Excellence begins with the basics: How to strengthen food safety culture
The 2026 New Zealand Food Awards showcased exceptional standards from Quality Mark recipients.
The Awards celebrate these standards, and the creativity and excellence of leading products, while recognising the people behind them for their drive to move the New Zealand food and beverage sector forward.
Alongside the Award pillars of innovation, excellence and sustainability, a strong food safety culture is key to turn remarkable ideas into trusted and successful products.
New Zealand Food Safety’s role in the Awards
The importance of food safety in obtaining product excellence is demonstrated through the ongoing partnership between New Zealand Food Safety and the New Zealand Food Awards.
This partnership reflects the New Zealand Food Awards’ commitment to promoting high-quality products. It also recognises the vital role food safety plays in supporting consumer trust and industry success.
New Zealand Food Safety, who sponsored the Primary Sector category for this year’s Awards, plays an important role in recognising this excellence.
Annually, New Zealand Food Safety runs independent compliance checks for all product finalists, ensuring each finalist’s product demonstrated safe and suitable processes. This process gives entrants and consumers confidence that all finalists and winners are meeting the food safety standards that uphold trust in New Zealand’s food and beverage sector.
Opportunities and innovation through food safety culture
Meeting food safety standards does more than just protect consumers. Food safety is key to long-term success. When consumers have trust in the products they buy, everybody benefits.
By embedding food safety into everyday operations and fostering a strong food safety culture, businesses can strengthen their public recognition and create new opportunities within the market.
For New Zealand businesses looking to showcase new perspectives, a robust, foundation of best practice is crucial.
New Zealand Food Safety have a suite of food safety resources to support businesses in meeting the rules, as well as further strengthening food safety cultures. Some examples include:
Food safety is everybody’s responsibility
Whether businesses are developing an innovative new product, expanding production, or incorporating changes to processing, the right food safety tools and guidance are crucial in the journey from idea to excellence.
As the winners recognised by the New Zealand Food Awards show, when innovation is backed by fundamental food safety practices, businesses, customers, and the wider food and beverage sector all benefit.
For additional guidance and other practical food safety resources for New Zealand businesses, see the Ministry for Primary Industries website: food safety toolkit.
New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) is a proud sponsor of the New Zealand Food Awards, owned and operated by Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University.
