FINE FOODS NZ HIGHLIGHTS

Fine Food New Zealand was on in Auckland from 24-26th June and it’s where the industry gets down to business. With more than 330 exhibitors, 10 interactive feature zones and 200+ new products at the ASB Showgrounds, visitors enjoyed networking opportunities, seminars, innovations, trade deals and cooking demonstrations, including Manu Feildel’s duck recipes.

Celebrity Chef Manu Feildel shared his duck recipes.

It’s the country’s largest trade event for the foodservice, food retail and hospitality industries and it only rolls around once every two years. In its fifth edition, the show attracted both national and international exhibitors and more than 8,000 delegates over the course of three days. Delegates enjoyed the Silver Chef Seminar Series, the Mojo Café Hub, the Baking Industry Association of New Zealand’s competition, and discovered plenty of new products, packaging and equipment on offer from a broad cross section of exhibitors.

Top Shelf, the industry’s biggest trade liquor event, and the Networking Lounge provided ample opportunity to do business and make new contacts over a drink or two.

(L to R) Lyndon Everton, General Manager and Brian Everton, Sales Manager of Cabernet Foods with their Award.

Innovation Awards

The Fine Food New Zealand Innovation Awards were also celebrated at the same time, with the top honour going to Kaitahi™ for Kaitahi™ Frozen Superfood Smoothy Drops. The 2018 James & Wells Champion of Innovation Award was also the winner of the foodservice category, one of three ‘Most Innovative’ awards in retail, foodservice and hospitality.

Kaitahi won The 2018 James & Wells Champion of Innovation Award.

The winner in the retail category, sponsored by FMCG Business, was Cabernet Foods’ Everton Dry aged Beef and iMonitor came out on top in the hospitality category with its wireless temperature monitoring technology.

Lorraine Smith, Event Manager of Fine Food New Zealand says competition for the Innovation Awards was exceptionally strong. “The judges certainly had their work cut out for them, with high quality entries from diverse companies in every corner of New Zealand and internationally. Reflecting changing attitudes to food and hospitality, many of them are innovators in eco-conscious and healthy living – but what every entrant has shown is the high calibre of food production, food service and hospitality we enjoy in this country.”

Kaitahi™ Frozen Superfood Smoothy Drops represents an advance on the frozen smoothie blends currently on the market. Delivered in the form of frozen drops, trapping in the flavour and goodness, it’s a refreshingly different product that delivers delicious and nutritious functional food in a highly convenient way. The drops include traditional Maori ingredients such as kumara, puha and kawakawa, made by ringawera (cooks) who are familiar with the old ways of doing things. For more information visit www.finefoodnz.co.nz.