New Zealand Food Awards 30-year anniversary calls for entry

New Zealand Food Awards 2017 celebrates 30-year
anniversary and calls for entries

The hunt is on for New Zealand’s finest foods and beverages

Entries are open for the 30th New Zealand Food Awards, providing an opportunity for food and beverage producers to showcase their success and innovation. The 2017 New Zealand Food Awards, powered by Massey University, enables food and beverage operators to boost the profile of their business and brand, achieving national and international recognition.

The entry process has been streamlined to make it even easier to enter. Entrants have the opportunity to put forward their products to an expert judging panel, receive feedback and benchmark themselves against industry peers, which provides valuable insights for future development and approaches.

Winning products earn the New Zealand Food Awards “Quality Mark” to highlight the superiority of their products to both shoppers and industry, boosting sales and distribution both here and abroad.

The awards are aimed at small and large food and beverage manufacturers, primary food producers, food service providers and ingredient supply companies.

Massey University Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas says the local food and beverage industry has evolved significantly over the past 30 years. “New Zealand food and beverages are world-class in terms of quality and innovation and the New Zealand Food Awards are a fantastic way to recognise and celebrate excellence right across the industry,” Professor Thomas says. The award categories provide many opportunities for manufacturers to showcase different products aimed at national and international markets.

Last year, Wanganui’s Coastal Spring Lamb was overall champion, taking out the 2016 New Zealand Food Awards Massey University Supreme Award as well as the Export Innovation and Chilled Foods Award categories with its Lamb Rack. The Lamb Rack impressed judges through the process used to grow, market and sell the product from pasture to plate.

Large manufacturers can enter products in Chilled (includes dairy), Dry Goods (sweet and savoury), Beverages, and Frozen (sweet and savoury) categories. Small manufacturers can enter products in the Artisan and Gourmet categories, which are judged on product quality and consumer appeal.

Awards are also available for health and wellness, novel ingredients, primary sector products, food safety, business innovation, export innovation and the overall supreme winner.

The New Zealand Food Awards are made possible thanks to Massey University and the family of strategic and supporting partners: Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (ATEED), Countdown, Eagle, Foodtech Packtech, The Foodbowl, The FoodPilot, James & Wells (a new partner for 2017), the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology, the Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, NZME, the Palmerston North City Council, Review Publishing, Retail Media and Villa Maria.

This year’s expert judging panel consists of Ray McVinnie, Jeff Scott and Nici Wickes.

Entries for the competition close on Friday 30 June. For more information, please visit www.foodawards.co.nz.

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Key dates:

• Entries open Monday 1 May

• Entries close Friday 30 June

• Judging 9-12 August

• Finalist announcement event Thursday 31 August

• Awards gala dinner Thursday 12 October

Award categories:

Small Business

• Artisan sponsored in association with Supermarket News

• Gourmet in association with the New Zealand Herald BITE Magazine

Large Manufacturing

• Chilled (including Dairy)

• Dry Goods

• Alcoholic Beverages

• Non-Alcoholic Beverages

• Frozen

Open to All

• Health and Wellness sponsored by Massey University

• Novel Ingredients in association with The Food Bowl

• Food Safety Culture in association with Ministry for Primary Industries

• Primary Sector Products Award in association with Ministry for Primary Industries

• Business Innovation

• Export Innovation in association with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

• Supreme Winner in association with Massey University

About the New Zealand Food Awards:

Owned and organised by Massey University, the New Zealand Food Awards recognise innovation and excellence by our largest export sector. 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 New Zealand Food 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.

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