Top tips for entering from our Head Judge
Kay McMath, New Zealand Food Awards Head Judge.
We asked our Head judge, Kay McMath for her top tips for entering the New Zealand Food Awards.
Having been our Head Judge for 14 years, Kay brings a wealth of industry experience and specialist award expertise to the New Zealand Food Awards.
Remember to tell us your story. How your idea progressed through to market, the challenges you faced and how you overcame these. Your written entry (like a CV for your product) is part of the judging process.
Make sure that your social media channels and website are correct and genuine. False claims about your product that are non-compliant with New Zealand food regulations will let you down - we do check!
Don’t let compliance concern you! Feedback on anything non-compliant is included in your entry fee and we endeavour to support you in making the necessary changes. Often feedback includes how to correctly label your product, how to write compliant social media or required website changes. These are all services that you might otherwise have to pay for so seek our help if in doubt.
Your product will be judged by at least 10 judges, from food critics to consumers, to food technologists and packaging designers, economists to environmentalists. Each judge is of a different discipline so the entry form is catered to garner all the information they each require, so be sure to write an entry that considers each answer.
Don’t underestimate the value of being named a finalist. Not only do you receive recognition with industry and consumers, you also have the endorsement of New Zealand Food Safety and the Ministry of Primary Industries. For some companies this has resulted in doors opening to global contracts, so be sure your premises are registered and meet current manufacturing standards.
