GENEVIEVE
KNIGHTS
(GENEVIEVE’S)
Food stylist and food photographer,
Knights is a chef by trade, as well
as a recipe developer. She runs her
own food manufacturing business
Genevieve’s, which produces a
high-end range of all-natural, chilled
products sold in nearly 140 stores
across New Zealand – including
more than 90 supermarkets. She
presently manufactures six varieties
of parfait and mousse (pate) and
six fresh dressings. Established in
2012, Knights’ company supplies
My Food Bag, accounting for
around a quarter of its business.
www.genevieves.co.nz
Considered as heroes in the New Zealand wine industry, the Finns have been named Legends of New
Zealand Wine – the highest accolade within the industry - by being awarded the Sir George Fistonich
Medal that recognises the people who have played important roles in making the New Zealand wine
industry successful. The Finns are the 14th recipients of the industry award for their work over 40 years
building a highly successful small family-owned vineyard and contributing to the development of the Nelson
and Kiwi wine industry. Judy Finn says the couple once had four mortgages and three jobs each, an
outside long drop, inefficient wood stove and no hot water. “I look back with no regrets,” she says. “Very
few misgivings. Making wine is constantly scary and stimulating. We survive on hard work, high hopes
and a dollop of common-sense and cunning.” The couple’s only child Rosie has recently taken on the
role of international marketing and brand director at the vineyard. www.neudorf.co.nz
MICHAEL MATSIS
(ZANY ZEUS, WELLINGTON)
Hoping to emulate the skills his Cyriot mother Lefki used whilst making halloumi
cheese in the family kitchen on the slopes of the Whanganui River, Michael
Matsis has kept his company in the family. With a food technology degree under
his belt and years of perfecting the art of cheesemaking – he even installed
a VAT machine outside his sister’s Wellington home – Matsis talked that sister
Meropi (with her science degree) into helping start up his first business Zany
Zeus. It wasn’t long before the awards started rolling in, and now the company
focuses on supplying cheese, organic milk, cream and cultured products
such as mascarpone, sour cream, crème fraiche, cream cheese and yoghurt
to cafes and restaurants around the country. It also produces its own premium
icecream made with fresh organic milk and cream, and a soy alternative for
those lactost-intolerant. And its chocolate cake was recently described by
Hollywood legend Scarlet Johansson as the best of her life. Zany Zeus won a
bronze media at the 2018 NZ Champions of Cheese. www.zanyzeus.co.nz
TIM, JUDY AND ROSIE FINN
(NEUDORF VINEYARDS)
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/www.genevieves.co.nz
/www.neudorf.co.nz
/www.zanyzeus.co.nz
/www.foodtechnology.co.nz
