Scroll to the bottom of page to see the full list of product finalists!<\/p>\n
The New Zealand Food Awards and Massey University<\/p>\n
Massey University Vice-Chancellor Professor Pierre Venter says the changes seen in the 2026 Awards are a continuation of the university’s long-standing leadership and support for the food and beverage industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year, The New Zealand Food Awards will mark 40 years since their 1986 launch. Just as the industry innovates, Massey continues to revamp the Awards to ensure they remain the gold standard for recognising quality and innovation. They play an important role in fostering ongoing sector innovation and providing a valuable space for connection between industry leaders and consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chair of the New Zealand Food Awards Governance Board and Massey University College of Sciences Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Ray Geor says Massey is uniquely placed to support the Awards.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the home of the leading food technology qualifications in Aotearoa New Zealand for over 60 years, and with deep strengths in food-related research and development, Massey is the best-placed university to support the Awards and all it represents to our entrants, the wider food and beverage industry and the nation. Massey is celebrating its centenary in 2027, and our legacy and future in agrifood are strong.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe revitalised Awards mark the next phase in that evolution: celebrating outstanding innovation, best practice, scientific rigour and strong governance across the sector,\u201d Professor Geor says.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to acknowledge Nikki Middleditch, one of our outstanding food technology specialists, who has been instrumental in setting the right path forward for the Awards. We look forward to celebrating the strength, innovation and ambition of New Zealand\u2019s food industry in October.\u201d<\/p>\n
The winners and medal recipients for each of the 12 categories, including Food Technologist of the Year and the Supreme Winner, will be announced at this year\u2019s gala. Guests from across the industry are invited to celebrate with a black-tie gala dinner at Auckland\u2019s Shed 10 on Tuesday 13 October. Tickets are on sale now.<\/p>\n
Full list of 2026 product finalists:<\/p>\n
Artisan Award \u2013 Sponsored by Cuisine Magazine\u00a0<\/p>\n
be happy chocolate \u2013 vegan white chocolate<\/p>\n
Fukurou Patisserie \u2013 French Vanilla Mille Crepe<\/p>\n
Ka k\u0101 w\u0101 Confectionery \u2013 70% Celtic + NZ sea salt with kelp<\/p>\n
Mt Cook Alpine Salmon \u2013 Ikura Caviar<\/p>\n
Pure Juice \u2013 Vitamin C Recharge<\/p>\n
Re \u2013 Probiotic Yoghurt Natural<\/p>\n
Taste of the Alps \u2013 The Sojourner, Sichuan Pickled Central Otago Cherries<\/p>\n
The Wild Fermentary \u2013 Tropical Kimchi<\/p>\n
Tora Collective \u2013 Caught-to-Order Wild Crayfish<\/p>\n
Wildly delicious \u2013 Jalape\u00f1o & Green Pepper Kraut<\/p>\n
Beverage Award<\/p>\n
Chia Sisters \u2013 Evening Tonic<\/p>\n
Giesen 0% \u2013 Ros\u00e9 Spritz<\/p>\n
LULLAA\u00ae \u2013 Lullaa\u00ae IGNITE \u2013 Dairy Functional Milk<\/p>\n
Nine Trees Ltd \u2013 Yuzu Juice Soda<\/p>\n
NOONCHA \u2013 Strawberry Matcha with Oat Milk<\/p>\n
REMARKABLE CREAM \u2013 Christmas Eggnog<\/p>\n
REMARKABLE CREAM \u2013 Easter Nog<\/p>\n
REMARKABLE CREAM \u2013 Keto Pi\u00f1a Colada<\/p>\n
Chilled\/Frozen (Coolchain) Award \u2013 Sponsored by Woolworths\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beard Brothers \u2013 Hunters Venison Boerewors<\/p>\n
FEIJOA SORBET \u2013 Feijoa Sorbet<\/p>\n
Morning Glory \u2013 Protein Overnight Oats \u2013 Chocolate Peanut Butter<\/p>\n
Mt Cook Alpine Salmon \u2013 Ikura Caviar<\/p>\n
Much Moore \u2013 Awesome Marshmallow Easter Egg Ice Cream<\/p>\n
