Kiwi food production is in good health, if the second year of record-breaking entries in a row in the 2025 Outstanding Food Producer Awards is anything to go by.
Over 400 products from 135 producers will be assessed at the NEFF Showroom in Parnell on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 February 2025. Following the blind judging, medal winners will be named on Tuesday 18 March and the Champions Party on Thursday 10 April will announce 2025 Champions.
This year marks an exciting new chapter with record entry numbers supported by the new judging venue at the NEFF showroom and collaboration with new media partner, NZ’s most successful specialist food magazine, dish. Outstanding Food Producer Awards co-owner Kathie Bartley says; “We’re delighted to be working with Sarah Tuck and the team at dish and credit their help promoting entry, which has resulted in many new food producers taking part. Additionally, we’re pleased to have many past entrants sending products for assessment.”
Awards co-owner Nicola McConnell says they’re encouraged by the diverse range of entries, which feature a strong representation of fresh produce, products designed to be ‘free-from’ traditional ingredients such as sugar and a strong representation of chocolate bean-to-bar products and bonbons.
For the ninth year, NZ food industry legend, Lauraine Jacobs, is the Head Judge overseeing the assessment of all 400+ products supported by a panel of leading industry professionals. They are: Sarah Tuck (dish CEO and Editor); Claire Aldous (dish Food Editor); Bridgette Kriehne (Chef and NEFF and ambassador); Tamara Rubanowski (FMCG Business Head of Content and food judge); Kimberley Dixon (Editor Hospitality Business); Siobhan Wilson (drinks judge, Leefield Station); Peter Gordon (Chef, restauranteur, writer); James Wilkinson (Executive Chef, The Glasshouse); Kathy Paterson (cookbook author and food judge); Renny Aprea (pastry chef and international food judge); Elle Coco (international chocolate judge); Amanda Thompson (Moore Wilson’s, General Manager); Mat Mclean (Palate Restaurant, chef/owner); Connie Clarkson (experienced food judge); Geoff Scott (food judge and AUT Culinary Lecturer); Ginny Grant (food writer and judge); John Kelleher (AUT Culinary Lecturer); Vicky Tasker (Farro, Content Editor); Johnathon Robertson (Farro, Merchandise Manager); Anna King Shahab (food writer); Kate Underwood (food writer); Nici Wickes (cookbook author and food judge); Alice Taylor (Chef and cookbook author); Kerry Tyack (food judge) and Sustainability Judges; Emily King (Director of Spira, author and food systems expert) and Fiona Stephenson (Sustainable Business Network Head of Communications & Marketing). They will be supported by a team of 11 stewards.
The Outstanding Food Producer Awards celebrate the best of New Zealand’s food and drink producers, recognising excellence and innovation in food and non-alcoholic drinks. Launched in 2018, the Awards have become a prestigious platform for showcasing the diverse and exceptional offerings of Kiwi food and drink producers to food lovers.
Producers recognise the value of the Awards with comments like this from Elizabeth Mackenzie co-owner of Woodland Honey; “Your awards have helped tremendously at expos and when talking with the buyers to get on the shelves, thank you very much…”.
Following judging and adjudication, outstanding products are awarded Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals, which will be announced on Tuesday 18 March 2025. Food lovers can easily find winning produce – with more than three million Outstanding Food Producer Award medal stickers affixed to top products annually. High-scoring Gold Medal winners are in contention for Category Champion Awards to be announced at the Champions Party.
Kathie Bartley and Nicola McConnell made a special thanks to partners whose support makes the Outstanding Food Producer Awards possible; new partners dish, NEFF, New Zealand Food Innovation Network who join; Leefield Station; BYD Auto New Zealand, FMCG Business, Label & Litho, Coast, Emerson’s, Farro, and Seafood New Zealand.
