Patagonia and Tip Top scoop up gongs at this year’s NZ Ice Cream and Gelato Awards

From boutique stores to commercial ventures, ice creameries around the country have taken out gongs at this year’s awards.

A Queenstown ice creamery known for its prime spot on the shores of Lake Wakatipu has scooped the Supreme Boutique Award at this year’s New Zealand Ice Cream and Gelato Awards.

More than 183 medals were awarded to ice cream makers from around the country, with gold medal winners gathering for the Supreme Awards in Auckland on Thursday 31st August. Sixteen trophy winners were crowned as the “best of the best” after a tasting of more than 270 entries from makers from across Aotearoa.

Patagonia Chocolates (NZ Life and Leisure, July/August 2022) received two trophies for its Hazelnut Cremino ice cream: the top gong for Boutique Champion as well as the PACT Packaging Champion Standard Ice Cream Award.

Chief Judge Jackie Matthews noted that the base of hand-roasted, NZ-grown nuts “provided a delicate and truly authentic flavour, which combined with a superbly crafted and well-made ice cream is simply stunning, deserving of the Supreme Award.”

Patagonia Chocolates founder Alex Gimenez moved to Queenstown in 2002, starting his business with his wife Lorena Giallonardo in 2005. The couple run four stores in the Southern Lakes, creating delicious flavours and ice cream experiences. This year their entries were recognised with five gold medals and three silver, as well as the two trophies.

Alex, Lorena and their son Felix.

Allied Faxi New Zealand Food Co took out the Americold Supreme Champion Commercial award for its G’nature Vanilla Ice Cream. It was also awarded IMCD & Givaudan Champion Premium Vanilla Ice Cream Award. It was a favourite with the judging panel who said, “This classy ice cream has an uncompromising depth of flavour, is rich and creamy and succeeds perfectly in its mission to deliver a super smooth vanilla flavour.” Chief Judge Jackie Matthews added that it is a great example of a classic flavour, “it is perfectly produced, with wonderful texture and balanced flavour.”

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Commercial favourite Tip Top took out a whopping five trophies across the evening, including the Chelsea Sugar Champion Premium Ice Cream Award for its Kāpiti Fig & Manuka Honey; the Pacific Flavours & Ingredients Kids’ Choice Award for its Jelly Tip ice cream; and the Invita NZ Champion Open Creative Award for its Baklava Bonanza.

Gelato also cemented itself as a favourite, with local gelato creameries Island Gelato Co, Gellicious Gelato and Little ‘Lato all taking out gongs. Island Gelato’s Rich Chocolate was awarded the DKSH Belcolade Champion Chocolate Award, while its Sour Cherry & Rich Chocolate received the Sensient Technologies Champion Gelato Award with the judges saying, “Huge flavour interest here – with a cornucopia of exotic tastes brought together in colour coordinated splendour!” Little ‘Lato’s Raspberry Lamington Gelato took out the Infruit Champion Dairy-Free Trophy.

Check out a full list of all the trophy winners below.

THE FULL LIST OF NZ ICE CREAM AND GELATO AWARDS WINNERS FOR 2023

SUPREME AWARDS

Patagonia Chocolates, Hazelnut Cremino
Formula Foods Supreme Champion – Boutique

Allied Faxi New Zealand Food Co, G’nature Vanilla Ice Cream
Americold Supreme Champion – Commercial

CATEGORY CHAMPION AWARDS

Allied Faxi New Zealand Food Co, G’nature Vanilla Ice Cream
IMCD & Givaudan Champion Premium Vanilla Ice Cream Award

Tip Top Ice Cream Company, Kāpiti Fig & Manuka Honey
Chelsea Sugar Champion Premium Ice Cream Award

Gellicious Gelato, Lemon Sorbet
RD 2 International Champion Best of Citrus Award

Island Gelato Co, Rich Chocolate
DKSH & Belcolade Champion Chocolate Award

Patagonia Chocolates, Hazelnut Cremino
PACT Packaging Champion Standard Ice Cream Award

Patagonia and Tip Top scoop up gongs at this year’s NZ Ice Cream and Gelato Awards

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