INFORMATION FOR
FOOD & DRINK PRODUCERS

MEDAL USE

TERMS & CONDITIONS

  • The Awards – which celebrate Kiwis who harvest, grow and make food and drinks – were first held in 2017. Each year a team of specialist judges assess around 300 products, awarding the best with an Outstanding Food Producer Award.

    Champion, Gold, Silver and Bronze medals are awarded with winning products wearing medal stickers, as an independent endorsement of quality.

    Whether you’re a small producer, a large producer or a grower with an established brand, if you have a product or products that you are proud of, we want to celebrate your endeavour!

  • SEVEN MAIN CATEGORIES

    All products are judged alongside ‘like’ products within the category they are entered in. Products can only be entered into ONE category.

    Dairy Category

    Celebrating a product made from dairy product. Examples include specialty cheese, milk, cream, gelato, ice cream, yoghurt and butter.

    Seafood New Zealand Water Category

    Celebrating seafood, freshwater fish, shellfish and value-added products made from them. Examples include freshwater or ocean fish, shellfish. Value-added products including preserved and prepared seafood, pâtés, spreads and prepared dishes in which the main ingredient is New Zealand caught.

    Emerson’s Meat Category

    Celebrating products that start in the paddock. Examples include chicken, duck, beef, pork, venison, and lamb. Additionally value-added products including bacon, sausages, terrines, smoked, cured or dried meat products, pies, casseroles, curries, ready-to-heat and eat dishes.

    Farro Earth Category

    Celebrating products made from fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts, grains and flours, seeds, pulses, salt flakes. Value-added includes bread, biscuits, cakes, sweets, dried fruits or herbs, sauces, preserves, honey and olive oils.

    Chocolate Category

    From 2024 New Zealand made craft chocolate is to be integrated as part of the Outstanding Food Producer Awards. International Chocolate Judge and former head judge of the NZ Chocolate Awards, Elle Coco, will lead the chocolate panel judging.

    Free-From Category

    Celebrating products that are made to meet specific dietary requirements. For example, food that is free from gluten, dairy, low in carbs or sugar. Meat-free products are also included in this category.

    Label & Litho Drink Category

    Celebrating non-alcoholic drinks. Examples include fruit juice, hot chocolate, health tonics, flavoured milk drinks, herbal tea, kombucha and kefir.

    OTHER CATEGORY CHAMPION AWARDS

    All products are eligible to be considered for the NZ Life & Leisure Spirit of New Zealand and Sustainability Awards. Products are automatically considered for New Product Awards and Emerging Business Award if they meet the date range criteria.

    NZ Life & Leisure Spirit of New Zealand

    Rewards the entry showing excellent Kiwi ingenuity. This award is chosen by the judging panel in association with NZ Life & Leisure.

    Farro Outstanding New Product - Boutique

    Awarded to a new product from a boutique producer launched in the 18 months prior to the Awards judging held in February each year.

    FMCG Business Outstanding New Product

    Recognises a product available in supermarkets launched in the 18 months prior to the Awards judging held in February each year.

    Outstanding Sustainability

    Recognises the food or drink producer championing sustainability. This award is chosen by specialist sustainability judges.

    Emerging Business

    Recognises a producer who has started a new food business in the 18 months prior to the Awards judging in February each year.

  • Friday 09 February 2024

    Online entries close.

    Friday 16 February 2024

    Shelf stable samples to be sent to our administration office in Onehunga, Auckland by this date.

    Tuesday 20 February 2024

    Fresh samples to be sent to our administration office in Onehunga, Auckland by 3 pm on this date.

    Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 February 2024

    Judging at Homeland, Pier 21, 11 Westhaven Drive, Auckland CBD

    From Monday 11 March 2024

    Feedback to entrants

    Tuesday 19 March 2024

    2024 Medal winners announced

    Thursday 18 April 2024

    2024 Champions Announced at Champions Party

  • Stage 1 - Enter your products

    Once you've applied via our online entry form, you'll need to send your products to Auckland ahead of judging where all the products will be assessed by the judging team. The closing date for entries is in early February each year and medals are announced in March.

    Stage 2 - The judging stage

    Judges assess products in panels selected from seven main categories and award Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals. Products that don’t reach the required quality benchmark score do not receive an award.

    Stage 3 – Medal announcement and feedback

    In early March all entrants are send results and feedback. Medals are announced four weeks prior to the Champions Party.

    Stage 4 - Champions announcement

    One producer creating benchmark goods of exceptional quality will be named Supreme Champion of Outstanding Food Producer Awards. The Supreme Champion will be chosen from seven category Champions. There are also five Outstanding Champion Awards and Kiwis’ Favourite Awards for Favourite NZ Food Producer and Favourite Farmers’ Market.

    Category Champions are featured in the May/June issue of NZ Life & Leisure and through the Outstanding Food Awards marketing and publicity campaign.

    Stage 5 – Winner Events

    Between June and September Winner Events are hosted throughout New Zealand where award-winning products are showcased.

  • The judges allocate marks based on the following criteria.

    Product: Aroma, visual appearance, taste and flavour, consistency and quality. Total marks are 90%.

    Business Sustainability: Environmental and Social sustainable business practices make up 10% of each products final mark.

  • The judges are led by author and champion of iNew Zealand producers Lauraine Jacobs. Lauraine leads more than 30 leading New Zealand food and drink experts including; food writers, chefs and food judges.

    There is also a panel of specialist sustainability judges, Emily King founder of Spira and Fiona Stephenson, Marketing Manager Sustainable Business Network.

  • Food producers throughout New Zealand are encouraged to submit their goods for consideration with the assurance that judging is objective and transparent and conducted by an independent panel of food experts.

    These awards:

    • Recognise producers of all sizes

    • Value the importance of authenticity

    • Endorse primary produce as well as added-value products

    • Recognise and reward innovation and sustainability

    1. Brand exposure and awareness

    These Awards are supported by media partner NZ Life & Leisure and wwwthisnzlife.co.nz). NZ Life & Leisure is New Zealand’s leading lifestyle publication. Each year their May/June issue carries stories on the major category winners. Coast is the radio media partner and sponsor and promote the Coast Kiwis Favourite Awards.The trade media partner is FMCG Business who provide coverage throughout the year and showcase winners in their Winter issue each year. Awards organisers, Marvellous Marketing, are experienced publicists and promote winners, supported by their website, monthly newsletter, Outstanding Eats, and social media.

    2. A money can’t buy quality endorsement

    The Awards provide a quality endorsement to be used in marketing your product. Digital medals and medal stickers are available for use by all entrants whose products reach judging benchmarks.

    3. Content marketing opportunity

    • All winners have a strong content angle for social media and publicity

    4. Authoritative judging process

    • Judging is conducted by an independent and experienced panel lead by Lauraine Jacobs

    • Judging is conducted in a double-blind manner

    5. Exposure to New Zealand’s leading food experts and influencers

    • Entrants build awareness and recognition of their products among New Zealand’s leading food experts

    6. Network and meet other Outstanding Food Producers

    • At the Champions Party, winner dinners or cooking classes

    7. Winner Events

    • We host Winner Dinners throughout New Zealand where award-winning products are showcased.

    • Cooking classes are also held in Auckland to showcase winning products.

  • All entrants receive feedback on their entry. Entrants find the judges comments very useful for marketing purposes. Even if you don't win, getting feedback provides invaluable knowledge that may help you grow, improve and develop your offering, or reassess certain aspects of your product.

  • Simply complete the entry form here before 5pm Friday 9 February 2024.

ONLINE ENTRY