KONO NZ Kono NZ is a Maori-owned business producing gourmet produce from the land and sea at the top of the South Island. A kono is a traditional basket woven out of harakeke and used to serve food in. Using the word ‘kono’ represents the company’s desire to provide New Zealand food and beverages to the world whilst being guided by its Maori values of: Manaakitanga (hospitality), Kaitiakitanga (guardianship), Rangatiratanga (integrity) and Whanaungatanga (relationships). Employing 500 staff, farming more than 530 hectares of land and sea and exporting to in excess of 25 countries, Kono NZ harvests, produces and markets the very best seafood, wine, cider, apples, pears, kiwifruit, hops and natural fruit bars, using sustainable methods to conserve lands for future generations. www.kono.co.nz www.foodtechnology.co.nz 59 HEILALA VANILLA From humble beginnings in a remote Tongan village to becoming the world’s most awarded vanilla, Heilala Vanilla began as an aid project more than ten years ago when a vanilla plantation was established in partnership with a local family from the village of Utungake, Vava’u. Heilala has partnered with both Massey University and Plant and Food Research to turn the annual harvest of vanilla beans into premium value-added products that are sold into three market channels; retail, fine dining establishments and gourmet food manufacturers in seven countries. The vanilla beans are manufactured into a range of 100% pure vanilla products, including beans, extract, paste, powder, sugar and syrup from the company’s headquarters in Tauranga. www.heilalavanilla.com BEST OF THE BEST "Their new alcohol-free pure vanilla extract is innovative and has high market potential to expand into Muslim populations” - Nominator “one to watch in the next few years” - Nominator
FT-Annual2017
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