NZ FOOD AWARDS
FMCG Business celebrated with inspiring local producers and trailblazers.
Chilled/Short Shelf Life Award, in association with EAGLE Protect– (L-R) Alison Meredith, Marketing Coordinator, TATUA; Barry Keene, National Sales Manager – Food Service, TATUA.
Frozen Award, in association with Palmerston North City Council – (L-R) Grant Smith, Palmerston North Mayor; Allister Bathgate, Marketing Manager, Waitoa; Wanda Whitton-Esteve, Product Development Manager, Waitoa.
The New Zealand Food Awards celebrated innovative producers at a Gala Dinner in Auckland with fabulous local produce on the menu, exquisite Villa Maria wines, world-class entertainment and hundreds of industry members in attendance. The New Zealand Food Awards have acknowledged New Zealand manufactured products, focusing on innovation and excellence, since 1987. Sponsored by Massey University, they are open to small and large food and beverage manufacturers, primary food producers, food service providers and ingredient supply companies. A company that produces texture-modified products to enhance the quality of life for people with eating difficulties was named the Massey University Supreme Award winner at this year’s New Zealand Food Awards. The Pure Food Co also won the James & Wells Business Innovation Award, with judges saying the company showed an impressive level of collaboration with target customers to understand consumer needs and realise the benefits of intellectual property to build a trusted brand. Massey Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas, who presented the 38
FMCG BUSINESS - SUMMER 2019/20
Massey University Supreme Award – (L-R) Carrick Robinson, James & Wells; Sam Bridgewater, founder and Director The Pure Food Co.
Supreme Award, congratulated all the finalists and award category winners. “Each year we see a lift in quality and innovation that makes the job of our judges so much harder – and that is exactly what we want for success of the New Zealand food industry,” Professor Thomas said. Apart from Massey University, as principal sponsor and event organiser, the awards are made possible with the support of New Zealand Food Safety, Countdown, FMCG Business, The Shout, Cuisine Magazine, James & Wells, Eagle Protect, Palmerston North City Council, FoodHQ, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, The FoodBowl, Z Energy, Villa Maria and The FoodPilot. Winning products earn the New Zealand Food Award’s quality mark to highlight the superiority of their products to both shoppers and industry. For more information, please visit www.foodawards.co.nz
The Supreme Award Winner Auckland-based The Pure Food Co was founded by Sam Bridgewater and Maia Royal in 2014 after a family member of Mr Bridgewater’s
