Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards 2023: Congratulations to this year’s medal winners

Amanda Thompson, Moore Wilson’s General Manager

It’s time to celebrate great New Zealand food products with the announcement of 2023 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards medal winners.

In exciting news for Kiwi foodies, the medal winners of the 2023 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards have been named. Now in its seventh year, this year’s lineup has been dubbed “one of the most satisfying array to judge to date.”

This year’s judging was at Peter Gordon’s restaurant Homeland, with judges tasting products from throughout New Zealand. Unfortunately, due to Cyclone Gabrielle, many talented farmers and food producers were missing from the entry lineup.

Head judge Lauraine Jacobs said the team wish to send sympathies to those who couldn’t make it into this year’s judging.

“We hope to see you all revive, recover and return to continue to feed our nation with your excellent food products. I can assure you that you were missed.”

A range of categories including dairy products, ‘earth’-based products (think breads, oils, honey, salts and nuts), meats, seafoods and sweets were all judged. Lauraine said this year the ‘Free From’ category was a clear standout, with a much larger number of entries than in previous years.

“This year judges were excited to see how many producers have taken up the health messages and emphasised this through their food production.”

Outstanding Gold Medal Winners in the Free-From category in 2023 include; Island Gelato’s dairy-free Chocolate and Forest Berry Italian Ice Cream Cake; Well and Truly Artisan Pantry’s gluten free Raspberry Road Gourmet Granola; and Wise Boys’ vegan Hemp and Mushroom Burger Patties – just to name a few.

Kate Underwood, Eat New Zealand and freelance food communicator

All gold medal winners are in contention for the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards Supreme Champion, Category Champion and Special Awards, which will be announced the Champions Party 2023 on Tuesday 18 April. You’ll be able to check out interviews with some of the medal winners in the May/June issue of NZ Life & Leisure, which hits shelves at the end of April.

2023 OUTSTANDING NZ FOOD PRODUCER AWARDS MEDAL WINNERS

DAIRY CATEGORY GOLD MEDALS
Banu’s, Ghee
Farm Fresh South, Whole Pasteurised Milk
Fernglen Farm, Probiotic Sheep Milk Yoghurt
Momojo, Real Kefir Vanilla
Momojo, Real Kefir Mango
Westgold, Salted Butter
Westgold, Unsalted Butter
Whitestone Cheese Co, Oamaru Blue

DRINK CATEGORY GOLD MEDALS
Daily Good, Organic Fiji Turmeric – Immunity Shot
Pete’s Natural, Currant Crush
Quarterpast, Gold Energy Drink Concentrate
The Tea Thief, Cool Brew
The Wild Fermentary, Bloody Mary Mix

EARTH CATEGORY GOLD MEDALS
4&20 Bakery, Parbaked Country Sourdough
4&20 Bakery, Sunflower and Flaxseed Sourdough
Augustines of Central, Black Peach and Tomato Chutney
Augustines of Central, Blackcurrants in Cassis
Black Shepherd Apiaries, Pure NZ Manuka Honey MGO400+
Forty Thieves, Satay Paste
Foundry Chocolate, Pinalum, Malekula Island, Vanuatu 70%
Foundry Chocolate, Soconusco, Chiapas, Mexico 70%
Foundry Chocolate, Mini Chocolate Eggs – Kilombero Valley, Tanzania 70%
Foundry Chocolate, Mini Chocolate Eggs – Pinalum, Malekula Island, Vanuatu 70%
Gault’s, Italian Flavour Shot
Get Pickled, Plum & Lemon Jam
Just Fresh Co, Turmeric Juice
Kimbella’s Candy, Old Fashioned Almond Brittle
Kiwi Quinoa, Red Wholegrain Quinoa
Lucid Chocolatier, 68% Port
Matakana Olive Coop, Matakana Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Norish, Fiery Almonds
Opito Bay Salt, Black Garlic Sea Salt
Opito Bay Salt, Natural Sea Salt
Opito Bay Salt, Rare Dry Gin Sea Salt
Paneton Bakery, Ready to Bake Flaky Pastry
Pacific Harvest, Manuka Smoked Dulse Flakes
Pepler’s, Japanese Chilli Oil
Perfectly Imperfect, Woodfired Pizza Kits – Vegetable
Pinoli, Premium Pine Nuts
Port Larder, Ceylon Sauce
Port Larder, Marmalade
pure delish, Sea Salt Seeded Crackers
Robbies by Mrs Pickles, Peach & Ginger Chutney
Sabato, Brazilian-style Cheese Puffs
Taste of the Alps, The Gold Panner Central Otago Apricot & Lemon Jam
Telegraph Hill, Kalamata Olives
The Lucy Taco, Roja Taco Kit
The Lucy Taco, Verde Taco Kit
The Kitchen Window, Basil & Honey Dressing
The Taipa Salt Pig, Plain Salt

