Auckland artisan gelato maker Little ‘Lato was named Formula Foods Supreme Boutique Champion for their Speculoos Gelato as well as collecting the Sensient Technologies Champion Gelato Award.
It’s the first time since a rule change in 2020 allowed gelato and sorbet to compete alongside ice cream for the two supreme awards that a gelato has won.
Judges were full of praise for the Little Lato Speculoos Gelato, remarking that it was “Deliciousness by the spoonful”.
“We loved the creamy texture… the balanced spice notes lifted the overall experience, enhanced its eatability, making it totally morish.”
Tip Top Ice Cream was also recognised for its Kapiti Fig & Manuka Honey ice cream, receiving the Americold Supreme Champion, one of seven trophies Tip Top was awarded.
“A superstar in the constellation of premium ice creams. A clear standout with its innovative use of figs in a rich creamy manuka honey ice cream to bring together two Kiwi favourites,” the judges said.
The inaugural GS Hall Novelty Ice Cream Award went to the Tip Top Boysenberry Trumpet.
Much Moore Ice Cream was also a big winner, receiving three of the 14 Championship Categories, including the Tetra Pak Export Ice Cream Award, the Fonterra New Zealand Standard Vanilla Ice Cream Award, and the Hawkins Watts New to Market Award.
Much Moore general manager, owner and head ice cream maker, Marcus Moore, says the awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the coming of age of New Zealand’s ice cream manufacturing industry.
“As well as this being a huge boost for our Much Moore Ice cream team, I believe our award success recognises the world class quality of New Zealand’s ice cream producers; we are innovative, agile and have the competitive advantage of accessing some of the highest grade dairy products available,” Moore says.
He says that after a ‘challenging couple of years’, it has been good to celebrate the company’s success.
“Getting feedback from the judges that our ice cream is some of the best in Aotearoa is incredibly rewarding.
The Awards, run by the NZ Ice Cream Association, have been held since 1997.
