New Awards Unearth Outstanding Food & Drinks Producers
New Awards Unearth New Zealand’s Outstanding Food & Drinks Producers
Media Release
Tuesday 29 November 2016
Kiwi
producers are being encouraged to enter new awards developed
to recognise New Zealand’s outstanding food and drinks
producers.
The Outstanding New Zealand Food Producer Awards, in partnership with leading lifestyle title NZ Life & Leisure will acknowledge this country’s best producers. Whether people are growing apples, kiwifruit, potatoes or fresh herbs; making chutney or jams; raising sheep or cattle; making sausages smoking meat or practising charcuterie, fishing or farming seafood or making seafood pate – these awards will recognise their hard work and outstanding products.
Created by two of the country’s food leading marketers, Kathie Bartley and Nicola McConnell, the Outstanding New Zealand Food Producer Awards have been more than a year in the making. The pair developed the Awards as existing offerings don’t catering for the changing food production landscape or the needs of consumers who are more socially conscious and want fresh, local produce that is sustainably produced.
Co-creator Kathie Bartley forged her career marketing New Zealand food and wine. Her credits include: development of the original Corbans Wine and Food Challenge and the Cuisine Artisan Awards. She pioneered the Cuisine Restaurant of the Year and continues to work on Silver Fern Farms Premier Selection Awards. Nicola McConnell had a 15 year career marketing wine and food in Australia before returning home to live the Kiwi dream.
The Outstanding New Zealand Food Producer Awards will be judged by a panel of leading food experts lead by Lauraine Jacobs, well-known for championing New Zealand food locally and abroad. Lauraine is a Past President of the New Zealand Guild of Food Writers and the IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals).
Lauraine Jacobs says; “I am delighted to be involved in the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards. I know we have many exceptional producers in New Zealand and this is a huge opportunity to recognise their work and their world-class products, whether they’re straight from the farm, or value-added by clever food producers. I am confident the rewards and recognition generated for Awards winners will raise their profiles and enhance business opportunities in New Zealand and overseas.”
To be eligible for entry producers must sell their products in New Zealand, they must meet Food Safety New Zealand and Australia (FSNZA) regulations and The Fair Trading Act.
Producers are encouraged to enter Outstanding
New Zealand Food Producer Awards
because:
• They will be judged in March each year when
our country’s primary produce is at its
best
• Producers are judged on the quality of their
wares regardless of their size (large and boutique food
producers can all enter)
• Sustainability of the
product and its production are taken into consideration in
judging
• The product’s point of difference and brand
story are part of the judging
• Every product entered
the business will receive a pass to attend a marketing
workshop tailored for food producers in either Auckland or
Christchurch in June 2017
NZ Life &
Leisure Editorial Director Kate Coughlan says
as a country with an international reputation for
outstanding food, New Zealand's economy grows on the back of
its producers. Since its launch 11 years ago, NZ
Life & Leisure has been committed to helping
the food industry evolve by shining a light on its finest
operators.
"The passion and the prowess of our food producers never ceases to amaze me. We profile outstanding growers and producers in every issue of the magazine - and have done so for nearly 12 years - and the supply never dries up.”
“The innovation in this industry is
exciting. It's for these reasons that
NZ Life & Leisure is proud to be
a partner in the Outstanding NZ Food Producer
Awards. Sharing the stories of clever and
hardworking producers inspires others. They are always very
generous, sharing their knowledge and what they've learned
along the way, and that helps everyone."
Kate says that some producers are large companies with a broad market reach and others are more boutique. No matter their size, it is the skill they've brought to developing or creating a product that is of interest to the judges. The winner of the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Award will be profiled in the May-June issue of NZ Life & Leisure.”
Kiwi foodies can take part
in the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards
by voting via for their favourite, Farmers’ Market, New
Zealand Food Region or Specialty Food Store via www.nzfoodproducerawards.co.nz.
The judges are a distinguished panel of Kiwi experts
from food, media, nutrition and design led by New
Zealand’s Lauraine Jacobs.
Lauraine Jacobs
– Head Judge
Internationally
respected food writer, author and editor of nine cookbooks
Lauraine Jacobs heads the judging panel. She is a Past
President of the IACP (International Association of Culinary
Professionals) and The New Zealand Guild of Food Writers and
a regular speaker and contributor on New Zealand food and
wine.
Click here for the full list of judges
ends