New Zealand Food Awards Unveils the ’Creme de le Crème’
hursday 12 October 2017
New Zealand Food Awards Unveils the ’Creme de le Crème’ for 2017
The winners of
the 2017 New Zealand Food Awards, powered by Massey
University, were unveiled this evening at a gala dinner
among 380 guests at Sky City.
This year marks the 30th
Anniversary of the awards which celebrate creative
innovations from New Zealand’s artisanal and large-scale
food and beverage manufacturers, with 22 products from 22
different companies taking out the top spots.
Spring Sheep Milk Co. took out the coveted and highest honour of the Massey University Supreme Award with its Vanilla Flavoured Probiotic Sheep Milk Powder, which also won them the NZTE Export Innovation Award.
Nick Hammond, Chief Operating Officer of Spring Sheep Milk Co, shared what winning the Massey University Supreme Award meant to them and their dedicated team.
“Receiving the Supreme Award is massive for us, we’re a really small company trying to do really big things,” Mr Hammond said.
“At Spring Sheep Milk Co, we’re trying to break new ground in product innovation and enter new markets, so I feel that this award is a real recognition of our whole team, and their passion for their work.”
Other companies recognised for their outstanding innovation and products, include Poppy and Olive in the BITE Gourmet Award category with its delicious Chocolate Hazelnut Butter, Gathered Game taking out the Artisan Award for its Premium Wild Venison Salami and Deer Sticks, and Proper Crisps in the Dry Award category with its Kumara Chipotle and Garlic.
The revamped Food Safety Culture and Primary Sector Products Awards, sponsored by the Ministry for Primary Industries, were taken out by The Pure Food Co. and T&G Global Ltd. respectively. The James & Wells Business Innovation Award was presented to Original Foods Baking Co.
Massey University Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas, said that the interest in the New Zealand Food Awards was exceptional, and the level of innovation from New Zealanders is something to be proud of.
“The finalists have set the bar high for this auspicious occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Food Awards. The entrants should be exceptionally proud of themselves and their world-class products,” Professor Thomas stated.
“As a small country, the level of innovation that we provide in terms of the food and beverage sector is incredible. We are committed to encouraging local business to continue to grow, experiment and create fantastic products, while recognising them for their efforts.”
For the third year in a row, the judging panel included food writer and cookbook author Nici Wickes, award-winning chef Geoff Scott and renowned chef and food writer Ray McVinnie, who sampled and sipped New Zealand’s finest food and beverages.
Mr Scott said the diversity in products this year was something to get excited about.
“We thought judging last year was hard, but the range of products presented to us this year has really made it difficult! We love to see the creativity and innovation in products from all corners of New Zealand.”
“What I love is we are starting to see some of our uniquely New Zealand ingredients coming through. Kumara being used in innovative ways, horopito, locally grown saffron, that sort of thing which I think is worth celebrating,” Ms Wickes said.
Joining the New Zealand Food Awards 2017 judging panel this year is the founder of Moa Brewing Company, Josh Scott, who is New Zealand’s first Certified Cicerone (beer expert). Mr Scott was brought on board to judge the Countdown Alcoholic Beverage Category.
Mr Scott says craft beer’s popularity is going through the roof and he feels privileged to be a part of the judging panel. “While we’ve had a challenging season in terms of hop production, the craft beer culture is thriving in New Zealand,” he says. “I’d like us to reach a point where our reputation for producing top-notch real beers, is up there with our reputation for world-class wines.”
At the end of the night, there could only be one winner in the Alcoholic Beverage Category. The finalists included 12 entries from six different companies, and it was Epic Brewing Company’s Epic Hop Zombie IPA beer that took home the Countdown Alcoholic Beverage award.
Winning
products are eligible to use the New Zealand Food Awards
Quality Mark highlighting the superiority of the products to
both consumers and industry, and helping to boost sales and
distribution domestically and internationally.
For more
information, please visit http://www.foodawards.co.nz/.
New Zealand Food Awards 2017 Winners:
Award
Category
Company
Product
Location
Artisan Food
Producer Award in association with Supermarket News and
Restaurant & Café Magazine
1st Place
Gathered
Game
Premium Wild Venison Salami and Wild Venison Deer
Sticks
Otago
Carrello del Gelato
Feijoa
Sorbet
Wellington
Artisan 2nd Place
Artisan 3rd Place
Hawke’s Bay Brewing
Company
Old Fashioned Ginger Beer, Spiced Ginger Beer,
Ginger Fusion and Red Sangria
Napier
Abel New
Zealand Ltd
Abel Methode Cider
Nelson
Bakeworks Ltd
Home St. Sprouted Good Seed
Bread
Auckland
Artisan Highly
Commended
Dr Feelgood Ltd
Handmade Ice Pops Range
Auckland
Maungatapere Berries
Ltd
Kwanza Fresh Raspberries
Whangarei
Queen Anne Indulgence Ltd
Dark Chocolate, Boysenberry
Jelly Marshmallow Bar
Christchurch
The Caker
Ltd
Coconut Raspberry Cake Mix
Auckland
Artisan Craft Beer Award in association with Supermarket News and Countdown
The Croucher Brewing
Company
Croucher Lowrider
Rotorua
BITE Gourmet Award
Poppy & Olive
Ltd
Chocolate Hazelnut Butter
Auckland
Countdown Alcoholic Beverages Award
Epic Brewing
Company
Epic Hop Zombie IIPA
Auckland
Non-Alcoholic Beverages Award in association
with Villa Maria
Barker’s of Geraldine
Squeezed
Fruit Botanicals Syrup: Squeezed Lemons with Lime, Cucumber
and Mint
Canterbury
Chilled/Short Shelf Life Award in
association with Eagle Consumables
Cabernet Foods
Ltd
Everton Dry Aged Beef
Wellington
Dry Award in
association with Palmerston North City Council
Proper
Crisps
Kumara Chipotle & Garlic
Nelson
Frozen Award
in association with FoodHQ
Leader Products
Jalapeño
Cheese Bites
Auckland
James & Wells Business
Innovation Award
Original Foods Baking Co
Christchurch
The FoodBowl Novel Food or Beverage
Award
Otago Locusts
Locusts
Otago
Massey
University Health and Wellness Award
Springbrook
Foods
No Nut Butter – Crunchy
Blenheim
MPI Food
Safety Culture Award
The Pure Food Co
Auckland
MPI Primary Sector Products Award
T&G
Global Ltd
Lotatoes Potatoes
Auckland
NZTE Export
Innovation Award
Spring Sheep Milk Co
Auckland
Massey University Supreme Award
Spring
Sheep Milk Co
Auckland
ends