In a world that’s a little topsy-turvy it’s wonderful to have an opportunity to celebrate great New Zealand produce with
the announcement of 2020 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards medal winners.
Twenty-five judges and eight stewards worked in panels to assess a record 225 food and drink entries at AUT School of
Hospitality & Tourism on Saturday 7 March 2020. Following the judges’ assessment of aroma, appearance, taste, texture and quality
which accounted for 75% of marks, products were assessed for sustainability and brand story. Shoppers will recognise
outstanding food and drink as they proudly wear Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards gold, silver and bronze medals—a
guarantee of product quality.
For the fourth year judging was overseen by champion of NZ produce, Lauraine Jacobs. She noted it it was exciting to see
many more entries, all of which displayed great depth of innovation and attention to detail in production.
“The judging team welcomed back many long term producers and were pleased to note consistency and continued excellence
in every aspect including presentation and sustainability, of our food. It was equally exciting to have the opportunity
to examine many first time entries that were original, delicious and often inventive.”
“I encourage food lovers to seek out the medal winners’ products and show their support for our farmers and food
producers by endeavouring to always buy local New Zealand produce when possible.”
The 15% of marks allocated for sustainability were assessed by two specialist judges; Fiona Stephensonand Holly Leach,
both from the Sustainable Business Network. Following the assessments Fiona noted, “A growing number of New Zealand food
businesses are recognising the importance of sustainability, and incorporating good environmental and social practices
in their business operations, which is very encouraging. This includes consideration of ingredients, land use, water,
waste, transport, energy, climate, packaging, community engagement and staff wellbeing.”
“Food businesses that address these issues are helping regenerateNZ’s food system to one that is more resilient, healthy
and environmentally and socially-responsible. It’s good for our environment, good for people, and good for business.”
Co-organiser of the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards, Kathie Bartley said “we had an varied range of products again
this year – plenty of sausages and value added meat products such as flavoured beef, venison or chicken patties, a huge
range of honey, dairy free yoghurt and ice cream, convenience pre-cooked meals, cereals packed with nuts, seeds and
fruit. These sat alongside a stellar line up of NZ dairy including; specialty cheeses, butter, cow and sheep milk and
ice cream.”
“This year we gave drink its own category and were pleased to see continued growth in kefir and kombucha entries as well
as teas, fruit cordials and artesian mineral waters.”
Co-organiser Nicola McConnell noted that after four years of Awards “I urge food lovers to look for products with our
Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal stickers. These stickers are an independent endorsement of quality—a promise to food
lovers that the food and drink products will be delicious!”
Kathie and Nicola thanked the very talented team of food professionals who give their time and taste buds to judge the
2020 awards. They were Head Judge Lauraine Jacobs and specialist sustainability judges Fiona Stephenson and Holly Leach
as well as; Michelle Jones, Suzanne Sparrow, Alice Neville, Petra Mihaljevich, Amanda Thompson, Kate Underwood , Lynda
Hallinan, John Kelleher, Kathy Paterson, Emma Rawson, Shaun Clouston, Mat Mclean, Andy Aitken, Aaron Pooch, Richard
Emerson, James Thomas and Lucy Corry.
All Gold Medal winners are in contention for the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards Supreme Champion, Category Champion
and Special Awards, which will be announced on Tuesday 21 April. Awards to be announced are: Emerson’s Dairy Champion, Farro Earth Champion,
Giesen Wines Paddock Champion, Seafood NZ Water Champion and Label & Litho Drink Champion; one of which will be also named 2020 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Supreme Champion. NZ Life & Leisure Spirit of New Zealand Award, Outstanding Sustainability, FMCG Business Outstanding New Product, Fresh.co.nz Outstanding Startup Producer and Outstanding Free-From Product and Coast People’s Choice Awards for Outstanding Food
Producer and Outstanding NZ Farmers’ Market will also be revealed then.
2020 OUTSTANDING NZ FOOD PRODUCER AWARDS MEDAL WINNERS
Congratulations to the all the 2020 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards medal winners. These products represent the
finest as assessed by our judging panel. Look out for this promise of quality with gold, silver and bronze medal
stickers when you shop.
