The country’s finest food producers have been crowned during this year’s Outstanding Food Producer Awards champions’ party 

Producers of the country’s finest boutique foods recently put their best offerings before a panel of sharp-toothed judges looking for the most delicious in each category. Buying products displaying an ONZFPA medal logo is a guarantee of New Zealand-made quality and enjoyment.

Now in its seventh year, this year’s lineup was dubbed “one of the most satisfying array to judge to date.”

On Tuesday 18th April, the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards Supreme Champion, Category Champions and Special Awards for 2023 were all awarded at the Champion’s Party at Glasshouse in Auckland. Pinoli was crowned the Supreme Champion for its Premium Pine Nuts – read more about their story here.

Head Judge Lauraine Jacobs said; “the judges were excited by the fresh taste of these high-quality nuts and unanimous in their acclaim for these sweet little orbs of good taste. This outstanding product involves intensive work and is a fine example of careful monitoring throughout growing, harvesting, processing and packaging to bring a consistently brilliant product to market. Pinoli Premium Pine Nuts are an excellent local food that soar above any comparable import.”

Reflecting on all 2023 Champions, Lauraine Jacobs noted; “It was also very satisfying to witness the high level of praise for locally produced meat. By far the largest group of Gold Medal winners was in the Paddock category and it was almost an impossible task for the team to separate so many outstanding meats to name the Champion of this category, Moreish Organic Butchery. The strength of this field is an affirmation of the fine work our Kiwi farmers are doing.”

NZ Life and Leisure’s May/June issue features stories on the Category Champions, look out for it on sale from Monday 24th April 2023.

THE FULL LIST OF CHAMPIONS

OUTSTANDING NZ FOOD PRODUCER AWARDS CHAMPIONS
Supreme Champion: Premium Pine Nuts, Pinoli, Marlborough
Emerson’s Paddock Champion: Organic Scotch Fillet & Pure Organic Beef Burger Patties, Moreish Premium Organic Butchery, Palmerston North
Dairy Champion: Oamaru Blue, Whitestone Cheese Co, Ōamaru
Seafood New Zealand Water Champion: Live Crayfish, Tora Collective, Tora Bay
Farro Earth Champion: Premium Pine Nuts, Pinoli, Marlborough
Label & Litho Drink Champion: Currant Crush, Pete’s Natural, Nelson
Free-From Champion: Mango Lassi Ice Cream, Little ‘Lato, Auckland

SPECIAL AWARDS
NZ Life & Leisure Spirit of New Zealand Award: Premium Game
Outstanding Sustainability Award: Raglan Food Co
FMCG Business Outstanding New Product: Big Glory Bay Fresh New Zealand King Salmon Portions
Marvellous Marketing Outstanding New Product – Boutique: Augustines of Central, Blackcurrants in Cassis
Emerging Business: Links Quality Meats

PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Coast Kiwis’ Favourite Food Producer: Lindsay Farm Dairy, Hawkes Bay
Coast Kiwis’ Favourite Farmers’ Market: Otago Farmers Market, Dunedin, Clevedon Village Farmers’ Market, Clevedon