‘FREE-FROM’ CATEGORY GOLD MEDALS
Blue Frog, Keto Almond Butter and Vanilla Bean (GF)
Chantal Organics, Cacao & Coconut Keto Granola (GF)
Island Gelato, Chocolate & Forest Berry Italian Ice Cream Cake (DF)
Island Gelato, Pineapple Mojito Sorbet (DF)
Little ‘Lato, Mango Lassi (DF)
Little ‘Lato, Peanut Butter Chocolate (DF)
Lucy’s Gluten Free, The White One (GF)
Lucy’s Gluten Free, The Seedy One (GF)
Mind Your Temper, Speculoos Bonbon (DF)
Mylk Made, Almond Barista Mylk Base (DF)
Mylk Made, Sweetened Almond Mylk Base (DF)
Port Larder, Gluten-Free Tomato Sauce (GF)
PURE New Zealand Ice Cream. Mango & Coconut Gelato (DF)
Raglan Food Co, Natural Greek-Style Coconut Yoghurt (DF)
Raglan Food Co, Organic Passionfruit Coconut Yoghurt (DF)
Sabato, Gluten-Free Flour by Kate Fay (GF)
Well & Truly Artisan Pantry, Raspberry Road Gourmet Granola (GF)
Well & Truly Artisan Pantry, Macadamia Gold Gourmet Granola (GF)
Wise Boys, Hemp and Mushroom Burger Patties (Vegan)
Wise Boys, Spicy Chipotle Burger Patties (Vegan)

PADDOCK CATEGORY GOLD MEDALS
Aotea Organics, Wagyu Beef Bresaola
Black Origin Wagyu Sirloin BMS 6+
L’Authentique, Beef Sausage
L’Authentique, Chicken & Tarragon Parfait
L’Authentique, Filet Mignon Garlic
L’Authentique, Lomo Paprika
L’Authentique, Pork & Fennel Sausage
Links Quality Meats, Organwurst
Links Quality Meats, Tube Burger Sausage
Middlehurst Delivered, The Middlehurst Station Box – Deluxe Edition
Moreish Organic Butchery, Organic Scotch Fillet
Moreish Organic Butchery, Pure Organic Beef Burger Patties
Premium Game, Venison Steak
Pure South, Beef
Pure South, Handpicked Lamb
Pure South, Lamb
Pure South, Venison
Pure South, Handpicked Beef – 55-Day Aged
Perfectly Imperfect, Woodfired Pizza Kits – Meat
Whitehart, Kurobuta Pork Loin

WATER CATEGORY GOLD MEDALS
Big Glory Bay, Fresh New Zealand King Salmon Portions
Matakana Smokehouse, Cold Smoked Salmon
Matakana Smokehouse, Hot Smoked Warehou
Akaroa Salmon, Manuka Hot Smoked Salmon
The Wee Smokehouse, Gravadlax
Tora Collective, Live Crayfish
Tora Collective, Live Paua

DAIRY CATEGORY SILVER MEDALS
New Zealand Creameries, Deep South Aspiring Caramel Frappe
Farm Fresh South, Raw Milk
Lindsay Farm, A2 Organic Pasteurised Milk

DRINK CATEGORY SILVER MEDALS
Barker’s of Geraldine, Immunity Daily Shots – Orange, Carrot & Ginger Silver
Daily Good, Organic Blackcurrant – – Immunity Shot
Daily Good, Immunity Shots – Organic Fiji Ginger
Dr Bucha, Jalapeno Kombucha
Dr Bucha, Kawakawa and Ginger with Apple
Elta Ego, Mojito
Elta Ego, Raspberry + Yuzu G&T
Ocean Water Co, Fresh water from seawater
Pete’s Natural, Lime-O-Nade
Poptimist, Good Sh*t Soda, Ginger
Wildwood, Spiced Cacao with Reishi and Lion’s Mane

EARTH CATEGORY SILVER MEDALS
4&20 Bakery, Par Baked Baguette
Arataki, Squeeze Me Honey
Mitey Co, allmite gold yeast spread original
Banu’s, Kura Karam
Banu’s, Madras Curry Mix
Black Shepherd Apiaries, Pure NZ Clover Honey
Branch Creek Honey, Creamed Clover Blend Honey
Gault’s, Indian Flavour Shot
Gault’s, Moroccan Flavour Shot
Growing Greens, Baby Puree Powder
Hunt and Gather Bee Co, Rewarewa Honey
Lucid Chocolatier, 48% Sourdough & Brown Butter
Miel des Collines, Multi Floral Honey
Opito Bay Salt, Furikake
Opito Bay Salt, Porcini Sea Salt
Opito Bay Salt, Sazon
Pacific Harvest, Wakame Flakes
Paneton Bakery, Ready to Bake Garlic Baguette
Pepler’s, Pear and Mustard Fruit Paste
Pepler’s, Spicy Lime & Fig Chutney
Perfectly Imperfect, Margherita Pizza
Robbies by Mrs Pickles, Pickled Onions
Secret Kiwi Kitchen, Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix
Secret Kiwi Kitchen, Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix
Tartan Sari, Spicy Carrot Pickle
Tartan Sari, Spicy Tomato Pickle
Tin’s Thai Chilli, Fresh Thai Chilli
Under The Influence, SO HOT Salsa
Volare Bread, Grain Sourdough
Wise Boys, Horopito & Lime Dressing

