Emerson’s Paddock Joint Champions

Emerson’s Paddock Champion Pure South Handpicked Beef 55-day Aged Ribeye

Ageing meat enhances succulence, tenderness and flavour and ageing for 55 days is a significant feat which adds to flavour. Our judges noted ‘Marbling and fat add to a brilliant flavour. Heartwarming. Judges wanted to go back for more and more.’

Matangi Angus Beef, Matangi Bavette.

A a lesser known cut, the Matangi Bavette is a similar to a flank steak. The Outstanding Food Producer Awards judges said ‘Stand out product…great clean taste. Mouthfeel and texture totally impressed all the judges. Fantastic barbecue cut.’

Seafood New Zealand Water Champion

 Akaroa King Salmon Fillet

A multi-year winning producer, Akaroa King Salmon received the NZ Life & Leisure Spirit of New Zealand Award in 2021. Of the King Salmon Fillet this year’s judges said; ‘The perfect portion size meant that the texture was excellent. Nice salinity, fresh taste.’

Leefield Station Dairy Joint Champions

Charlies Gelato Lemon Gelato

Charlies Gelato Lemon Gelato Of the Matakana-made Charlies Gelato Lemon Gelato the judges’ noted ‘a good balance of sweetness and tartness’, set apart the small batch, slow-churned Italian-style ice cream.

Island Gelato Co Rich Chocolate Gelato

Of Island Gelato Co, Rich Chocolate Gelato the judges raved saying; ‘Luscious texture and mouthfeel backed up with full-bodied chocolate kick of flavour. Rich colour and balanced dark chocolate bitterness. Lovely sheen and scoop holds well. Judges could not fault this product.’

Farro Earth Champion

Branch Creek Honey, Raw Clover Blend Honey, Cardrona Valley is from the bee keeping prowess of Jess Curtis. Born and bred in the Cardrona Valley on a fifth-generation family farm Jess developed her business after her grandfather Ray introduced her to the magic of bees, with the hives he kept to pollinate the farm’s clover pastures. Of Branch Creek Honey, Raw Clover Blend Honey the judges said’ ‘Smooth, shiny and judges loved the natural crystallisation. Viscosity and colour are gorgeous. Excellent honey.’

Label & Litho Drink Champion

Six Barrel Soda Yuzu & Mandarin Seltz Drops

Six Barrel Soda Yuzu & Mandarin Seltz Dropstaste great and contribute to a better world. Just a couple of drops of Yuzu & Mandarin Seltz Drops lift carbonated water to another level with the judges noting the ‘bright, fresh aromas true to the seasonal ingredients providing its natural flavours’. One 50 ml recyclable bottle makes the equivalent of 50 cans; saving stacks of aluminium cans being produced.

Free-From Champion

NaturKidz Fruit Crispz

NaturKidz Fruit Crispz range is a new Nelson business established by food marketer Bonnie Slade. A mother of two school children, Bonnie wanted a healthy product for school lunch boxes. NaturKidz starts with good-quality but blemished fruit which would usually end up in landfill creating a healthy, minimally processed, no additive, no preservative snack.

Chocolate Bean-to-Bar Champion

Foundry Chocolate Ea Kar, Đắk Lắk, Vietnam 70%

In 2020 its first year of entry Foundry Chocolate was named Outstanding New Business and also NZ Chocolate Awards Supreme Champion, since then its won multiple medals. Cacao beans this entry came from Vietnam’s Đắk Lắk province, recognised for quality cacao with intriguing flavours suggestive of silky crème brulée, buttery toffee and delicate woody spices.

FMCG Business Outstanding New Product Champion

Paneton Bakery & L’Authentique Toulouse Sausage Rolls

A collaboration between two former Outstanding Food Producer Awards winners, the judges noted; ‘Tastes homemade which the judges loved. Delicious pastry, very very tasty sausage. Pastry and sausage both good quality. Innovative. Excellent flavour…’

Farro Outstanding New Boutique Product Champion

Opito Bay Salt Company Kampot Pepper Fine Sea Salt

Started when Perry Cornish and Erin Mone abandoned their city jobs and headed to Coromandel, Opito Bay Salt Company was first recognised in 2021 when they were named Emerging Business Champion. This year in awarding Opito Bay Salt Company Kampot Pepper Fine Sea Salt the judges’ said; ‘Extremely enticing aroma, pepper is prominent. Balanced appearance. Exciting peppery whack in good balance with the salt. Well distributed and even. Judges would buy and use. Brings up nostalgic white pepper memories.’

BYD Auto New Zealand Sustainability Champion

Hamlin Road Farm – Pathways Health

Hamlin Road Farm is an organic, commercial vegetable grower as well as a mental health and addiction service. Herbs and vegetables are grown while working to emphasise the importance of relationships between people and the land while recognising the critical link between good nutrition and mental health. As well as its sustainability credentials, Hamlin Road Farm fresh grown vegetables caught the judges’ taste buds, being award five gold medals.

Emerging Business Champion

Wild Child Ferments

Wild Child Ferments from North Canterbury, is a small single person start up. Olivia Johnson developed a passion for fermentation while travelling and working in British Columbia when her tent neighbour shared fermented foods at their campfire dinners. Now mother to a two-year-old ‘wild child’ living on her husband’s Greta Valley family farm and fermenting, Olivia’s small business has eight sauerkrauts and two kimchis.

NZ Life & Leisure Spirit of New Zealand Award

Oakley’s Premium Fresh Vegetables

Robin Oakley is the fifth generation of Oakley family to farm in Southbridge, Canterbury, while his daughter April is the sixth. All their vegetables are grown with an eye on long term sustainability, with all management decisions considered against the environment and people as well financial levers. This approach drove the installation of a solar electricity generation system which powers the washing and packhouse and all their refrigeration.

Coast Kiwis’ Favourite

Coast Kiwis’ Favourite Food Producer

Lindsay Farm Dairy, Coast Kiwis’ Favourite Food Producer