GOLD MEDAL WINNERS'EARTH' GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
Clevedon Herbs & Produce, Fresh Seasonal Herb & Produce Box
Blue Frog Breakfast, Manuka Honey & Hemp Heart Probiotic Porridge
Fix & Fogg, Everything Butter
Forty Thieves Chai Spiced Almond with Fruit Pieces
Foundry Chocolate, Masidau Farm, Vanuatu 70%
Foundry Chocolate, Kilombero Valley, Tanzania 70%
Greytown Honey, Manuka Honey - 200+ MGO
Heilala Oak Aged Vanilla Extract
Hunt and Gather Bee Co, Kanuka Honey
Lewis Farms, Whole Berry Strawberry Jam
Little Bird Organics, Good Cookie Double Chocolate Chip
Little Lato, Dairy-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Gelato
Paneton Bakery Ready To Use Flaky Pastry
Piece of Cake Peanut Brittle, Chilli and Beer
Pinoli Pine Nuts
Proper Tortilla Chips Cheeza-Peno
Roebuck Farm, Rainbow Mix Microgreens
Totara Cottage Balsamic Cheese Crackers'DAIRY' GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
Appleby Farms Coffee Ice Cream
Appleby Farms Salted Caramel Ice Cream
Bella Vacca Jerseys Milk
Bellefield Black Garlic Cultured Butter
Charing Cross Sheep Dairy, Marinated Labneh balls
Fernglen Farm, Pure NZ Sheep Milk
Jersey Girl Organics , Organic Full Cream, A2 Jersey milk
Kaikoura Cheese, Laugesen
Pure New Zealand Ice Cream, Boysenberry Ice Cream
Whitestone Cheese Co, Ferry Road Halloumi
Whitestone Cheese Co, Windsor Blue
Whitestone Cheese Co, Vintage Five Forks
Whitestone Cheese Co, Lindis Pass Brie'WATER' GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
Ngati Porou Fisheries, Ahia Freshly Smoked Kahawai Manuka Honey
Genevieve's, Mahurangi Oyster Mousse
'PADDOCK' GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
Bostock Brothers, Whole Bird Chicken
Bostock Brothers, Chicken Thighs
Bostock Brothers, Chicken Breasts
Coastal Spring Lamb Back Strap
The Neat Meat Company , Harmony Taupo Beef Picanha Steak
Wairarapa Eggs - A Good Egg, Chester Rd Premium Free Range Eggs
Zaroa NZ, Pohutakawa Smoked & Sous Vide Cooked Angus Beef Brisket'DRINK' GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
Forage & Ferment, Wild Kefir Ginger RootSILVER MEDAL WINNERS'EARTH' SILVER MEDAL WINNERS
Augustines of Central, Apricot Jam
Blue Frog Breakfast, Black Doris Plum, Dragon Fruit & Coconut
Creative Cooking, Superseed Crackers - Macadamia Nut
Egmont Honey Manuka UMF 5+ / MGO 85+
Fix & Fogg, Chocolate Almond Butter
Fix & Fogg, Chocolate Hazelnut Butter
Forage & Ferment, Super Seed Kraut
Forty Thieves Peanut Butter Crunchy
Forty Thieves Scorched Almond with Organic Cocoa
Frozen Bliss Coconut Ice Cream, Strawberry Sensation
Foundry Chocolate, Ucayali River, Peru 70%
Go Wild, Chatham Islands Freeze Dried Honey
The Damson Collection, Spicy Damson Plum Ketchup
Good Bugs Kiss Me Kimchi, Hot Vegan Kimchi
Greytown Honey, Manuka Honey 100+ MGO
Greytown Honey, Manuka Honey 400+ MGO
Greytown Honey, Wildflower Honey
Greytown Honey, Clover Honey
Greytown Honey, Rewarewa Honey
Greytown Honey, Kamahi Honey
Hinakura Honey, Aotea Manuka Honey 300+MGO
Kaimai Range Honey, Rewarewa Honey
Kimbella's Candy Old Fashioned Cashew Brittle
Kohkoz, For The Love of Garlic
Kohkoz, Smoky Baba Ghanoush
Kohkoz, Golden Falafel Bites
Little Bird Organics, Good Macaroons Passionfruit Macadamia
Martinborough Jelly Co, Pinot Noir Grape Jelly
Te Mata Figs, Fig Vincotto
Pure Delish, Raspberry Crunch Quinoa Grain-ola
Raglan Coconut Yoghurt, Boysenberry
Raglan Food Co, Organic Blackcurrant & Vanilla
Sweetree Four Brothers Reserve Honey
The Lucky Taco, Sizzlin' Steak Taco Kit
The Muesli Company, Macadamia Gold - Gluten Free Muesli
Waiheke Herbs Asian Herb Spread'DAIRY' SILVER MEDAL WINNERS
Anabelle Fine Fresh Cheeses, Sheep Fromage Frais
Appleby Farms Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Bellefield Crème Fraîche
Bellefield Brown Butter Ghee
Cranky Goat Provencal
Cranky Goat The Lynton
Nieuwenhuis Farmstead Cheese, Te Aute (Aged Fresh Goat Cheese)
Nieuwenhuis Farmstead Cheese,Marinated Cloud (Fresh Goat Cheese)
Pure New Zealand Ice Cream, Blackcurrant & Coconut Gelato
Waimata Cheese, Sheep Milk Camembert
Whitestone Cheese Co, Mt Domet Double Cream Brie
Whitestone Cheese Co, Vintage Windsor Blue
Whitestone Cheese Co, Aged Airedale
Whitestone Cheese Co, Island Stream
Whitestone Cheese Co, Farmhouse
Wooden Spoon Boutique Freezery, Smokey Pokey Ice Cream'WATER' SILVER MEDAL WINNERS
Ngati Porou Fisheries, Ahia Freshly Smoked Gemfish & Citrus Spread
Ngati Porou Fisheries, Ahia Freshly Smoked Trevally Horopito & Pepper'PADDOCK' SILVER MEDAL WINNERS
A Lady Butcher, Free Range Pancetta
A Lady Butcher, Free Range Lardons
Bavaria NZ Fennel Delight, NZ Free-range Pork and Beef sausage
Craft Pâté, Chicken Liver Parfait
First Light Foods, First Light Wagyu Beef Burgers
First Light Foods, First Light Farm Raised Venison Burgers
L’Authentique Truffle & Mushroom Parfait
L’Authentique Chicken & Bacon Sausage
Olliff Farm Premium Pasture Eggs
Premium Game, Manuka Smoked Wild Venison Bacon
Premium Game, Wild Venison Leg Medall