From bustling supermarkets to cosy rural delis 

In good news for those planning their afternoon snack plate or weekend cheese platter, New Zealand’s top cheese shops have been crowned for another year.

It’s the fourth year the Top NZ Cheese Store accreditation programme has run, led by the New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association (NZSCA). Judged on the passion, dedication and expertise of retailers, 29 shops from around the country have taken out this year’s top gongs – including bustling supermarkets, cosy rural delis and weekend farmers’ markets.

Retailers were assessed by mystery shoppers who quizzed staff on their knowledge and selection of local cheese and whether the store had the ability to cut cheese fresh from the wheel.

“Stores in smaller centres and supermarkets with a wide and varied selection of NZ Cheese deserve to be recognised. Without supermarkets supporting local cheesemakers from their region, small NZSCA cheesemakers would have limited options to sell their artisan cheeses, and the Association wanted to recognise retailers who help ensure the viability of the NZ cheese industry,” says NZSCA Chair, Simon Lamb.

A full list of Gold, Silver and Bronze-medal winning stores can be found below or on the NZSCA website.

GOLD TOP NZ CHEESE STORES
Barrys Bay Dairy Company, Akaroa
C’est Cheese Artisan Cheese & Deli, Featherstone, Wairapapa
Charing Cross Cheesery, Riverside Market, Christchurch
Farro, Epsom, Auckland
Farro, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Farro, Mt Eden, Auckland
Farro, Mt Wellington, Auckland
Farro, North Shore, Auckland
Farro, Orakei Bay Village, Auckland
Geraldine Cheese Company, Geraldine
Hōhepa Hawkes Bay, Clive, Hawkes Bay
Mahoe Farmhouse Cheese, Bay of Islands
Moore Wilson’s Fresh, Ta Aro, Wellington
Origin Northland, Waipu
Over the Moon Dairy, Putururu
Whitestone Cheese Store, Oamaru, North Otago
Sabato, Mt Eden, Auckland
Te Puna Deli, Te Puna, Bay of Plenty
The Artisan Hub, online and Catalina Bay Farmers Market and Matakana Farmers Market
The Junction, Appleby, Nelson

SILVER TOP NZ CHEESE STORES
CheeseShop, online
Gouda Cheese Shop, Hamilton

BRONZE TOP NZ CHEESE STORES
FreshChoice, Nelson City
New World, Hastings
New World, Kumeu
Raeward Fresh, Harewood, Christchurch
Raeward Fresh, Queenstown
Raeward Fresh, Richmond
Raeward Fresh, Tower Junction, Christchurch