Whitestone Takes Out Cheese Packaging Award

2 March 2012

Whitestone Takes Out Cheese Packaging Award

Whitestone Cheese has scooped the top award for packaging for the second year running at the 2012 Cuisine NZ Champions of Cheese Awards.

Whitestone Cheese has recently launched a new range of packaging across its entire range. The new packaging, which hit shelves five months ago, features a clear top sheet with each cheese clearly identifiable with the source of origin and cheese name noted in an attractive modern design. It also represents innovation in its pack design which hasn’t been seen in a New Zealand cheese pack before.

Judges were looking for innovation, creativity, strong design and great execution in cheese packaging.

Whitestone Cheese general manager, Simon Berry, is delighted with the win and the feedback he’s been getting from consumers and retailers alike.

“Our new packaging greatly enhances the overall presentation of our cheese,” says Berry. “It enables the consumer to clearly see what they’re buying, and ensures that when they get it home, it arrives in the same condition.”

Whitestone’s new packaging has also opened up a number of export opportunities for the company. “It has more than doubled the shelf life of Whitestone Cheese products, making it far more attractive and accessible for export,” adds Berry.

In addition to the packaging trophy, Whitestone’s Vintage Blue was a winner for the second year in a row, picking up the Ecolab Champion Blue Cheese Award.

Whitestone Cheese founder and Simon’s father, Bob Berry, was also celebrated and presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution to the New Zealand specialty cheese industry. This is the second time this award has been granted by the New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association.

Judges awarded a gold medal to Puhoi Valley for its Classic Cheeseboard with a trio of different cheeses (Distinction Blue, Old Barn Brie and Est’d 1863 Aged Cheddar). Judges loved the overall presentation and boxed display which features a helpful description of each cheese on the side of the box.

Barrys Bay was also acknowledged by judges for the packaging of its Taste 4 selection, containing four different cheeses which encourage consumers to try several cheeses in one affordable and convenient pack.

The 2012 Cuisine Champions of Cheese Awards celebrated 430 cheese entries from 36 different companies throughout New Zealand. Entries were judged across 19 different categories and judges awarded gold, silver and bronze medals before naming a champion for each category.

All Packaging Award Winners Include:

Caspak Champion Cheese Packaging Award
• Whitestone Range – Whitestone Cheese

Gold medal winners:
• Whitestone Range – Whitestone Cheese
• Classic Cheeseboard – Puhoi Valley

Silver medal winners:
• Entertainer’s Cheeseboard – Puhoi Valley
• Farm Fresh Goat’s Cheese with roasted garlic & dill – Puhoi Valley

Bronze media winners:
• Taste 4 – Barrys Bay Cheese
• Farm Fresh Goat’s Cheese – Puhoi Valley

Yealands Estate Champion of Champions Award
Meyer Vintage Gouda – Meyer Gouda Cheese

Cuisine Champion Artisan Cheese
Very Old Edam - Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese

NZ Cheese School Champion Cheesemaker
Jacob Rosevear - Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese

2012 Cuisine NZ Champions of Cheese Awards Category Winners:

The Langham Champion Fresh Unripened Cheese Award
Buffalo Mozzarella – Clevedon Valley Buffalo Company

Countdown Champion Feta Cheese Award
Brinza – Gibbston Valley Cheese

Innovative Packaging Champion Soft White Rind Cheese Award
Overbrook Brie – Talbot Forest Cheese

Elldex Packaging Champion Goat Cheese Award
Cilantro Chèvre – Cilantro Cheese

Monteith's Champion Sheep Cheese Award
Cumerino – Over the Moon Dairy Company

Thermaflo Champion Washed Rind Cheese Award
Galactic Gold – Over the Moon Dairy Company

GEON Champion Cheddar Cheese Award
Fonterra Edendale Cheddar – Fonterra Edendale (aged 26- 36 months)

QCONZ Champion European Style Cheese Award
Parmesan – Talbot Forest Cheese

NZ Labs/Bureau Veritas Champion Dutch Style Cheese Award
Leyden Vintage – Karikaas Natural Dairy Products

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Champion New Cheese Award
Buffalo Hard Cheese – Clevedon Valley Buffalo Company

Fonterra Champion Original Cheese Award
Darfield – Gruff Junction

AsureQuality Champion Flavoured Cheese Award
Garlic & Chive Gouda – Meyer Gouda Cheese

Ecolab Champion Blue Cheese Award
Vintage Blue – Whitestone Cheese

Goodman Fielder Champion Export Cheese Award
Kapiti Kahurangi – Fonterra Brands NZ

New World Champion Favourite Cheese Award
Kapiti Kikorangi – Fonterra Brands NZ
Caspak Champion Cheese Packaging Award
Whitestone Range – Whitestone Cheese

Curds & Whey Champion Home Crafted Cheese Award
Pohangina Blue by Adrian Walcroft

Curds & Whey Champion Home Crafted Cheesemaker Award
Adrian Walcroft of Ashhurst

ENDS

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