The annual New Zealand Ice Cream Awards were held for the 20th time this year and the Supreme Award for a Large Manufacturer was won by Tip Top Ice Cream for their Tip Top Hokey Pokey Ice Cream. This is the second consecutive year that Tip Top Ice Cream has won the Supreme Award for a large manufacturer with an entry in the Standard Ice Cream category. Tip Top Ice Cream also won Best in Category for their Tip Top Vanilla Ice Cream in the Standard Vanilla Ice Cream category.
The Supreme Award for a Boutique Manufacturer went to Puhoi Valley Cafe for their Matakana Roasted Coffee Affogato Ice Cream
In the Gelato category, Gelato 2U based in the Hawkes Bay scooped the Best in Category with an Espresso Gelato. The Best in Category for the Sorbet category was awarded to Carrello del Gelato from Wellington for their Feijoa Sorbet, which also won this Award in 2014.
The flavour for this year’s “Best of” category was Caramel. With 34 entries across all product types (ice cream, gelatos, sorbets), the judges selected Awesome Salted Caramel Seduction Ice Cream made by Much Moore Ice Cream Co. Ltd as the winner of this year’s Best of Caramel category.
There were 74 entries in this year’s “New to Market” category for products new to retail in the last 12 months. The winner of the Best New to Market Award was Puhoi Valley Cafe with another scoop for their Matakana Roasted Coffee Affogato Ice Cream.
The Kids Choice category was judged by twelve 7–11 year olds from Ramarama School. They used a “Yuk to Yum” scale and finally chose a bubble gum flavoured ice cream called New Zealand Natural Rainbow made by New Zealand Natural as the winner of the Kids Choice category.
Talley’s Group Limited won Best in Category for the Premium Vanilla Ice Cream category with their Premium Vanilla.
In the Export Ice Cream category New Zealand Natural Chocolate Obsession won the Best in Category.
The winner across the two sections of the Open Creative category was a Lot Eight Yuzu Indulgence Gelato, made by Gelissimo Gelato of Wellington. This gelato was subtlety flavoured with Yuzu infused olive oil and had a creamy smooth texture.
The Low Fat category was won by Much Moore Ice Cream Co. Ltd with their Awesome Strawberry Yoghurt.
Judged at the Food Innovation Centre in Auckland, eight judges took two full days to judge 334 entries entered by 37 companies and individuals. This competition is now the largest to be held in Australasia, a testimony to the quality, creativity and commitment of New Zealand Ice Cream, Gelato and Sorbet manufacturers and their dedication to quality.
