Kiwi producers who make food and drink with aroha and passion are being invited to enter the 2023 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards which will be judged at Homeland in February 2023.
Making the call for entries, Awards Co-Director Kathie Bartley made special mention of changes this year – making Free-From and Fresh Produce standalone categories.
“This means judges will taste and assess food made for a specific diet such as being free-from gluten, sugar, carbs or made with a meat substitute, alongside similar products. Additionally, we have decided to continue with a special Fresh Produce category which recognises the outstanding quality of fresh produce in New Zealand.
“We’re now judging across seven categories; Emerson’s Dairy, Seafood New Zealand Water, Giesen Wines Paddock, Farro Earth, Free-From, Fresh Produce and Label & Litho Drink.”
Gold, silver and bronze medals are made in these categories with the top medal winners for each category going forward for Category Champion Awards, or the four Special Awards which are: NZ Life & Leisure Spirit of New Zealand, FMCG Business Outstanding New Product, Outstanding Sustainability and Start-Up Business.
The top scoring product across all judging will be named Supreme Champion.
The 2023 Awards mark the seventh year of judging and Awards Co-Director Nicola McConnell says the Awards are successful because of the community of producers and food lovers they have built.
“Our Champions Party is a great opportunity for producers to meet and collaborate; add the community of food lovers we have created and then opportunities to introduce award-winning and new products to Kiwi consumers and retailers, and we have a very compelling offer which is much more than just an endorsement.”
This year’s Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards winners spanned from Northland to Southland and its breadth, from the West Coast over to the Chatham Islands with 70 percent of more than 300 entries receiving an accolade.
In 2022 78 Gold Medals were awarded, 86 Silver Medals and 56 Bronze Medals. Reflecting on this year’s medal-winners, Head Judge, Lauraine Jacobs – who will again lead judges in 2023 – said; “Each year has seen not only growth in the number of entries, but the quality of the food products continues to rise and rise in every category, and I can’t wait to see what outstanding treasures 2023 delivers.”
Judging of the 2023 Awards will be conducted at Homeland, The Food Embassy for Aotearoa & The Pacific on February 21 and 22, 2023. Medal winners will be announced on March 23 before the 2023 Champions are named on Monday April 17.
Kathie Bartley thanked the Awards partners; NZ Life & Leisure, Coast, Giesen Wines, Emerson’s, Farro, FMCG Business, Label & Litho, Seafood New Zealand and Marvellous Marketing.
Entry is online at https://www.outstandingfoodproducer.co.nz/ until Friday 10 February 2023
