
2019 NZ ICE CREAM AWARDS
Annual NZ Ice
Cream Awards announced – just
in time for summer!
(14 November 2019)
Announced last night as part of NZ Ice Cream Week, the diverse range of winners of this years’ NZ Ice Cream Awards reflects the overall quality and wide variety of ice cream that is made in New Zealand. Run by the NZ
Ice Cream Manufacturers Association (NZICA), the more than 300 entries in the awards were judged across 13 different categories by an independent panel of expert food industry judges using a blind judging process and strict criteria.
Hannah Wood, representative of NZICA and Founder & Chief Gelato Maker at boutique manufacturer Little ‘Lato, says New Zealand-made ice cream and gelato is arguably the best in the world, made from our top quality dairy and other locally sourced ingredients, and the awards are a great opportunity to showcase this.
“It’s fantastic to see so many different ice cream makers – from smaller boutiques to large established manufacturers – take out the coveted ‘Best in Category’ trophies. It demonstrates the high level of quality overall, which is great news for anyone who loves ice cream and gelato,” says Hannah.

Already well-known for its other artisan dairy products, Zany Zeus not only won the ‘Premium Ice Cream’ category but also scooped the Supreme
Award for boutique manufacturers for the first time with its Ghana
Chocolate ice cream. The judges commented on the ice cream’s dark, rich chocolate flavour, which leaves a clean mouthfeel, calling it absolute indulgence.
Proving that sometimes you just can’t beat the classics, Tip Top once again won the ‘Standard Ice Cream’ category with its Boysenberry
Ripple Ice Cream and the 2019 Supreme Award for large manufacturers – the fifth time this flavour has taken this top spot.
There is one category that changes each year to highlight a star ingredient, and for 2019 it was all about nuts. The winner of the ‘Best of Nuts’ category was Little ‘Lato, which made hazelnuts sing in its winning Hazelnut
Chocolate gelato. Little ‘Lato also took out the ‘Open Creative’ category with something a little bit different, Massaman
Curry gelato.
Judges said that the spicy, sweet Massaman Curry gelato delivered a unique hint to the complex flavours of the popular Thai dish and is a great example of the innovation NZ ice cream makers bring to the ‘Open Creative’ category. There was no shortage of creativity for this year with other entries including turkey with white chocolate gravy and stuffing, and beetroot and ginger.
Talley’s Group proved themselves masters of vanilla, taking out the ‘Standard Vanilla Ice Cream’ category with their Oravida
Vanilla as well as the ‘Premium Vanilla Ice Cream’ category with Motueka
Creamery’s Mt Arthur Snowfall Vanilla.
“For an insight into new ice cream trends, the New to Market Award is one to watch. It is judged across all the categories for a new product that has been released in the last 12 months,” says Hannah.
This year, there were 115 eligible entries in this category, up from 91 last year, which is a testament to the level of innovation across NZ’s ice cream industry. The 2019 New to Market winner was Gellissimo
Gelato’s Pistachio Premo.
Ranking as ‘extra yummy’ on the ‘yum to yuck scale’, Puhoi Valley
Cafe’s Puhoi Choc Bomb has landed the Kids Choice Award as voted by a group of VIP 8-12 year old guest judges from local YMCA holiday programmes.

NZ Ice Cream Week culminates in NZ’s national ice cream day, Ice
Cream Sundae, on 17 November when Kiwis are encouraged to find their own way to celebrate the role ice cream plays in their lives.
“With summer just around the corner, it’s perfect timing to check out some of the award-winning ice creams, maybe try something new, and show support for local ice cream makers, suppliers and communities across New Zealand who are involved in making our much-loved frozen treat,” says Hannah
Look out for NZ Ice Cream Awards medal stickers on packs in supermarkets and other retail outlets, from the New Year.
ENDS
For more information or images contact: Deanna Cruse, 027 391 6264
2019 NZ Ice Cream Award winners:
Supreme Award winners
Boutique
Manufacturer: Zany Zeus Limited, Ghana Chocolate
Large Manufacturer: Tip Top Ice Cream, Tip Top Boysenberry Ripple
Category winners
Standard
Vanilla Ice Cream: Talley’s Group, Oravida Vanilla
Standard Ice Cream: Tip Top Boysenberry Ripple
Best of Nuts: Little ‘Lato, Hazelnut Chocolate
Premium Vanilla Ice Cream: Talley’s Group, Motueka Creamery Mt. Arthur Snowfall
Vanilla
Premium Ice Cream: Kapiti Ice Cream, Kapiti Fig & Manuka Honey (joint winner)
Premium
Ice Cream: Zany Zeus, Ghana Chocolate (joint winner)
Open Creative: Little ‘Lato, Massaman Curry
Kids Choice: Puhoi Valley Café, Puhoi Choc Bomb
Gelato: Gelato Roma, Salted Caramel
Sorbet: Gellicious Gelato, Blackcurrant Sorbet
Low Fat: Zany Zeus, Feijoa
Non-Dairy: Little Liberty Creamery, Little Liberty - Double Espresso
New to Market: Gelissimo Gelato, Pistachio Premo

A
full list of the 2019 Awards is here.
Photos
from the 2019 New Zealand Ice Cream Awards dinner and presentations, coming soon.
Back to
the Awards page |