New Zealand Food Awards

People working in the food industry kept New Zealand fed during the COVID-19 response. Find out how New Zealand Food Safety is celebrating these people with New Zealand Food Heroes.

About New Zealand Food Heroes

People working in the New Zealand food industry have played a vital role feeding Aotearoa during the COVID-19 response. Many people have gone above and beyond to produce, package, transport, and make available safe and suitable food. To celebrate them, New Zealand Food Safety is proud to support the 2020 New Zealand Food Heroes Awards (hosted by Massey University’s New Zealand Food Awards).

New Zealand Food Heroes unites New Zealanders in saying thank you to everyone who kept our food safe and available through the COVID-19 response. This includes:

  • growers
  • farmers
  • hospitality workers
  • checkout operators
  • retailers
  • cooks
  • everyone else who carried out this essential work.

The winners were announced 8 October.

New Zealand Food Safety sponsored the Outstanding Service category of the Awards. That award was won by New World Foxton.

Check all the 2020 winners – NZ Food Awards

History of the awards

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has been a major sponsor of the New Zealand Food Awards since 2008, and has sponsored several award categories. The awards are owned and organised by Massey University.

At previous New Zealand Food Awards, New Zealand Food Safety has sponsored 2 awards categories – the Food Safety Culture Award and the Primary Sector Products Award.

Primary Sector Products Award

This award is open to primary sector food and beverage products, and recognises researchers and manufacturers who have added value through the introduction of:

  • new varieties, cultivars, or breeds
  • new or alternative harvesting, processing, or packaging to extract or create new or innovative primary sector products.

Food Safety Culture Award

This award recognises food businesses that fully integrate food safety into their business culture. It is an opportunity for New Zealand Food Safety to promote the most effective approach to achieving consistent food safety that focuses on customer safety up and down the food supply chain.

Find out more – New Zealand Food Awards

Previous award winners

2019

New Zealand Food Safety, Primary Sector Products Award – retail pouch of Wholegrain Quinoa, Kiwi Quinoa Limited

A pouch of quinoa, alongside a New Zealand Food Awards winner logo.

2018

New Zealand Food Safety Food Safety Culture Award – Picot Productions Ltd, Nelson

New Zealand Food Safety Primary Sector Products Award – Alliance Group Ltd, Christchurch with Te Mana Lamb

2017

MPI Food Safety Culture Award – The Pure Food Co

MPI Primary Sector Products Award – T&G Global Limited

2016

MPI Food Safety Culture Award – Open Country Dairy Ltd

MPI Primary Sector Products Award – Spring Sheep Milk Co.

2015

MPI New Cultivars/ Primary Producers Award – NZ Hothouse Ltd

2014

MPI Dell Award – A Verkerk Ltd

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