Fine Food New Zealand delivers on all fronts

Fine Food New Zealand delivers on all fronts

The inaugural Fine Food New Zealand was a resounding success, greatly exceeding expected visitor numbers and attracting excellent feedback from every quarter.

A total of 240 satisfied exhibitors served up the best, latest, and most innovative foodservice, food retail, and hospitality products and services to 5734 excited trade visitors over the three days of the show – 15% more than the expected 5000 visitors.

Data obtained from all visitors during the show is currently being analysed to determine their interests, their sectors, and their feedback. This information will be published on the Fine Food New Zealand website in the next few weeks.

In the meantime, here are some quotes from visitors, exhibitors, and industry associations that convey some of the excitement, excellence, and triumph of the event.

Tim Beck, Marketing Manager Foodservice, Fonterra Brands New Zealand:

“Fine Food New Zealand 2010, simply put, was a world-class event, attracting both quality exhibitors and high value visitors. It showcased the industry professionally, and is a great addition to the foodservice calendar. I look forward to the next event in 2012.”

Stephen Randle, Zest Kitchen:

“We came to the show looking for new catering equipment and food products and were completely blown away with the selection of international and local exhibitors. There were lots of them and the quality of their stands was excellent. New Zealand’s never seen anything like this before and there’s a general feeling of excitement from everyone in the industry already for 2012.”

Belinda Jeursen, Executive Officer, Baking Industry Association of New Zealand:

“Fine Food was clearly a success for the Baking Industry Association. Our baking competition was a very popular attraction and gave all those who entered the recognition they deserved for their efforts. It was the first time we have judged it live and it went exceptionally well. We met a lot of potential new members for our organisation and were able to showcase our services to a wide variety of traders. There are hundreds more people who know who we are now and the benefits of this kind of exposure will flow on for us long after the show.”

Gary Miller, Vice President, New Zealand Chefs Association:

“Fine Food New Zealand provided the perfect vehicle for our competitions – the NZCA Gourmet Pacific Challenge Young Professional's Challenge and The New Zealand International Culinary Challenge 'Battle of the Tasman'. Two great competitions with the added bonus of the New Zealand Youth and National Teams both lifting the respective trophies. The show itself was everything we had hoped for: it attracted large numbers of high quality visitors, many of whom were key decision-
makers; and it exposed our members to a huge range of new food products and ideas. There really was something for everyone at Fine Food New Zealand 2010.”

A special feature of Fine Food New Zealand was the inaugural Best New Product Awards, which assessed dozens of new food, beverage, foodservice, and hospitality products against a range of criteria including taste, visual appeal, degree of innovation, functionality, and value.

The winners were as follows:

• Arc Distribution’s Slide Control – a silicon seal that stabilises glassware and crockery – won the Hospitality Magazine Best New Hospitality Equipment Award.
• Waitaki Bacon and Ham’s Pure Pork Sausage won the Food & Beverage Today Best New Hospitality Food or Drink Product Award.
• Tasman Bay Food Group’s Natures Harvest Organic Cookies won the Supermarket News Best New Retail Product Award.
• NZ King Salmon’s Frozen Salmon Fillet Portions won the Restaurant & Catering News Best New Foodservice Product Award.

For organiser Dona White, Fine Food New Zealand 2010 was a thorough vindication of her belief in the need for this kind of show.

“North Port Events and Diversified Exhibitions Australia responded to calls from many sources for a trade show that would provide a truly high-quality, world-class showcase for the food, foodservice, food retail, and hospitality industries,” says Dona.

“The result has been Fine Food New Zealand 2010, a spectacular success that has not only attracted large numbers of domestic visitors but also many international exhibitors of the highest calibre.

“The future now looks bright for us to build on this new beginning in the years to come. We’re extremely pleased and grateful to the many great exhibitors who embraced this inaugural event and helped to make it the unequivocal win-win it has been.

“Many thanks to everyone who exhibited or visited Fine Food New Zealand. Your support was the essential ingredient that has ensured the show’s success. We look forward to seeing you and many new participants in 2012”

ENDS

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