2019 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards
2019 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards
Medal Winners
Announced
Tuesday 19 March 2019
Foodies have a slew of top-quality products—including many which are new—to look out for when they are shopping following today’s announcement of the 2019 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards medal winners.
Twenty food professionals assessed more than 180 food and drinks during judging at AUT School of Hospitality & Tourism on Saturday 9 March. Following the judges’ assessment of taste and flavour, producers were assessed for their sustainability, brand story and packaging and 129 medal winners have been chosen. Shoppers are able to identify the winning products as they will carry the gold, silver and bronze medal stickers from the 2019 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards—a guarantee of product quality.
For the third year, well-known New Zealand food writer and champion for locally-grown and made food products, Lauraine Jacobs was head judge. She said it was great to see the innovative approach many food producers had taken using premium ingredients predominantly grown and harvested in New Zealand.
“The dairy category was strong this year, a tribute to hardworking farmers around the country who produce quality cow, sheep, goat and buffalo milk. Drinks were also strong with the category hotly contested with a range of innovative products, many of which were fermented. Products specially created for the increasing number of special dietary requirements were catered for in the new ‘Free From’ category and it was great to see such a diverse range of entries, the majority of which were of excellent quality,” Lauraine said.
"Medal winners deserve the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Award they have earned, and consumers are well advised to seek out the delicious and exciting foods such as ice-creams, drinks and juices, honey, pâtés, meats, pickles, bread and so much more which will be carrying 2019 medals.”
Flavour, aroma, texture, appearance and innovation account for 80% of the judging mark, with the rest of marks coming from brand story, packaging and sustainable business practice. Specialist sustainability judge Emily King of Spira Consulting noted that this year the sustainability detail provided with entries was higher than previous years.
“Businesses are better at explaining their story and understanding what sustainability means, which reflects the trends we are seeing with food and beverage. Well done to our top entries for going above and beyond standard business practice.”
The organiser of the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards, Kathie Bartley, said it was wonderful to see the breadth and depth of entries which came from throughout New Zealand. Particularly pleasing was the increase in the number of entries from the South Island. She also noted the new ‘Free From’ category was popular with producers, with many producers developing new products specifically to cater to a number of specialist diets including gluten-free, paleo, dairy-free and vegan.
After three years of awards, Kathie Bartley said there are plenty of Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards medal stickers on food and drink products around the country.
“I urge food lovers to look for products with our Champion, Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal stickers. These stickers are an independent endorsement of quality—a promise to food lovers that the food and drink products will be delicious!”
Kathie also thanked the very talented team of food professionals who have given their time and taste buds to judge the 2019 awards. They were Head Judge Lauraine Jacobs and specialist sustainability judge Emily Smith as well as Enzo Bettio, Kathy Paterson, Mat Mclean, Mikey Newlands, Andy Aitken, Richard Emerson, Aaron Pooch, James Thomas, Lucy Corry, Tamara Rubanowski, Allyson Gofton, Anna King Shahab, Kimberley Dixon, Amanda Thompson, Hayley McLarin, Janene Draper, Lorna Subritzsky and Michelle Jones.
All Gold Medal winners are in contention for the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards Supreme Champion, Category Champion and Special Awards, which will be announced next month.
Gold medal winners will attend an awards event on Tuesday 16 April to discover the 2019 Emerson’s Dairy Champion, Farro Earth Champion, Ara Wines Paddock Champion and Water Champion, one of which will be also named 2019 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Supreme Champion. The following winners will also be named: NZ Life & Leisure Spirit of New Zealand Award, Outstanding Sustainability, FMCG Business Outstanding New Product, Label & Litho Outstanding Packaging, Fresh.co.nz Outstanding Drink, Outstanding Free-From Product and Outstanding Startup Producer. The Coast People’s Choice Awards to Outstanding NZ Food Producer and Outstanding NZ Farmers’ Market will also be revealed then.
2019 OUTSTANDING
NZ FOOD PRODUCER AWARDS MEDAL
WINNERS
Congratulations to the
all the 2019 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards medal
winners. These products represent the finest as assessed by
our judging panel. Look out for this promise of quality with
gold, silver and bronze medal stickers when you shop.
Gold Medal winning products are in the running for the category Champions, Supreme Champion and special awards being announced on Tuesday 16 April 2019.
GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
DAIRY, GOLD
MEDAL WINNERS
Bellefield Butter Co,
Miso Cultured Butter
Charlies Gelato, Strawberry Gelato
Lewis Road
Creamery, Gold Top Organic Non-Homogenised Jersey Milk
Meyer Cheese, Smoked Gouda
The Drunken Nanny, Lemony
Lush
The Drunken Nanny, Black
Tie
The Drunken Nanny, Dill Lush
Whitestone Cheese Company, Ferry Road Halloumi
Whitestone Cheese Company, Vintage Five
Forks
Whitestone Cheese Company, Vintage Windsor
Blue
Wooden Boutique Freezery, Blackcurrant Crunch Ice
Cream
DRINK, (part of the EARTH category)
GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
Chia Sisters Bottled
by the Sun, Nelson Apple & Boysenberry Juice
Chia Sisters
Bottled by the Sun, New Zealand Feijoa & Apple Juice
EARTH, GOLD MEDAL
WINNERS
Augustine’s of Central,
Preserved Sundrop Apricots in a Riesling Syrup
Barker's
of Geraldine, Fruit for Cheese, Feijoa and Pear
Chia
Sisters Bottled by the Sun, New Zealand Feijoa & Apple Juice
Greytown Honey, Kamahi Honey
Greytown Honey, Manuka
Honey (200+ MGO)
Greytown Honey, Manuka Honey
(400+ MGO)
Harraways HARR-OS Oat
Bites Indian Spice
Kauri Kitchen, Cranberry & Walnut
Loaf
Kiwi Quinoa, Quinoa
Manaaki Kamokamo Pickle
Mamia's, NZ Made Traditional Ethiopian Relish Cooking
Sauce
Nut Brothers Super Crunch
Peanut Butter
Pinoli, Mediterranean Pine Nuts
Roebuck Farm, Leaves + Shoots
Sweetree,
Marokopa Spring Honey
The Clareville Bakery, The
Clareville Crackers
The Yummy Fruit Company, SweeTango
Apples
Thoroughbread, Paleo Gold
Thoroughbread, Paleo Fruit
Loaf
PADDOCK, GOLD MEDAL
WINNERS
A Lady Butcher, Free Range
Coppa
BavariaNZ Fennel Delight
Kiwi Bacon Maple Middle
Bacon
L'Authentique, Chicken Liver Parfait with Shiraz
Jelly
Pastrami & Rye, Pastrami
Provenance Meat,
Provenance Lamb
WATER, GOLD MEDAL
WINNERS
East Rock, Gisborne
Tarakihi
Genevieve’s, Original Scallop
Mousse
SILVER MEDAL WINNERS
DAIRY, SILVER
MEDAL WINNERS
Clearwater Farm, Organic
Honey Yoghurt
Clevedon
Buffalo Company, Truffled Pepper & Porcini Cheese Tartinade
Lewis Road Creamery, Premium Garlic & Parsley
Butter
Performance Protein, Vanilla Flavoured Sheep Milk
Drink
Pure New Zealand Ice Cream, Kaffir Lime and Ginger
Ice Cream
The Drunken Nanny, Fresh Lush
The Drunken
Nanny, Goat Milk Kefir
Whitestone Cheese Company, Mt
Domet Double Cream Brie
Whitestone Cheese Company,
Lindis Pass Brie
Whitestone Cheese Company,
Probiotic Camembert
Whitestone Cheese Company, Windsor
Blue
DRINK, (part of the EARTH category)
SILVER MEDAL WINNERS
Aroha, Elderflower
Cordial
Greenleaf Organics, Lemon Switchel
Heke
Homemade Herbals, Awake and Aware
Happy Belly Ferments,
Ginger Beer Flavoured Water Kefir
Hakanoa Handmade
Drinks, Wild Ferment Lime & Chilli Ginger Beer
Hill Road,
Fresh Orange Juice
Something Big is Brewing, Kombucha
Kraft Ginger Kombucha
EARTH, SILVER MEDAL
WINNERS
Barker's of Geraldine, Fruit
for Cheese Blackberry and Brandy
Blue Frog, Raspberry and
Vanilla Granola
Daily Organics, Apple Cider Vinegar
Greytown Honey, Native Honey
Greytown Honey,
Wildflower Honey
Hunt and Gather Bee Co, Rewarewa
Honey
