While many businesses are feeling the pinch in Queenstown during difficult economic times, one is developing its fledgling empire, to the delight of the Queenstown Airport Corporation.
Patagonia, a company known for its signature chocolates, mouth-watering ice cream and real chocolate hot chocolate, will be operating at Queenstown Airport from June 22.
It is owned by Alex and Lorena Gimenez, both originally from Argentina, and Patagonia's airport site will technically be its fourth in the resort. However, a store merger in Arrowtown - combining the Ramshaw Lane and Buckingham St outlets at Ramshaw Lane - means the total number of Patagonia outlets will remain at three.
Mr Gimenez said Patagonia had been operating in Queenstown for four years and while they were going to open a store in Christchurch in 2009, the airport offer was too good to turn down.
The couple also intend to open a production plant at Glenda Dr, where ice creams and chocolates will be made and then transported to the various outlets.
Mr Gimenez, a self-described "chocolate freak", started out as a pastry chef in Argentina when he was 18.
After opening three stores with his brother, Mr Gimenez said he found himself working a lot with chocolate, but not specialising in it.
"A friend lives in Patagonia in Argentina and had a small chocolate factory.
"I learned a lot from her in the beginning . . . Later on, I started trying different things."
Mr Gimenez said he would dream up various combinations - some of which raise eyebrows, like his Wasabi chocolate - based on flavours he liked in savoury food and then worked on incorporating them with chocolate.
"It's the same with ice creams."
The Queenstown Airport outlet will be positioned directly behind the main entrance and feature four low counters.
Initially, it would only sell chocolate, hot chocolate and coffee, until the arrival of the Italian fridges, which would be in place in time for the busy summer months, he said.
"In winter time in the Queenstown shop we'd sell maybe 30 ice creams in one day. In summer, we sell 1200 a day - 400kg of ice cream a day on average."
A new four-berth, two-person Italian coffee machine will also be operating at the airport, ensuring passengers facing unexpected delays for their flights will not be facing any delays for their coffee fix.
Peak Projects Queenstown will put in the electricity points for the outlet by directional drilling, which will not affect traffic at the airport.
Queenstown Airport Corporation finance and property manager Karen Castiglione said the Patagonia outlet would create a "great environment" at the airport, even if it meant airport staff would have to start running laps of the site to ensure the sweet treats were "justified".
"We're delighted to have a new tenant. I think they're going to be very well received.
"I think our staff will be delighted and we're encouraging locals to come in and grab a coffee as well."
Mrs Castiglione said it was not expected the arrival of Patagonia would negatively impact on the operation of the cafe, also based at the airport.
Mr Gimenez said the only area of crossover between the two businesses would be in coffee.
"We're looking to bring something different into the airport . . . It's going to be the sweetest welcome [for arriving or departing passengers] ever."
