Winners Of The NZ Dairy-Free Awards Revealed

Wednesday, 25 February 2026, 11:57 am
Press Release: The Vegan Society of Aotearoa New Zealand

The Vegan Society of Aotearoa’s annual people’s choice award has its champions.

The Dairy Free Awards 2026, presented by the Vegan Society of Aotearoa (NZVS), celebrates the winners of its sixth annual awards.

These People’s Choice Awards invited the public and producers to nominate their top dairy-free products, before the public cast their votes to decide the winners. Voting closed 20 February, and the NZVS team are thrilled to announce the results.

Included in the line-up are big names like Kāpiti and Olivani, alongside independent innovators such as Raglan Food Co and Otis.

The hundreds of votes and variety of nominations are a testament to the quality of dairy-free foods in New Zealand. The NZVS feels Kiwis are lucky to have these wonderful options, helping vegans, plant-based, and dairy-intolerant people enjoy the familiarity of dairy products, without the cruelty.

NZ’s Best Dairy-Free Ice-Cream: Kāpiti Plant Based Chocolate and Boysenberry

Did you know – Aotearoa grows 50% of the world’s boysenberries? In this velvety winning dessert, Kāpiti takes a homegrown boysenberry compote and swirls it through rich chocolate ice-cream dipped in a dark chocolate shell.

Runners-up:
2nd place: Magnum Dairy Free Almond
3rd place: Duck Island Peanut Butter Cookie Dough

NZ’s Best Dairy-Free Milk: Otis Oat Milk – The Barista One

A favourite among cafés and home-baristas alike, Otis claims first place for its Barista One. Crafted specifically for coffee, it creates a glossy foam for flat whites and hot choccies alike.

Runners-up:
2nd place: Boring Barista Oat Milk
3rd place: A tie between All Good Oat Milk Oat Barista & Boring Original Oat Milk

NZ’s Best Dairy-Free Butter: Olivani Spread

Long-time fridge staple Olivani Spread is NZ’s Best Dairy-Free Butter. Scrape it across toast, have it in a sandwich, or fry your favourite mushrooms with it – Kiwis love it for its versatility.

Runners-up:
2nd place: Nuttelex Buttery
3rd place: Vutter Original

NZ’s Best Dairy-Free Dessert: Alpro Plant-Based Custard Vanilla Flavoured Sauce

Pour it over cake or warm it up and spoon it straight out of a bowl for a comforting pudding. It’s vanillary, not too sweet, and endlessly moreish, Alpro’s custard is a favourite in Kiwi households.

Runners-up:
2nd place: Duck Island Ice Cream Cake – Mango Passionfruit Sorbet
3rd place: NOM Mochi Bites

NZ’s Best Dairy-Free Yoghurt: Raglan Food Co Natural Greek Style Dairy-Free Coconut Yoghurt

Produced in the tiny West coast town of Whāingaroa/Raglan, Raglan Food Co has nabbed the winning place for their Natural Greek Style coconut-based yoghurt. Thick and tangy like its dairy counterpart, it’s a great pairing with overnight oats, the perfect base for a garlicky lemony dip, or to blend into a smoothie.

Runners-up
2nd place: Raglan Food Co Vanilla Bean
3rd place: Raglan Food Co Boysenberry

NZ’s Best Dairy-Free Cream: Alpro Soya Cream Single

Creamy fettuccine and rich curries aren’t just for the dairy crowd. Vegans and plant-based folks love the versatility of Alpro’s Single Soya, which now has the title of NZ’s Best Dairy-Free Cream for 2026.

Runners-up:
2nd place: Flora Whipping Cream
3rd place: Alpro Whipping Cream

NZ’s Best Dairy-Free Spread: Fix & Fogg Pistachio Spread

Pistachios have had a real moment over the last wee while, and Wellington-based Fix & Fogg cleverly jumped on the trend with their Pistachio Spread. It’s won the hearts of vegans across the country, taking the top spot in our ‘Spreads & Dips’ category. Smear it on toast or eat it straight outta the jar, it’s good in every form.

Runners-up:
2nd place: Let Them Eat Vegan Bacon Cheese Mayo
3rd place: Lotus Biscoff Spread

NZ’s Best Dairy-Free Topping: Barkers Butterscotch Caramel Dessert Sauce

Decadently sweet and moreish atop pancakes or ice-cream, Barker’s Butterscotch Caramel Dessert Sauce has won the top spot in our ‘Toppings & Sauces’ category. Barker’s products are still crafted on the same family farm in Geraldine where the business first began in 1969.

Runners-up:
2nd place: Nature's Charm Sweetened Condensed Oat Milk

3rd place: Nature's Charm Sweetened Condensed Coconut Milk

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