Settle in for the story of Meyer Cheese, a journey from a hay shed in Holland to being one of New Zealand’s most awarded cheesemakers and recognised for their amazing Dutch-style Gouda. On a journey of innovation in 2023 they added Old Master King of Parmesan, as a homage to co-founder Ben Meyer, collecting a Silver Medal at the 2023 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards.

Nestled in Central Otago’s Cardrona Valley you’ll find Branch Creek Honey, which has found great success in the Outstanding New Zealand Food Producer Awards. Branch Creek Creamed Clover Blend won a silver medal this year as well as in 2021.

In the first year of business and the first time they entered awards, Bonnie’s Slade’s Naturkidz was named 2024 Outstanding Food Producer Awards Free-From Champion for its Fruit Crispz range. What’s more they had four Gold Medals bestowed upon the product too. A Nelson mother of two, Bonnie wanted a healthy product for school lunch boxes - that wouldn’t return home at the end of the day. NaturKidz starts with good-quality but blemished fruit that would usually end up in landfill creating a healthy, minimally processed, no additive, no preservative snack.

A tale about how buying a business in retirement takes on a life of its own and how the dedication of Juliet and Alasdair McLeod built the business and created Outstanding Food Producer Award-winning smoked products. They won a Gold Medla in 2023 with the The Wee Smokehouse, Gravadlax  and a Silver Medal with their The Wee Smokehouse, Cold Smoked Salmon.

Meet {Outstanding} Makers Ann-Marie and Darren Nicholas who have turned their humble garage into Mummys Yummys award-winning cookie haven. A multi-year, multi-medal winner in 2024, Mummys Yummys clinched gold at the Outstanding Food Producer Awards, solidifying their status as New Zealand’s premier biscuit barons.

You’ll find year on year Coast Kiwis’ Favourite Food Producer and multi-medal winner Lindsay Farm among the quiet flats that separate the Ruahines from the coast, where their healthy cows and healthy milk reign supreme.

Mind Your Temper vegan Black Forest Bonbon described by judges as ‘faultless’ has been named Leefield Station Supreme Champion and Bonbon Champion at this 2024 Outstanding Food Producer Awards. The Outstanding Food Producer Awards judges said the Bonbon had ‘Perfect gloss and shine. Outstanding developed flavour. Exemplary. Amazing flavour journey. Faultless.’

The Nut Baron is one of those for whom the uncertainty of the pandemic lead to a new food career. Since then his German-inspired flavoured nuts have been recognised with six Outstanding Food Producer Awards medal wins.

Raglan’s Lucy Donaldson has found success with her gluten-free bread range which specialises in creating fresh, delicious gluten-free breads, ensuring those with allergies or gluten intolerance can enjoy quality breads and baked goods.

A Waikato brand with almost 40 years of history has a new look and fresh energy thanks to the enthusiasm of new owners and the boost of winning three medals in the 2023 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards.

A multiyear Outstanding NZ Food Producer winner with a swathe of medals, Kimberly Bell’s candy-making may not have started if it wasn’t for the support of her mother and her sudden, devastating loss.

High Country Salmon has received two Outstanding New Zealand Food Producer awards, earning a 2021 Gold Medal for Salmon Gravadlax and a 2022 Silver Medal for their Beetroot Cold Smoked Salmon with the judges noting the nice texture and lovely deep colour of their salmon

Being recognised alongside other premium makers at the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards was a thrill for Middlehurst Delivered founders Sophie and Lucy and their entire farming family. What makes their merino lamb outstanding?

Wise Boys kaupapa was rewarded with two Gold Medals at the 2023 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards, for Wise Boys Hemp and Mushroom Burger Patties and Wise Boys Spicy Chipotle Burger Patties.

The determination of the Southern hemisphere’s only pine nut grower - Pinoli Premium Pine Nuts - was recognised when they were named Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards 2023 Supreme Champion.

Johnty Tatham aka Lucid Chocolatier jumped into our hearts when he took out the title of Supreme Winner at last year's NZ Chocolate Awards. The winning has continued in the 2023 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards with Lucid Chocolatier receiving a Gold and a Silver Medal.

Named Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards Supreme Champion 2022, the Chatham Island Food Co provides some of Aotearoa’s best quality kaimoana.

Meet Supreme Champion Award winners for 2021: Homegrown Farm Fresh Meats, operated by Dion and Ali Kilmister. Their mixed box of gourmet beef and lamb cuts dazzled the judges and how could it not? French lamb rack, eye fillet and beef & Lewis Road Creamery steak butter sausages are only a few of the delectable meat goods in the collection.

Optio Bay Salt Co. combines sunshine, pristine Coromandel salt water and patience to create award-winning salt. The artisan salt producer broke into the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards in 2022 when they were named Emerging Business and were awarded five medals; including two Gold Medals for Opito Bay Salt Co, Natural Sea Salt and Opito Bay Salt Co, Rosemary Sea Salt.

After only two years of commercial cheesemaking Annie and Geoff Nieuwenhuis were recognised with two Outstanding NZ Food Producer Silver Medals in 2020. This year they triumphed again being named Emerson’s Dairy Champion for Nieuwenhuis Farmstead Cheese, Marinated Cloud, Fresh Goat Cheese in Oil.