News Release
March 3, 2006
Kiwis' favourite supermarket products revealed
New Zealanders' favourite grocery products were revealed last night (Thursday, March 2) in an evening of glitz and
glamour at the 2006 Foodtown Magazine People's Choice Awards.
More than 250 grocery suppliers from throughout New Zealand walked the red carpet to Auckland's Town Hall to find out if
their products would take top honour in their categories.
The Foodtown Magazine People's Choice Awards celebrate New Zealand's most popular supermarket products as voted by
readers of the publication.
It's a prestigious event. Being able to label their goods with a gold winner or silver finalist sticker not only
signifies success in the highly competitive industry but also provides suppliers with a head start in the ‘pick me'
stakes in-store.
And the winners are… well, 59 of them actually in 15 categories and there are some notable victors.
Fifteen of the 59 winning products this year – that's just under a quarter of all awards – have been voted top of the
shopping list since the awards began three years ago.
Stealing the limelight for the third time include Lindauer sparkling wine and Heineken beer, Charlie's Orange Juice,
Healtheries Pure Green Tea, Puhoi Camembert, Eta Mayonnaise, Sanitarium Weet-Bix and Sara-Lee Strawberry Cheesecake.
Publisher Tim Connell says the awards are voted for by the readers of The Foodtown Magazine and are hotly contested.
“The supermarket industry is a very, very competitive business, so any advantage you can gain over your competitor
suppliers is eagerly sought and jealously protected.
“And with The Foodtown Magazine being New Zealand's fastest growing bi-monthly[1] the People's Choice Awards carry a lot
of weight with suppliers and consumers alike.”
Several new categories were added in 2006 including personal care – women, personal care – men, and dental care.
And the Foodtown Magazine People's Choice Awards for 2006 go to….
Wine & Beer
Chardonnay – Church Road Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc – Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc
Riesling – Stoneleigh Riesling
Merlot – Montana Merlot Reserve
Shiraz – Jacobs Creek Shiraz & Wyndham Estate Shiraz Bin 555 (tie for first)
Cabernet – Jacob's Creek Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Blend – Villa Maria Private Bin Cabernet Merlot Sauvignon
Sparkling Wine – Lindauer
Beer – Heineken
Beverages
Fruit/Vegetable Juice – Charlie's Orange Juice
Energy / Sports Drinks – V Energy Drink
Soft Drinks – Coca Cola Coke
Hot Beverages
Roast/Ground Coffee - Robert Harris Jamaican Blue Mountain Style Coffee Ground
Instant Coffee - Nescafé Classic
Tea - Bell Tea Bags
Herbal Tea - Healtheries Pure Green Tea
Other Hot Beverages - Nestle Milo
Dairy/Chilled
Margarine – Olivio Bertolli Spread Lite
Yoghurt – Fresh n Fruity Lite Wildly Berry
Cheese – Mainland Edam
Specialty Cheese – Puhoi Camembert
Dips – Lisa's Hummus
Bacon – Kiwi Middle Bacon
Biscuits/Crackers
Plain Biscuits/Cookie – Griffins Gingernuts
Crackers/Rice Cracker – Sakata Rice Cracker Barbecue
Chocolate Biscuit – Arnott's Tim Tam Original
Pasta/Rice
Fresh Pasta – Delmaine Egg Fettuccine
Dried Pasta – Diamond Spaghetti
Rice – Kings Choice Basmati
Sauces/Pickles/Oils
Specialty Asian Sauce - Trident Sweet Chilli Sauce
Soy Sauce - Kikkoman Soy Sauce
Simmer Sauces - Continental Chicken Tonight Creamy Chicken with Mushrooms
Dressing - Eta Mayonnaise
Pickle/Chutney/Relish - Cerebos Tomato Relish
Pasta Sauce - Watties Traditional Pasta Sauce Original
Oil - Lupi Olive Oil
Cereals/Spreads
Cereal - Sanitarium Weet-Bix
Spread - Kraft Vegemite
Snacks
Lunch Box Snack Bar - Uncle Toby's Le Snak Cheese
Potato Chips - Bluebird Originals Salt & Vinegar
Corn Chips - Signature Range Chilli & Lime Tortilla Chips
Frozen
Premium Ice Cream - Tip Top Hokey Pokey Ice Cream
Frozen Dessert - Sara Lee Strawberry Cheesecake
Frozen Meal - Weight Watchers Lasagne Italiano
Frozen Pizza - McCains Pizza Perfection Hawaiian
Hair Care
Hair Shampoo - Pantene Classic Clean
Hair Conditioner - Pantene Classic Care
Hair Styling Product - Pantene Straightening Creme
Hair Colour - Clairol Nice 'n Easy Natural Light Brown
Personal Care - Women
Shower Gel - Health Basics Aloe Vera Body Wash Vitamin E Plus
Body Lotion - Nivea Body Moisturising Care Lotion
Facial Skincare Product - Olay Total Effects Moisturiser
Deodorant - Dove Original Roll On
Personal Care - Men
Shaving Product - Gillette Series Shave Gel Protection
Deodorant - Lynx 24-7 Phoenix
Dental Care
Toothpaste - Colgate Total Toothpaste
Toothbrush - Colgate 360 medium
Health and Wellness
Multivitamin - Healtheries Women's Multi Capsule
Sports Food - Horleys Sculpt Chocolate Flavour
ends
Issued for The Foodtown Magazine by Pead PR
[1]The Foodtown Magazine achieved circulation growth of more than 23 percent in the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC)
results for the calendar year 2005. The figure represents the highest growth rate of any bi-monthly magazine in the six
month period to December 31, 2005. The Foodtown Magazine's growth rate during the entire 12 months of 2005 was more than
17 percent. For 2005, The Foodtown Magazine had an average circulation of 47,028 and average net paid sales of 44,674.