DRINKtech NEW ZEALAND www.foodtechnology.co.nz 41 XMAS COFFEE SPIRIT The design, featuring Santa Claus holding a coffee cup with reindeer drawing a sleigh in the background, will appear on large takeaway cups from now until mid-January. Coffee club director Brad Jacobs says almost 300 entries from 30 schools nationwide made the competition a very worthwhile event. The Christmas Cup competition aims to raise awareness of the work being done by KidsCan to support the education, health and wellbeing of children living in hardship. Now in its fourth year, the competition has seen more than $40,000 donated to schools and the kids by The Coffee Club in that time. KidsCan chief executive Julie Chapman says the competition raises awareness of the charity, which works to aid individuals, communities, businesses and the government to co-operate in providing food, clothing and basic health care in schools to enable all disadvantaged children to reach their full potential. kidscan.org.nz thecoffeeclub.co.nz. BEST IN SHOW A $15,600 competition to design three new Christmas coffee cup and two napkin designs – organised by The Coffee Club New Zealand and Kids Can – has been won by seven-year-old Kairau Wilson of Glen Eden’s TKKM o Hoani Waititi School. A British cider has taken gold at the 2017 Australian Cider Awards, and Magners Original Apple makers are delighted at the international recognition. AN EVERYDAY HERO Giesen Wines co-founders Theo and Janet Giesen are proud of their son Isaac…and with just cause. But his latest expedition is prompting them to appeal to their New Zealand food and beverage industry counterparts for support. As the 24-year-old prepares in England to be the first New Zealander to row the Atlantic on his own, the Marlborough couple say they support him 100% in everything he does, but they are concerned. “We know he is preparing well, but we are worried,” Theo says. “This is a gruelling endurance event. He is training hard and has English rowing adventurer Leven Brown as his mentor.” Isaac – nicknamed the Blue Rower – hopes to cover the 4800km across the world’s second largest ocean from the Canary Islands to Antigua within 90 days and raise $1 million for organisations working against depression. Known as the world’s toughest row, the journey is rare and special…more people have been into space or climbed Everest than those who have rowed the Atlantic. As a participant in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge – which starts next month - Isaac will endure blisters, salt rashes, sharks and sleep deprivation – rowing four hours on and two hours off consecutively to complete the epic challenge. “Solitude could be overwhelming at times, but at least I know it will be short term,” he says. “I lost my aunt and two friends to suicide, and it is in their memory that I will be rowing against depression. I aim to raise $1 million to share equally among three organisations supporting those with depression: Victim Support, The Black Dog Institute and Bravehearts,” Isaac says. While Theo and Janet – along with family and friends – are financially supporting Isaac as he prepares with multiple Guinness World Record holder and survival expert Leven Brown, there is a shortfall of around $60,000 to complete the challenge. Isaac has purchased and fitted-out an ocean-worthy row boat with satellite and UHF radios and tracking equipment, and incurs ongoing costs. The Giesen family say any business or individual donation to their son’s challenge from the New Zealand food and beverage industry will be accepted with gratitude, and any questions should be directed to Theo on 027 537 5906. The donations can be pledged via the Everyday Hero website. https://www.everydayhero.co.nz/event/thebluerower C&C Group – a leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded cider, beer, wine, soft drinks and bottles water – says the cider also won best new world cider and best international cider. “This is international recognition for a cider that proudly adheres to the traditional methods employed since it was founded in 1935,” chief marketing officer Jason Ash says. “Magners is made using 17 varieties of apples – many grown amongst our 150 acres of orchards, and delivered directly to the cidery in Clonmel, County Tipperary. Australia is an integral international market for the group, with sustained strong growth recorded in the past year. We’re excited with the prospects of our distribution agreement with Coca-Cola Amatil, with whom we share this great success”. A total of 250 local and international ciders took part in the competition, with judges saying Magners displayed a perfect balance of sugar, tannin and overall complexity, combined with toasty, savoury, creamy notes.
FT-Nov17-eMag
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