Celebrity chef and judge Geoff Scott announces the finalists for the Bite Gourmet Award.
The finalists have been announced for the New Zealand Food Awards 2017, recognising Kiwi companies for their outstanding innovations in New Zealand’s food and beverage industry.
Now in its 30th year, the awards, powered by Massey University, celebrate the creative innovations from New Zealand’s artisanal and large-scale food and beverage manufacturers.
Finalists have submitted their finest products in the hopes of taking out one of the top awards, including the Artisan Food Producer Award, BITE Gourmet Award, Export Innovation Awards and the coveted Massey University Supreme Award.
The finalist line-up includes a diverse range of food and beverage producers from across New Zealand.
Massey University Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas says she is proud of the role that the New Zealand Food Awards has played in recognising and promoting innovation and excellence in food and beverage production and manufacturing over the past 30 years.
“The New Zealand Food Awards take great pride in celebrating New Zealand’s progressive food and beverage industry and every year we are impressed by the calibre of the finalists,” Professor Thomas says. “The awards provide local producers with the opportunity to elevate their business on a global scale.”
Massey University Vice-Chancellor Jan Thomas announces the finalists in the Massey University Health and Wellness category.
Celebrity judges wowed again in 2017
The New Zealand Food Awards is excited to welcome back their expert judging panel, including Bite magazine’s Ray McVinnie, chef Geoff Scott, as well as World Kitchen television host and chef Nici Wickes. For the first time, New Zealand’s only certified cicerone (beer expert), Josh Scott, joined the judging panel.
Mr McVinnie says he is “absolutely blown-away” at the calibre of this year’s finalists. “I have had some major ‘wow’ moments throughout the judging process and it was fantastic to see modern technology used to produce food that is completely natural and fresh.”
Mr Scott shared the same sentiment, saying, “The finalists are inventive, original, resourceful and clear food and beverage industry leaders in New Zealand. There is an immense variety across all the categories and it is really fascinating because you get to see innovative ideas and fantastic produce from all parts of New Zealand.”
Ms Wickes says, “We have such a vast array of fantastic ingredients and products available to us now and the NZ Food Awards do an exceptional job of highlighting those. Every year I get a steer on what is going to become more fashionable, what is popular, and what is next on the horizon!”
Winning products are eligible to use the New Zealand Food Awards “Quality Mark”, which highlights the superiority of products to both consumers and industry, and can help boost sales and distribution domestically and internationally.
There were 120 guests at the New Zealand Food Awards finalists announcement at Villa Maria Winery.
About the New Zealand Food Awards
The New Zealand Food Awards winners will be announced at a Gala Dinner at Sky City Convention Centre, emceed by broadcaster Kerry McIvor on October 12. For more information, please visit www.foodawards.co.nz.
The New Zealand Food Awards is made possible thanks to Massey University and the family of strategic and supporting partners – Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development, Countdown, FoodHQ, The FoodBowl, The New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology, Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, NZME, Review Publishing, XPO Exhibitions, RangeMe, Brother Design, Palmerston North City Council and Villa Maria.
The annual programme, which has been running since 1987, celebrates new initiatives in New Zealand food and beverage production, showcasing the best of New Zealand’s food industry. The awards are open to food, beverage and ingredient products, with specific categories for small manufacturers and large manufacturers. Special award categories are open for primary food producers, food service providers and ingredient supply companies. Products entered must be made in New Zealand.
Previous winners of note include Coastal Spring Lamb, Magills Butchery Ltd, Sealord Group, J. Friend & Co., Pure Delish and the Tasman Bay Food Group.
And the 2017 finalists are...
Artisan Food Producers Award in association with Supermarket News and Restaurant & Café Magazine
Abel New Zealand Ltd
Bakeworks Ltd
Bootleggers
Dr Feelgood Ltd
Durello - Traditional Brazillian Foods
Food to Market Ltd
Fresh West Ltd
Gathered Game
Green Meadows Beef Ltd
Hawke's Bay Brewing Company
Kiwi Kai
MANUKEE
Maungatapere Berries Limited
No Shortcuts Ltd
Carello del Gelato
Nutting Better Ltd
Otago Locusts
Queen Anne Indulgence Ltd
The Caker Ltd
The Lucky Taco
Wooden Spoon Boutique Freezery
Woodshed Enterprises
Artisan Craft Beer Award in association with Supermarket News and Countdown
Behemoth Brewing Company
Quench Collective
The Croucher Brewing Company
BITE Gourmet Award
Hakanoa Handmade Drinks Ltd
No Shortcuts Ltd
Over the Moon Dairy Company
Poppy & Olive Ltd
Six Barrel Soda Co.
Viavio
ViBERi NZ Limited
Wild Fennel Co.
Countdown Alcoholic Beverages Award
8 Wired Brewing (Quench Collective)
DB Breweries
Emerson's Brewing Company
Epic Brewing Company
Independent Liquor NZ Ltd
Moa Brewing Company
Non-Alcoholic Beverages Award in association with Villa Maria
Barker's of Geraldine
Fresco Nutrition Ltd
Spring Sheep Milk Co
Dry Award in association with Palmerston North City Council
Barker's of Geraldine
Proper Crisps
Pure Delish Ltd
The Lovely Little Food Co
Chilled/Short Shelf Life Award in association with Eagle Consumables
Cabernet Foods Ltd
Fresh to Go Ltd
The Collective
Frozen Award in association with FoodHQ
Leader Products
The Lovely Little Food Co
James & Wells Business Innovation Award
Cabernet Foods Ltd
Clareville Bakery Ltd
Frenz The Free Range Egg & Poultry Co. Ltd
Fresco Nutrition Ltd
Original Foods Baking Co.
The Caker Ltd
The FoodBowl Novel Food or Beverage Award
Barker's of Geraldine
Blue Frog Breakfast
Cocavo Limited
Otago Locusts
Spring Sheep Milk Co
The Caker Ltd
ViBERi NZ Limited
Massey University Health and Wellness Award
Springbrook Foods
Zamati Technology Ltd
MPI Food Safety Culture Award
Cocavo Limited
Maungatapere Berries Limited
The Pure Food Co
MPI Primary Sector Products Award
Fresh West Ltd
Maungatapere Berries Limited
Otago Locusts
T&G Global Limited
NZTE Export Innovation Award
Constellation Brands New Zealand
MANUKEE
Spring Sheep Milk Co