Former Whāingaroa Raglan hospo stalwart Aaron ‘Azza’ Bidois has been named Hamilton Hospitality Personality of the Year at the 2026 Waikato Hospitality Awards, recognising nearly two decades of great coffee, honest food and warm hospitality.
Azza is best known in Raglan for establishing The Raglan Social Club in 2016 alongside former wife Rach Hudson, creating a mecca for great food and coffee – served with a generous helping of Azza’s energetic personality.
“My ethos has always been, don’t overcomplicate things, and be personable,” he says.
And being personable comes naturally to Azza. Those who frequented The Raglan Social Club could always count on a genuine chat and a warm welcome.
In a previous life, Azza spent 10 years as a hairdresser before making the switch to hospitality.
“I always did hospo alongside hairdressing, so it went hand-in-hand. That focus on people and service just carried over.”
Learning how to make a mean coffee while working as a hairdresser came in handy when he and Rach set about transforming a former butcher’s shop into a bustling suburban café in Hamilton.
“I started with Sugar Bowl back in 2005. We kept it simple – good coffee, good food – and even after we sold in 2015, it’s still really popular and going strong.”
His hospitality journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Another Hamilton venture, serving coffee and bagels, bore the brunt of the Covid years.
“I set up my little bagel shop and Covid sort of smashed that.”
More recently, Azza has been on the grind at Little Honey in Hamilton. Established in 2025, the start-up is exactly the kind of challenge he enjoys taking on these days – without the pressures of ownership.
“After running my own places for so long, I realised it’s just easier to work for other people,” he says.
For Azza, the award is a fitting acknowledgement of 20 years in hospitality – and he’s still doing it with a smile and the same passion for people.
“At the moment, with hospo, I’m totally into it. I love it. Mostly, I just love interacting with people.”
