NEWS
FOOD AWARDS SHOWCASES FUTURE OF FOOD
Allergen-aware foods, veganfriendly,
hemp-based products, and
gin and vodka handcrafted from
sheep milk are among the finalists
of this year’s New Zealand Food
Awards.
The finalists announced today
include several winners from
previous years – Barker’s of
Geraldine, Blue Frog Breakfast and
The Pure Food Co – as well as new
products including goat sausages
and freeze-dried honey.
Sixty individual products from
48 companies are finalists in 10
categories and one category winner
will be named the Massey University
Supreme Award winner at the Gala
Dinner in Auckland on October 23.
The awards have celebrated New
Zealand manufactured products,
focusing on innovation and
excellence since 1987. Sponsored
by the University, they are open to
small and large food and beverage
manufacturers, primary food
producers, food service providers
and ingredient supply companies.
Last year’s supreme award winner
was The Whole Mix Co. Limited
for its vegetable noodle range. The
company, owned by Marton-based
Spiers Foods, also won the Massey
University Health and Wellbeing
Award, and the James & Wells
Business Innovation Award.
Massey Vice-Chancellor Professor
Jan Thomas says the University’s
connection to the New Zealand food
industry dates back to its inception
as an agricultural college, in 1927,
and its patronage of the New
Zealand Food Awards dates back to
the awards’ inception 60 years later.
“Through our excellent industryengaged
research and teaching,
Massey has a key role in the
success of the industry,” Professor
Thomas says. “It is particularly
good, therefore, to be able to
support the innovators and success
stories through these awards and
we are extremely proud of the role
the awards have had in recognising
the excellence and importance of
our world-class food and beverage
industry.
“The standard of this year’s entries
was, again, outstanding and the
calibre and innovation of the finalists
reflects the thought, care and
artistry of the producers. Selecting
finalists was tough enough for our
judges; choosing winners will be a
supreme challenge. Congratulations
to you all.”
The New Zealand Food Awards
expert judging panel includes
celebrity judges Bite magazine’s
Ray McVinnie, chef Geoff Scott and
World Kitchen television host and
chef Nici Wickes.
Plant-based product entries were up
this year, as well as vegan products,
food with hemp-based elements
and allergen-aware foods such as
dairy-free and gluten-free, Mr Scott
says. “I guess that’s a real reflection
of where we see the interests in the
New Zealand consumer driving that.
Food companies are responding
with a push towards a lot of plantbased
food products this time
around – much more than last year.”
The New Zealand Food Awards are
an opportunity for businesses to
benchmark their product against
others, he adds. “I think it gives
New Zealand companies an
awesome opportunity to showcase
their expertise and the standards
that they’re setting with their
business practice against other
companies. I think it’s a really good
measuring stick, shows excellence
and recognises innovation and
creativity within the food and
beverage industry within New
Zealand, and I think that’s such a
fantastic thing to have.
“Seeing the different creativity and
the way that our New Zealand
food producers are working hard
at coming up with fantastic new
products - it’s just a real privilege to
be part of that and to see first-hand
brand new products coming to
market.”
Ms Wickes says sustainable
packaging was also a highlight
this year. “We’re noticing a lot of
packaging that looks really great. I
remember five or six years ago the
packaging was almost rudimentary;
it’s much better now. We’re also
seeing a definite trend of people
really looking at sustainability, a lot
more compostable packaging.”
Apart from Massey, as principal
sponsor and event organiser,
the awards are made possible
with the support of New Zealand
Food Safety, Countdown, Cuisine
Magazine, James & Wells, The
Intermedia Group New Zealand,
Eagle Protect, the Palmerston
North City Council, FoodHQ, New
Zealand Trade and Enterprise, The
FoodBowl, Z Energy, Villa Maria and
The FoodPilot
Winning products will earn the New
Zealand Food Award’s Quality Mark
to highlight the superiority of their
products to both shoppers and
the industry, as well as helping to
boost sales and distribution both
domestically and internationally.
For more information, please
visit www.foodawards.co.nz
18 SEPTEMBER 2019
/www.foodawards.co.nz
