www.foodtechnology.co.nz 61 ANGELA BARONS (THE WINELIFE) PROFESSOR JOANNE HORT (RIDDET INSTITUTE) NICI WICKES (CELEBRITY CHEF) At eight years old, Wickes - born into a large family – used to play her favourite make-believe game where she was host of a cooking show. All her favourite things were featured…Russian fudge, pancakes, chocolate cakes – all sourced from the family kitchen. In 2009, make-believe became reality when she was selected as presenter for World Kitchen, a travel and cooking show. “My way of travelling is not to do art galleries and museums. I do food,” she says. “I experience a place through tasting the flavours, by watching who and what’s cooking and picking up ideas and tips so I can recreate and relive the experience back home. When I return from a trip I don’t bore people with photos, I do it with food.” www.niciwickes.com SUE FOLEY (FOODHQ) A knowledge and expertise into what drives consumer preferences and food choice behaviour has landed Hort the new principal investigator role at the Centre of Research Excellence at Riddett Institute. Hort, who is also the Fonterra – Riddett Chair in Consumer and Sensory Science at Massey University, has worked closely with industry and combines sensory, consumer and analytical approaches to understanding flavour perceptions and consumer preferences. This includes the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging to monitor brain function. “Understanding consumer perception and preferences is key to understanding food choice behaviour and to informing successful product development," she says. "I’m looking forward to developing and providing strategic leadership in this important area.” SIMON LIMMER (SILVER FERN FARMS) Silver Ferns’ new chief executive is excited about his new role as the head of the company at an important time in its development. “The company is well-positioned to add value to New Zealand’s natural grass-fed red meat – there is a consumer trend to natural whole foods, the company has a really good brand, is well capitalised, and has a talented and enthusiastic group of people.” Limmer worked in New Zealand before a 14-year international career with Veolia Environment saw him based in Europe, East Asia, Oceania and the Americas. He returned to New Zealand nine years ago, joining Zespri and being appointed chief operating officer in 2014. www.silverfernfarms.com A one-time award-winning journalist and television reporter, Foley was last year appointed as chairwoman of FoodHQ. A former horse racing commentator and chief reporter at TV3, Foley has worked for politicians Michael Moore and Bill English, was publicity head for Toll New Zealand and held senior roles in government, including chief of staff of the Opposition. She has served on several national bodies, including as chairwoman of the Sir Peter Blake Trust and a trustee of the Rangitikei Racing Club. “As a country, we are on the cusp of realising the importance and potential of food,” Foley says. “Through FoodHQ, we will grow our international reputation as a provider of quality value-added products.” Based at Massey University in Palmerston North, FoodHQ’s aim is to increase the contribution of the food and beverage sectors to New Zealand’s GDP. www.foodhq.com Knowing what wine to match with the food you eat has been a difficult question to answer for even the best chefs and foodies. Whilst most of us have basic knowledge and tend to stick to the tried and tested, former 5-star hotel manager and entrepreneur Barons has decided that the Kiwi desire to try new things should extend to wine. “We produce some of the best wine and food in the world so it makes perfect sense that we should enjoy them together and maximise the pleasure that such fine produce can provide,” she says. Using her vast experience and relationships with leading wineries and wine-makers around the country, Barons selects six wines in three packs each month and delivers them to customers’ doors, along with a recipe for each wine and notes on wine and food-matching. “You’ll never get the same wine twice, and if you love a particular bottle, you can easily order more,” she says. www.thewinelife.co.nz
FT-Annual Directory 2018-eMag
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