Kiwi Saffron, 100% Kiwi Saffron, NZ grown saffron
threads
Forage and Ferment, Mexi Kraut
Mandy's
Horseradish Pure
Mandy’s Horseradish
Sauce
NoShortcuts Gourmet Chutneys, Feijoa Kasundi
Omahu Valley Citrus, Spicy Mandarin Marmalade
Pam’s
Finest, Saffron & Ricotta Pasta Sauce
Pic's,
Pic's Peanut Butter, Boysenberry Jelly
Revive Cafe, Revive Bites Peanut Choc
Proper Crisps,
Marlborough Sea Salt
Pure Delish, Raspberry & Maple Nut
Nograin-ola
Pure Delish, Pecan, Ginger & Coconut
Nograin-ola
Pure Delish, Primal Bar
Something to Crow
About, Cashew Cherry Chia Muesli
Sonja’s Taste of
Austria, Gluten-Free Vegetarian Mushroom & Brie Pie
The
Dam Good Food Company, Wholesome Frozen Treats Citrus
Zing
The Dam Good Food Company, Wholesome Frozen Treats
Double Berry
The Lucky Taco, Chipotle Chicken Fiesta
Kit
Thoroughbread, Paleo Seed
Waiheke Herbs, Aioli
with Herbs
The Remarkable Chocolate Co, Organic Chocolate
Bark
Wise Boys, Aioli
PADDOCK, SILVER
MEDAL WINNERS
A Lady Butcher, New
Zealand Wagyu Bresaola
Coastal Lamb, Cap off
Rumps
Frank's Sausages, Veal Bratwurst
Homegrown Farm
Fresh Meats, Speckle Park Beef
Kiwi Bacon, Streaky Bacon
L'Authentique, Pork & Fennel Sausages
Whitestone
Cheese Company, Shenley Station Blue and Steak Gourmet
Pies
BRONZE MEDAL WINNERS
DAIRY, BRONZE
MEDAL WINNERS
Bellefield Butter Co,
Ghee Manuka
Bellefield Butter Co, Clotted
Cream
Clevedon Buffalo, Herb & Garlic Cheese Tartinade
Clevedon Buffalo Company, Smoked Paprika Cheese
Tartinade
Creative Cooking, Garlic & Rosemary Superseed
Crackers
The Drunken Nanny, Pasteurised Goat
Milk
Whitestone Cheese Company, Shenley Station Blue
DRINK, (part of the Earth category)
BRONZE MEDAL WINNERS
Fern Glen Farm,
Performance Protein, Coffee Flavoured Sheep Milk
Drink
Fern Glen Farm, Performance Protein, Chocolate
Flavoured Sheep Milk Drink
Hakanoa Handmade Drinks, Dry
Ginger Beer
The Kvas Company, Brod Green Hemp and Manuka
Kvas
EARTH, BRONZE MEDAL
WINNERS
Augustines of Central,
Augustines Quince Paste
Blue Frog, Apricot and Hemp
Blue Frog, Apple and Maple Granola
Cartel Food
Company, Black Bean, Roasted Corn and Chilli Lime
Burrito
Ceres Organics, Fritter Mix Herbalicious
Fix &
Fogg, Coffee and Maple Peanut Butter
Genevieve’s,
Saffron & Orange Vinaigrette
Greytown Honey, Clover
Honey
Greytown Honey, Manuka Honey (100+ MGO)
Kohkoz,
Golden Falafel Bites
Kohkoz, Traditional Hummus
Isobel
Olives, Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Molly Woppy,
Handmade Gingerbread Kids Iced Artisan Cookies
Molly
Woppy, Handmade Milk Choccy Chunk Artisan Cookies
Nanuk,
Frozen on the Island, Avocado ice cream on the
stick
Prof's, Chilli Jam
Pam’s Finest Tomato, Almond
& Olive Pasta Sauce
Proper Crisps, Onion with Green
Chives
The Lucky Taco, Veg Calabacita Fiesta Kit
The
New Zealand Quinoa Co, Natural Quinoa
Traditional Country
Preserves, Sugar-free Plum Sauce
Ziggy Ardor, Saffron
Tawari Honey
PADDOCK, BRONZE MEDAL
WINNERS
Olliff Farm, Premium Pasture
Eggs
Zaroa NZ, 100% Pure Natural High Country Lamb Bacon
Rasher
Zaroa NZ, 100% Pure Natural High Country Lamb
Breakfast Bratwurst Saussi
ends