Leigh and Hasanthi, founders of The Hemp Butter Co, found success at this year’s Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards, receiving a Silver Medal. While the duo has enjoyed this success, their journey getting started was no small feat.

When Robbies Artisan Collection Noir Gärlik, Black Garlic Sauce was named Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards Free From Champion 2022 and received a gold medal, Gore’s Josie Robinson was rewarded for all the trial and error, tears and driving over the past few years.

The West Coast Pie Co was recognised with a Gold and a Silver Medal in the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards 2022.

Oakley’s Baby Golden Gourmet Potatoes were awarded a Medal in 2021 with the judges noting that the gourmet potatoes filled a niche by being small, buttery and golden – and ‘lovely to eat’. It’s this sort of innovation that ensures this multi-generational family business stands apart.

Red Shoots is a great New Zealand story, a purpose-driven drinks maker focusing on sustainably creating nutritious, high-quality products. They achieve this with four ranges of drinks: Daily Good, Good Cocktail Co, Just Fresh Co and Happy Hour Collective. Followers of the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards will recognise Daily Good, as these drinks have won four medals in the Awards since 2018.

Waiheke Herbs is an Outstanding NZ Food Producer multi-award winner, having collected Silver Medals for Waiheke Herb Spread (2018); Waiheke Herbs Aioli with Herbs (2019) and Waiheke Herbs Asian Herb Spread (2020). 2022 marks the a new era for this small producer which founder Wendy Kendall continues to drive with positive energy and good humour.

Multi-year Gold Medal-winning eggs from Chester Road not only taste outstanding but they’re packaged in 50% grass-based cartons.

In 2021 the ONZFPA judges deemed Marlborough’s Premium Game a “good sustainable strategy. Innovative. Reducing pests. Employing people.” Simply put, they know how to run a great kiwi business, providing quality meat!

Beard Brothers are makers of old-school sausages and meat patties. Whether you’re cooking up a mean feed of patties and beers for the boys, prepping casseroles to come home to or just craving the flavour of true New Zealand goodness, save a seat for Beard Brothers at your table.

From the oil industry to artisan chocolate maker, this is the story of Karl Hogarth, founder of Nelson’s award-winning Hogarth Chocolate. The decision to stay home and build his own business turned Nelson’s Karl Hogarth into an avid chocolate-maker.

Looking for festive and summer season treats? Thinking artisanal; dark chocolate caramel popcorn; plant-based; bountiful varieties of ginger and shortbread; cookies for miles and bloody good biscotti. The fabulous team at Molly Woppy has any and every sweet treat you could want….

The Water champions for 2021 are Tora Collective, established by Troy and Claire of Tora Bay in spring of 2019. Their fresh pāua captivated the judges.

It started when Tesh began to create coconut yoghurt at home for her partner, Seb, who has dairy allergies. With a couple of jars sold to Raglan locals, the demand organically grew and grew. It was then that Raglan Food Co was born (and thus they became Mr and Mrs Coconut!). 

The inside story on Emerson’s Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards Dairy Champion 2020 Pure NZ Ice Cream. Anna and Brain from PURE NZ Ice Cream explain how the natural goodness of ingredients creates delicious and original flavours.

Wanaka chef Gus Hayden has revived the age-old art with preserving giving Central Otago summer’s bounty a modern twist. He tells the story about the produce he sells under the Augustine’s brand.

Take two farming mates and premium A2 milk from the sun-dappled, lush pastures of Nelson and you’ve got award winning Appleby Farms Ice Cream. Appleby Farms flavour guru Kristy Giles tells the story from before the first scoop in December 2017. 

1n 2015 David Herrick of Foundry Chocolate read a tiny article about someone in London who was making craft chocolate. This struck him, as he didn’t realise you could create chocolate on a small scale. Put simply, David was fascinated by it all.

The Chatham Islands is a unique location for its close-knit community, dramatic skylines and vast, pristine ocean. It’s no surprise then that the Chatham Island Food Company provides some of Aotearoa’s best quality internationally-acclaimed kaimoana. Having received two Gold Medals in the 2021 Outstanding New Zealand Food Producer Awards for their Chatham Blue 2kg Box and Pure Pāua Mince; here’s how they capture the magic.

What do you do when you’re a pastry chef of 15 years who develops an allergy to flour? Travel the world, fall in love and start a charcuterie business in New Zealand! A multi-year winner in the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards, Craft Pâté received a Gold Medal in 2021 for its Boudin Noir and a Silver Medal in 2020 for Craft Pâté, Chicken Liver Parfait, this is their story.