Case Studies
Below Zero and Novel Category: 2023 Winner EatKinda - Strawberry Swirl and Mint Choc Bikkie
As the name reflects, Eatkinda is a brand that produces frozen dessert that not only taste good but makes you feel good when eating it! Using cosmetically imperfect cauliflower that would have otherwise been destined for landfill, EatKinda have made delicious frozen desserts with a creamy texture - and put sustainability at the heart of their production.
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Case Studies
Supreme Award: 2023 Winner Heilala Vanilla - Alcohol Free Vanilla Paste
After securing the prestigious Supreme Award, along with the Pantry and Business Innovation Awards, Heilala Vanilla have dispelled the myth and proven that vanilla is anything but boring.
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Case Studies
Supreme Award: 2022 Winner Poaka Artisan Cured Meats
Poaka New Zealand was awarded the prestigious Supreme Winner Award title in 2022 after successfully winning both the Artisan and Primary Sector Awards.
A proud history with the New Zealand Food Awards, Poaka New Zealand has been successfully involved for a number of years and has experienced the benefit of entering the awards first-hand.
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Case Studies
Below Zero Category: 2022 Winner Little Island - Nice Blocks Tropical
Little Island were the Chilled category winner in 2022 for their Tropical Nice Blocks.
With sustainability at the forefront of this ‘cool’ product, Little Island wanted to bring consumers an ice block that was not only environmentally friendly but also good for you.
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Case Studies
Health & Wellbeing Category: 2022 Winner Rebel Bakehouse - Gluten Free Sourdough & Super Seeds Wrap
Rebel Bakehouse, winner of the Health & Wellbeing category was awarded the title in 2022 for their Gluten Free Sourdough & Super Seeds Wrap.
Based in the Wairarapa, Rebel Bakehouse is known for its passion and innovation for the products their ‘rebellious’ bakers create.
Always wanting to excite and delight their customers with new products, Rebel Bakehouse combined the needs of their customers with an identified gap in the market which helped craft their new product: Gluten Free Sourdough & Super Seeds Wrap.
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Case Studies
Business Innovation Category: 2021 Winner Froth Technologies – Live Liquid Yeast
Froth Technologies won the 2021 Business Innovation Award for their Live Liquid Yeast. They are the first company in New Zealand to grow liquid yeast commercially for the brewing industry.
Froth Technologies' Live Liquid Yeast contains trillions of living yeast cells that have been grown in a custom designed facility in Wellington, via a unique propagation process. The yeast is grown up to 'pitchable' volumes meaning, for the first time, the brewers of Aotearoa can buy enough liquid yeast to add directly to full batches of wort.
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Case Studies
Beverage Category: 2021 Winner Chia Sisters - Immunity Hot Tonic
Chia Sisters were the Beverage category winner in 2021 for their Immunity Hot Tonic.
When New Zealand’s first COVID-19 lockdown was announced in March 2020, well-established brand and business Chia Sisters café sales, representing 70% of the business’s domestic turnover, dropped to $0. Supermarket orders also fell as consumers focused more on topping up on pantry essentials. Chia Sisters could stay open as a food producer and wanted to look after their highly valued team so quickly pivoted to produce a new product - Immunity Hot Tonic – perfect for supporting daily immunity and ideally positioned for online sales to lift revenue. In addition, every bottle of Immunity Hot Tonic supports bee guardians who play a vital role in our ecosystem.
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Case Studies
Chilled Category: 2021 Supreme Winner The Wild Fermentary – Smoky Kāpeti
The Wild Fermentary took out both the Chilled category and the Supreme Winner award in 2021 with their Smoky Kāpeti.
Recognising that our food choices play a significant role in the environmental challenges of our time, The Wild Fermentary are dedicated to being part of the solution. The ethics of Permaculture - earth care, people care and fair share – are at the heart of everything they do. In development of Smoky Kāpeti, The Wild Fermentary fused ancient fermentation practices with modern technology and created a product to add “BBQ flavour and billions of gut-loving bacteria to kai.”
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Case Studies
Pantry Category: 2019 Winner Proper Crisps - Purple & Gold Potatoes with Cracked Pepper & Sea Salt
Proper Crisps were awarded as the Grocery (now Pantry) category winner in 2019 for their Purple & Gold Potatoes with Cracked Pepper & Sea Salt crisps.
Not afraid to celebrate vegetables of all shapes and sizes, it's no surprise that Proper Crisps were the first company in New Zealand to use the purple potato for crisps. However, the new concept didn’t come without its challenges! The right crop and quantity were hard to source so after almost six years of extensive research with Massey University, Proper Crisps perfected a variety of purple potato for their products.
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Case Studies
Food Hero Category – 2020 Supreme Winner Fair Food Charitable Trust
Fair Food Charitable Trust, winner of the Food Hero category and overall Supreme Winner for 2020.
Fair Food Charitable Trust, founded in 2011 is a proven, well-established and deeply respected food rescue operation in West Auckland. Fair Food rescue surplus fit-to-eat food to feed those in need. By doing so, Fair Food addresses social and environmental issues that were among the most urgent and concerning even before COVID-19 struck.
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Case Studies
Business Innovation Category: 2019 Winner The Pure Food Co
The Pure Food Co, winner of the Business Innovation category was awarded the title in 2019 for their innovative products that can help transform the lives of many.
Witnessing a family member unable to eat due to an illness motivated Sam Bridgewater, co-founder of Pure Foods Co, to begin the journey to create healthy and nutritious meals made with the finest local ingredients for those experiencing challenges with eating meals.
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Case Studies
Primary Sector Category: 2019 Winner Kiwi Quinoa - Retail Pouch of Wholegrain Quinoa
Kiwi Quinoa, winner of the Primary Sector Products Award was awarded the title in 2019 for their retail pouch of wholegrain quinoa.
Quinoa-loving sheep and beef farmers, Dan and Jacqui Cottrell always dreamed of producing quinoa but didn't think it would ever become a reality. After a trip to South America in 2012 confirmed the landscape was very similar to the Central Plateau of New Zealand (around Taihape), they decided to give it a go.
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Case Studies
Food Safety Culture Category: 2018 Winner Pic’s Peanut Butter
Pic’s Peanut Butter was awarded the Food Safety Culture award in 2018 for successfully demonstrating food safety culture in all practices within the organisation.
Pic’s Peanut Butter started out as a small-scale factory producing only 1,000 jars of peanut butter a day. Pic Picot, owner/operator had a vision to be known as the best peanut butter company in the world and within a few years the company was producing more than 23,000 jars of peanut butter a day and exporting globally!
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Case Studies
Artisan Category: 2019 Winner Poaka Coppa - 60g Platter Pack
Poaka New Zealand, winner of the Artisan Award was given the title in 2019 for their speciality hand-crafted pork coppa 60g platter pack product.
Poaka, a true paddock to plate operation, may be small in scale but is big in flavour, complemented with a strong ethical and sustainable practice.
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Case Studies
Novel Category: 2019 Winner Sheep Milk & Honey Gin
The White Sheep Co, winner of the Novel category was awarded the title in 2019 for their innovative Sheep Milk & Honey Gin.
Sam Brown, Founder and CEO of The White Sheep Co, wanted to create a spirit that was instinctively associated with New Zealand.
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