‘FREE-FROM’ CATEGORY SILVER MEDALS
Island Gelato, Strawberry Cheesecake Sorbet (DF)
Little Bird Organics, Bountiful Berry & Macadamia Activated Granola (GF)
Little ‘Lato, Coconut Caramel Cashew Nut (DF)
Lucy’s Gluten Free, The Sourdough One (GF)
Mind Your Temper, Hazelnut Chocolate Bar (DF)
Molly Woppy, Handmade Oaty Apricot Super Seedy Artisan Cookie (GF)
Molly Woppy, Hand Made Choccy Coconut Ruff Artisan Cookie (GF)
Mylk Made, Nutty Oat Mylk Base (DF)
The Damn Good Food Company, Citrus Zing (DF)
Vutter, Garlic – slow roasted (DF)
Vutter, Original (DF)

PADDOCK CATEGORY SILVER MEDALS
Moreish Organic Butchery, Organic Lamb Preservative Free Sausage
Olliff Farm, Premium Pasture Eggs
The West Coast Pie Company, Cumin Spiced Wild Himalayan Tahr Pie
The West Coast Pie Company, Original Venison Steak Pie

WATER CATEGORY SILVER MEDALS
Akaroa Salmon, Fresh Salmon Sashimi Fillet
Blackbeards Smoked Mussels Chilli BBQ
Blackbeards, Smoked Mussel Chilli & Lime
The Wee Smokehouse, Cold Smoked Salmon

DAIRY CATEGORY BRONZE MEDALS
Island Gelato, Plum Pavlova
Westgold, Garlic & Parsley Infused Butter

DRINK CATEGORY BRONZE MEDALS
Dr Bucha, Raspberry, Ginger with Lime Kombucha
Good Cocktail Co, Cosmo – Alcohol Free Cocktail Mixer

EARTH CATEGORY BRONZE MEDALS
Anathoth Farm, Pizza Sauce NZ Tomato with Herb
Augustines of Central, Strawberry & Rhubarb Jam
Bloom’s Pretzels, Classic Cheese Soft Pretzel
Bloom’s Pretzels, Sweet Cinnamon Soft Pretzel
Bloom’s Pretzels, Traditional Rock Salt Soft Pretzel
Branch Creek Honey, Raw Clover Blend Honey
Chantal Organics, Cocoa Crunch & Raspberry Granola
Hunt and Gather Bee Co, Rewarewa Honey Powder
Jimmy’s Foods, Summer Series Smoked Sweet Chilli Sauce
Just Fresh Co, Lime Fresh – 100% real juice
Kimbella’s Candy, Old Fashioned American Buttercrunch
Kimbella’s Candy, Old Fashioned Cashew Brittle
Miele Apiaries, Southland Creamed Clover Honey
Nana Dunn + Co, Pickled Onions
Opito Bay Salt, Manuka Smoked Sea Salt
Pacific Harvest, Chilli Seaweed & Sesame Seasoning
Paneton Bakery, Ready to Bake Garlic Dinner Rolls
Paradise Cakes, Christmas Cakes
Pepler’s, Orange & Date Vinaigrette
pure delish, Macadamia & Vanilla Nut Crunch
pure delish, Raspberry & Coconut Nut Crunch
Rutherford & Meyer, Pinot & Plum Fruit Paste
Sweet Sting, Hot Honey
Taste of the Alps, The Beekeeper Apricot Kasundi
The Confectionist, Milk Chocolate & Hazelnut Toffee
The Nut Baron, Caramelised Almonds with Cinnamon
Wise Boys, Jalapeño Ranch Dressing
Wise Boys, Ranch Dressing

‘FREE-FROM’ CATEGORY BRONZE MEDALS
be happy chocolate, orange m*lk chocolate (DF)
Justine’s Cookies, Keto Bread Roll Mix (GF)
Little Bird Organics, Ginger Crunch Nut Clusters Activated Granola (GF)
Little Bird Organics, Decadently Dark Cacao & Date Activated Granola (GF)
Little ‘Lato, Passionfruit & White Chocolate (DF)
Mind Your Temper, Raspberry Cheesecake Bonbon (DF)
Natural Abundance, Almond, Flax & Kumara Specialty Crackers (GF)
Raglan Food Co, Organic Blueberry Coconut Yoghurt (DF)
Raglan Food Co, Boysenberry Coconut Yoghurt (DF)
Raglan Food Co, Vanilla Bean Coconut Yoghurt (DF)

PADDOCK CATEGORY BRONZE MEDALS
Dona Lou’s Goan Cuisine, Lamb Xacutti
L’Authentique, Beret Basque Chorizo
L’Authentique, Duck Liver Parfait
Stripped Jerky, The Pioneer – Original Wagyu Jerky
Moreish Organic Butchery, Organic Beef Preservative-Free Sausage
Sabato, Master Stock Pork Belly

WATER CATEGORY BRONZE MEDALS
Akaroa Salmon, Manuka Cold Smoked