Be part of new Awards Celebrating NZ Produce

THE SEARCH IS ON FOR NZ'S OUTSTANDING FOOD PRODUCERS - ARE YOU ONE?

Food and non-alcoholic drinks producers, farmers and horticulturalists are being encouraged to enter new awards which have a special focus on celebrating New Zealand’s outstanding primary produce.Entries for the Outstanding New Zealand Food Producer Awards close on Friday 17 February 2017 ahead of judging in early March. The Awards created in partnership with leading lifestyle title NZ Life & Leisure have a special focus on produce. Whether horticulturalists are growing carrots, onions, apples, kiwifruit or fresh herbs; farmers raising sheep or cattle; butchers making sausages smoking meat or practising charcuterie,cheesemakers creating diary produce, businesses fishing or farming seafood or making seafood pate – these awards will recognise hard work and outstanding products.Created by two of the country’s food leading marketers, Kathie Bartley and Nicola McConnell, the Outstanding New Zealand Food Producer Awards have been more than a year in the making.Kathie Bartley, who was instrumental in establishing the Cuisine Artisan Awards, was driven to create these new awards. She wanted to recognise the hard work, passion and energy that goes into creating New Zealand’s outstanding primary producers, which existing competitions didn’t acknowledge.The Outstanding New Zealand Food Producer Awards will be judged in early March by a panel of experts lead by Lauraine Jacobs, well known for championing New Zealand food locally and abroad. Lauraine is a Past President of Food Writers New Zealand and the IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals).Producers should enter Outstanding New Zealand Food Producer Awards because:

• They will be judged in early March, when much of our country’s primary produce is at its best
• Producers are judged on the quality of their wares regardless of their size, meaning large and boutique food producers can all enter
• Sustainability of the product and its production are considered in judging
• The product’s point of difference and brand story are considered in judging
• Every entry gives the producer a complimentary pass to attend a Food Marketing Workshop in Auckland or Christchurch in June 2017

Primary and value-added produce is entered and judged in four groups representing the origin of the product;

• Dairy
• Earth
• Paddock
• Water

For full details on how each category works visit the websiteOR for an overview check out the ENTRY KITKey dates

Friday 17 February 2017	Entries close
Weds 1 March 2017	Final day for judging samples to arrive in Auckland
Thursday 2 March 2017	Judging, Auckland
Monday 20 March 2017	Finalists announced
Wednesday 26 April 2017	NZ Life & Leisure Outstanding NZ Food Producer 2017 & category winners announced

 To be eligible to enter producers must retail their products in New Zealand and they must meet the FSANZ (Food Standards Australia and New Zealand) Food Safety Code. Entry Terms & Conditions are here.Kiwi foodies can take part in the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards by voting via for their favourite Farmers’ Market, New Zealand Food Region or Specialty Food Store or Supermarket via www.nzfoodproducerawards.co.nz. Spread the word and ensure your local region and your Farmers’ Market is represented!For more information visit www.nzfoodproducerawards.co.nz or call Kathie Bartley on 021 275 9908 or email kathie@marvellousmarketing.co.nz or call Nicola McConnell, on 027 218 8120 email nicola@marvellousmarketing.co.nzPRIZESOne producer creating benchmark goods of exceptional quality, will be named NZ Life & Leisure Outstanding New Zealand Food Producer 2017 and eight others will be named category winners.The grand winner will receive a major feature story in NZ Life & Leisure and marketing services valued at $5,000 from Awards organisers, Marvellous Marketing to help them maximize the benefits of winning the award.All winners will receive publicity, photos and materials to use in promoting their product and brand.All finalists and winners will be able to use Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards Medals on packaging and in sales marketing communication.

WHY BE PART OF OUTSTANDING NZ FOOD PRODUCER AWARDS

A money can’t buy quality endorsementFinalist and winners logos and stickers, as above, are available for use by finalists and winners.Brand exposure and awareness The May 2017 NZ Life & Leisure will have editorial on New Zealand’s Most Outstanding Food Producer and category winners.Authoritative judging process Judging is conducted by an independent and experienced panel using an objective system run by 1000Minds decision making software.Exposure to New Zealand’s leading food experts and influencersEntrants products will be tasted by New Zealand’s leading food experts.FeedbackAll entrants will receive feedback on their entry based on judging criteria.Brand Building Workshop by Marvellous Marketing Every entry receives a complimentary pass to a two-hour brand building workshop in Auckland on Tuesday 13 June 2017 and Christchurch on Tuesday 20 June 2017.

OUTSTANDING NZ FOOD PRODUCER AWARDS CATEGORIES

NZ Life & Leisure Outstanding New Zealand Food Producer 2017is chosen from the following eight categoriesDairy Primary ProductDairy Value-Added ProductEarth Primary ProductEarth Value-Added ProductPaddock Primary ProductPaddock Value-Added ProductWater Primary ProductWater Value-Added ProductTo read all about the category details visit the website

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS

We’re also asking Kiwis to help us seek out New Zealand’s finest.The country's favourite Farmers’ Market, Food Region and Specialty Food Store will be chosen by popular public vote.Vote here and NZ Outstanding Farmer's Market, NZ Outstanding Food Region and NZ Outstanding Specialty Food Store will be announced on Wednesday 26 April. Kathie BartleyAwards Director Kathie Bartley has more than 30 years experience marketing New Zealand food, wine and hospitality. Kathie was instrumental in developing the Cuisine Artisan Awards and her resume is a roll call of the country’s most loved awards including: The Corbans Wine and Food Challenge, Cuisine Restaurant of the Year, Kapiti Chefs Collection and Silver Fern Farms Premier Selection Awards.Her brand and strategy experience includes working with New Zealand’s finest and most loved food and wine companies.Kathie brings enormous energy, an extensive network and a detailed understanding of branding to the Awards.Nicola McConnellNicola McConnell is a marketing communications professional with more than 20 years specialisation in the area she loves – food and drink.Her training as a journalist and early career on a daily paper and with Radio New Zealand set the scene for her work story telling to build brands. Nicola’s awards experience includes publicity and marketing for events as diverse as the Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine and the inaugural James Halliday Wine Companion Awards and she has judged restaurants in Australia and New Zealand.