backing local makers, choosing items designed for reuse, and giving new life to reclaimed materials, we can celebrate our people in a way that also treads lighter on the planet. It’s all part of how we do things at BurgerFuel: quality over waste, craft over throwaway culture, meaning over mass-produced.

Gifts that feel good, do good, and ultimately — mean more.