Product Awards

Artisan – Sponsored by Cuisine

For producers with a philosophy which focuses on retaining the integrity of the highest quality ingredients. 
Examples include: Artisan cheeses, boutique chocolates, condiments and beverages - products positioned in the high added value segment of the market; ingredients specific to artisanal products.

Beverage

Open to all beverages. 
Examples include: Wine, beer, spirits, 0% alcoholic drinks, water, flavoured milks, energy drinks, smoothies, carbonated beverages, juices, juice concentrates, teas, kombucha, ginger beer, kefir; ingredients for these beverages.

Chilled / Frozen (Coolchain) – Sponsored by Massey University

For food products or ingredients with a limited shelf-life that require cool storage OR  frozen  storage to maintain product quality and shelf-life. 
Examples include yoghurts, cheeses, dips, pouch soups, meats and deli products, dressed poultry, ready to eat meals, ice creams, pastries, frozen desserts, prepared fruits/vegetables, ingredient

Health and Wellbeing

Food products which demonstrate a benefit to the health and wellness of consumers. Entries must comply with standard 1.2.7, Nutrition, Health and Related Claims, as part of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. 
Examples include supplemented foods, macro specific products such as high protein, low fat, low carbs and alternative foods such as vegan, gluten free, dairy free, sugar free. 

Ingredient and Food Service 

Food ingredients or partially prepared food materials made and developed to be used by manufacturing food industry or by the food service industry (e.g. restaurants, fast food outlets, hospitals, care facilities) to produce products to sell or provide to end-use consumers.
Examples include: flavouring, functional or texture modifying ingredients, extracts, isolates, sauces, stocks, spice blends, fats, dairy products, premixes which may be packaged in bulk. Please note you will be required to supply a sample of in use application or if that is not possible, the preparation instructions to assess the ingredient in application. (i.e the end product using your ingredient). 

Pantry - Sponsored by Woolworths

Products (including ingredients, partially prepared and ready-to-eat foods) that can safely be stored at ambient temperatures for the period of their shelf-life. 
Examples include: Sauces, soups, spreads, condiments, cereals, bread and bakery mixes, energy bars, potato chips, cured meats, meal preparation kits; ingredients for ambient-stable food products.

Primary Sector – Sponsored by New Zealand Food Safety

This award is open to all food and beverage producers, researchers and manufacturers who add value to primary products through: the introduction of new varieties, cultivars, or breeds; new, innovative, or alternative products; or, new, innovative, or alternative methods or technologies for harvesting, processing, packaging products.  
For the purposes of entry, primary products include meats, poultry, seafood, milk, horticultural produce, grains, and honey.

Product Lifetime Achievement - Sponsored by AsureQuality

Awarded to a product that has withstood the test of time and is still on shelves as proof of the impact of its initial innovation. *Note: Finalists for this category are nominated by a panel of selected judges so products may not be entered into this award directly.

Technical Innovation (Formerly Novel) – Sponsored by NZ Food Innovation Network

New products that demonstrate technical innovation in raw materials, formulation, processing or packaging. Products that have overcome technical challenges to offer advantages or benefits to consumers. Examples include: cake mix or beer made from rescued bread, plant-based dairy/drinks/ meats, new fermented or bioprocessed foods, beverages or ingredients, proteins from novel sources, ground-breaking dairy ingredients or products, raw juices or foods preserved using a novel preservation technique, new varieties of fruit or vegetable, foods that have overcome technical challenges to make them healthier or more sustainable than others in their category, edible packaging or packaging that offers significant advantages in convenience or sustainability.

Supreme Winner - Sponsored by Massey University 

Awarded to a winner from one of the following product award categories: Artisan, Beverage, Chilled / Frozen, Ingredient and Food Service, Health and Wellbeing, Pantry, Primary Sector, Technical Innovation.