plan*t \u2013 plan*t Hemp Chick*n<\/p>\n
Re \u2013 Probiotic Yoghurt Natural<\/p>\n
Savour Vegan Creamery \u2013 butta<\/p>\n
Savour Vegan Creamery \u2013 cashbert<\/p>\n
Savour Vegan Creamery \u2013 onion<\/p>\n
The Wild Fermentary \u2013 Tropical Kimchi<\/p>\n
Tora Collective \u2013 Caught-to-Order Wild Crayfish<\/p>\n
Woody\u2019s \u2013 Lamb Kleftiko<\/p>\n
Health & Wellbeing Award\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
FULLER Protein Overnight Oats \u2013 Overnight Oats \u2013 Blueberry & Vanilla<\/p>\n
Mushroom Mate Co \u2013 Mushroom XO Spread \u2013 Mildly Spicy<\/p>\n
Savour Vegan Creamery \u2013 sour cream<\/p>\n
Wildly delicious \u2013 Jalape\u00f1o & Green Pepper Kraut<\/p>\n
Wopples \u2013 Wopples Six Seed<\/p>\n
Manufacturing & Foodservice Ingredient Award<\/p>\n
Nine Trees Ltd \u2013 Freeze Dried Yuzu Powder<\/p>\n
Nine Trees Ltd \u2013 Freeze Dried Fingerlime Powder<\/p>\n
Pantry Award \u2013 Sponsored by Woolworths<\/p>\n
Aureate Artisan Foods \u2013 Mulled Wine Syrup (Red)<\/p>\n
Blue Petal \u2013 Possum Seasoning<\/p>\n
ButterLuxe Co \u2013 Oaty Butter Cinnamon<\/p>\n
Culley’s \u2013 Spicy Southern Style Gravy<\/p>\n
Fix & Fogg \u2013 Dark Roast Peanut Butter<\/p>\n
Fix & Fogg \u2013 Pistachio Spread<\/p>\n
Mushroom House \u2013 Apple Cider Crispy Oyster Mushroom Chips<\/p>\n
Pic’s Peanut Butter \u2013 Pic’s Chilli Peanut Butter<\/p>\n
Pic’s Peanut Butter \u2013 Pic\u2019s Honey Peanut Butter<\/p>\n
Rebel Bakehouse \u2013 High Protein Low Sugar Wrap<\/p>\n
Taste of the Alps \u2013 The Sojourner, Sichuan Pickled Central Otago Cherries<\/p>\n
UmamiBee \u2013 Sarsarap (Fermented Mushroom Gravy)<\/p>\n
WDOM \u2013 Whole Milk Powder<\/p>\n
Primary Sector \u2013 Sponsored by New Zealand Food Safety\u00a0<\/p>\n
FEIJOA SORBET \u2013 Feijoa Sorbet<\/p>\n
Mt Cook Alpine Salmon \u2013 Ikura Caviar<\/p>\n
Re \u2013 Probiotic Yoghurt Natural<\/p>\n
Tora Collective \u2013 Caught-to-Order Wild Crayfish<\/p>\n
Waitoa Free Range Chicken \u2013 Bone Broth<\/p>\n
Technical Innovation<\/p>\n
be happy chocolate \u2013 vegan white chocolate<\/p>\n
ButterLuxe Co \u2013 Oaty Butter Cinnamon<\/p>\n
ButterLuxe Co \u2013 Oaty Butter Original<\/p>\n
Otis Oat Milk \u2013 The Organic One<\/p>\n
REMARKABLE CREAM \u2013 Keto Irish Cream<\/p>\n
UmamiBee \u2013 Sarsarap (Fermented Mushroom Gravy)<\/p>\n
More on the New Zealand Food Awards:<\/p>\n
Recognising and celebrating Aotearoa at its best.<\/p>\n
The New Zealand Food Awards were first established in 1986 by the late, pioneering food technologist and Massey University Professor Mary Earle through the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology, with the goal of recognising excellence throughout the sector. Te Kunenga ki P\u016brehuroa Massey University has run the awards since 2000.<\/p>\n
Forty years on, the awards are a highlight for the food and beverage industry, designed to champion innovative food science, spotlight high-quality products and showcase influential and upcoming talents across 12 categories<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Scroll to the bottom of page to see the full list of product finalists! The New Zealand Food…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":565252,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[111,43,139,69],"class_list":["post-565251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-zealand","tag-new-zealand","tag-news","tag-newzealand","tag-nz"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/565251","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=565251"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/565251\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/565252"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=565251"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=565251"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=565251"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}