Hospitality Business Magazine

Four distinct food themes feature across the 2024 Massey University NZ Food Awards. The awards provide a platform for New Zealand’s food and beverage producers to showcase innovation, excellence in food product development, sustainability, packaging, nutritional benefits and more – to the world.

From the 300 + entries, 64 finalists were selected, including big players, such as Lewis Road Creamery, My Food Bag, Silver Fern Farms, Waitoa Free Range Chicken, Beak and Johnson, Pic’s Peanut Butter, Harraways and Goodman Fielder, as well as plenty of new players to the market. The organisers say this year’s finalists reflect current food trends including; functional ingredients, foods that meet specific consumer needs, foods for convenience, and foods from different cultures.

Longstanding Expertise

The awards have celebrated New Zealand’s food and beverage manufacturers, focusing on innovation, excellence, and sustainability since 1987. Owned and operated by Massey University, the awards are open to small and large food and beverage manufacturers, primary food producers, food service providers and ingredient supply companies.

Chair of the New Zealand Food Awards Governance Board and Massey University College of Sciences Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ray Geor says Massey’s ongoing commitment to supporting food producers is demonstrated through the awards and are boosted by the powerful partner network.

“Massey’s long-standing expertise in food science and product development means we support food producers and manufacturers nationwide – from the biggest national co-operative to the smallest start- up. Like them, our food technology group continues to evolve and move forward in a rapidly changing food system and production environment, to ensure excellence is at the forefront,” Professor Geor says.

Kiwi Ingenuity

“The finalists this year are a testament to kiwi ingenuity, and care for the consumers of food across the nation and globally. As the leading university for food technology in New Zealand, with significant expertise in sensory and consumer science, alongside our food pilot production facilities, we are well placed to recognise the effort, concerns and technical challenges the finalists have had to overcome. We respect their commitment to creating value, product benefits and healthy food for consumers and understand the triumph they feel when they bring their product to market.”

Professor Geor says he is excited to see who will be named the Massey University Supreme Award Winner at the upcoming gala dinner in October. “The gala dinner is a fantastic opportunity for the sector to meet, connect and celebrate the best products New Zealand has to offer.“

Value Chain

Head Judge Kay McMath applauds this year’s entrants on the high quality of the submissions, that reflected a variety of producers across the value chain of the food and beverage industry.

“Entries ranged from new ingredients, primary products with added value, meal kits, fortified foods and beverages, convenience foods and foods for those with allergies – all designed to meet a variety of market needs.”

Ms McMath adds how much the judging panel enjoyed having the entrants’ journey narrated to them in a way that provided intricate details of each stage of the product life cycle, including the challenges they conquered along the way.

“Innovation is truly thriving among our producers, ensuring our consumers are constantly being presented with a fantastic range of new, updated and even recycled foods,” Ms McMath says.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The New Zealand Food Awards organisers have also announced the finalists for the 2024 recipients of the Product Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by AsureQuality. This award, which was introduced in 2019, celebrates Kiwi products that have withstood the test of time. The finalists are: Edmonds ‘Baking Powder’, Harraways ‘Rolled Oats’ and Santarium ‘Weet-Bix’.

Massey University 2024 NZ Food Award Finalists

Product Awards
Artisan Award – Sponsored by Cuisine
A Lady Butcher – Salami di Birra: IPA Salami
Akaroa Salmon – Hot Smoked Mānuka Salmon Portion 180g
allmite gold – allmite gold 250g Three Seed Bear Gelato – Horchata
Feliz Wholefoods Limited – Vutter ‘Avo Spreadable’
Good Chow NZ – New Zealand Wagyu Beef Sauce – Shiitake Mushroom Good Guise – Queso Fresco
Pepler’s – Drunk Doris Preserve Pickled – Yellow Trees
Remarkable Cream – Cream Liqueur Chocolate Sauce (16% Alcohol / 300ml) Tartan Sari – Rechard Masala
Curry Paste & Marinade
Yum + Lake Hāwea Station – Hāwea Honeycomb Granola – 500g

Below Zero Award – Sponsored by FoodHQ
Bear Gelato – Horchata
Homemade Baker – Ready made Muffin Batter – Apple Banana Carrot Pierogi Joint – Babushka Pierogi
Silver Fern Farms – PURE 97% Beef Sliders with Brisket
Beverage Award – Sponsored by Woolworths
Chia Sisters – Prebiotic Feijoa Smoothie
Elta Ego – Raspberry + Yuzu G&T – Alcohol-Free Adaptogenic Cocktail Golden Bay Fruit – Apple Juice
Lewis Road Creamery – Comfort Milk – Lactose Free A2 Protein Milk Love Muscle – Protein Water – Sparkling Pineapple
Wildwood – Feeling Dandy

Chilled Award – Sponsored by Massey University
A Lady Butcher – Salami di Birra: IPA Salami
Aoraki Salmon – BBQ & Horopito Dry Rub – Hot Smoked Salmon Beak and Johnston Ltd – Cauliflower & Cheese Soup
Canary – Butterscotch Squeeze
Feliz Wholefoods Limited – Vutter ‘Avo Spreadable’ Good Guise – Paneer
Good Guise – Queso Fresco
Raglan Food Co – Delce de Leche Caramel Coconut Yoghurt
Silver Fern Farm – Net Carbon Zero by Nature Beef Eye Fillet Steaks Silver Fern Farms – Net Carbon Zero by Nature Lamb Loin Fillets
Waitoa Free Range Chicken – Waitoa Flavour Kit – Thai Green Chicken Curry

Health and Wellbeing Award – Sponsored by Palmerston North City Council
Chia Sisters – Prebiotic Feijoa Smoothie
Harraways – Fibre Rich Creamy Original Oat Sachets My Food Bag – Mexi Chicken Protein Bowl
NaturKidz – Fruit Crispz Gold Kiwi Slices
The Alternative Bread Company – Gluten Free Rustic White Bread Mix

Pantry Award – Sponsored by Woolworths
Chantal Organics – Organic Spicy Lentil Couscous & Veg Easy Bowl Chantal Organics – Corn Puffs Churro Style
Good Chow – New Zealand Wagyu Beef Sauce – Shiitake Mushroom Good Chow – New Zealand Truffle Soy Sauce
Harraways – Fibre Rich Creamy Original Oat Sachets NaturKidz – Apple & Feijoa Sticks
Pepler’s – Drunk Doris Preserve
Pic’s Peanut Butter – Smoochy Peanut Butter
Pic’s Peanut Butter – Peanut & Chocolate Butter – made with Whittaker’s Remarkable Cream – Cream Liqueur Chocolate Sauce (16% Alcohol / 300ml) The Lucky Taco – Verde Taco Kit
Treasured Morning – High Protein Superfood – Apple Crumble

Primary Sector Award – Sponsored by New Zealand Food Safety

Akaroa Salmon – Hot Smoked Mānuka Salmon Portion 180g Golden Bay Fruit – Sassy™ Apples
Good Guise – Paneer
Waitoa Free Range Chicken – Waitoa Flavour Kit – Thai Green Chicken Curry

Product Lifetime Achievement Award – Sponsored by AsureQuality
Edmonds – Baking powder, Harraways – Rolled Oats, Sanitarium – Weet-Bix

Technical Innovation Award – Sponsored by New Zealand Food Innovation Network
Canary – Butterscotch Squeeze Haven – Oat Toddler Drink
Love Muscle – Protein Water – Sparkling Pineapple New Ground™– Boxed Coffee.