NZ Ice Cream & Gelato Awards 2026: Supreme Champions Named

Joylato, a small gelato shop on Hurstmere Road in Takapuna that only opened its doors in January this year, was named Chelsea Sugar Supreme Boutique Champion for its Blueberry Yoghurt Gelato.

The win was part of a four-trophy haul for owner Esther Cai in her first year of business, with the same product also picking up Gelato Champion, New to Market Champion and New Entrant Champion honours.

At the other end of the industry, Motueka Creamery's Vanilla Bean Ice Cream was awarded the Hall's Cold Chain Logistics Supreme Champion title, recognising an established producer's mastery of a category widely regarded as the toughest to get right.

This year's competition drew a record 320 entries, up from 260 in 2025, reflecting continued growth and depth across New Zealand's ice cream and gelato sector.

Head Judge Cites Technical Execution

NZ Ice Cream & Gelato Awards Head Judge Geoff Scott said this year's results showed that scale was not a factor in quality, with both a single-storefront artisan and a large-scale dairy processor reaching the same technical standard.

"At this level, the difference between a good ice cream and a Supreme Champion isn't measured in miles – it's measured in millimetres," Scott says, adding that the judging panel was most impressed by consistency, balance and technical execution across entries, whether classic or experimental.

Of Joylato's winning gelato, Scott says the judging panel was unanimous, praising its clean, fresh yoghurt base, a natural tang balanced against blueberry that "complemented rather than dominated" the flavour, and a standout creamy texture.

Motueka Creamery's Vanilla Bean Ice Cream drew similarly high praise, with Scott describing it as rich, authentic and beautifully rounded, and noting that a truly excellent vanilla is often the benchmark by which the entire category is judged.

Bold Flavours and Sustainability Also Recognised

Beyond the two Supreme Champion titles, the 2026 awards highlighted the increasingly adventurous and multicultural nature of New Zealand's ice cream scene.

Entries ranged from cereal milk and garlic bread gelato through to Subi and Brother's Dulche de Letche Kheer, winner of the Formula Foods Open Creative Champion award, and Appleby Farms' Salted Lemongrass Ice Cream, which took out the Big Chill Export Ice Cream Champion title.

Sustainability was also a major theme.

Central Otago's Patagonia Chocolates won both the Pact Packaging Sustainability Champion trophy and the DKSH Chocolate Gelato, Sorbet or Dairy Free category for its Dark Chocolate Sorbet.

Sustainability judge Fiona Stephenson praised the company's business-wide environmental and social practices, including a 7-hectare organic fruit orchard, home-compostable packaging, electric equipment replacing diesel alternatives, and support for more than 40 local community causes over the past year.

Full List of 2026 Trophy Winners

Supreme Champions

• Motueka Creamery, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream — Hall's Cold Chain Logistics Supreme Champion
• Joylato, Blueberry Yoghurt Gelato — Chelsea Sugar Supreme Boutique Champion

Category Champions

• Much Moore Ice Cream Co, Premium Vanilla Ice Cream — Invita NZ Classic Vanilla Ice Cream Champion
• Much Moore Ice Cream Co, Awesome Salted Caramel Seduction Ice Cream — Bonson Packaging Classic Flavoured Ice Cream Champion
• Motueka Creamery, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream — International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) Premium Vanilla Ice Cream Champion
• New Zealand Natural, Boysenberry Dream — Americold Premium Flavoured Ice Cream Champion
• CrocShake, Spiced Plum and Pinot — RD2-International Best of Fusion Champion
• Kohu Road, Dark Chocolate Ice Cream — DKSH Performance Materials NZ Chocolate Ice Cream Champion
• Patagonia Chocolates, Dark Chocolate Sorbet — DKSH Performance Materials NZ Chocolate Gelato, Sorbet or Dairy Free Champion
• Joylato, Blueberry Yoghurt Gelato — Sensient Technologies Gelato Champion
• Kohu Road, Mango Sorbet — Infruit Sorbet Champion
• Appleby Farms, Salted Lemongrass Ice Cream — Big Chill Export Ice Cream Champion
• Much Moore Ice Cream Co, Wonders Strawberry Low Fat Yoghurt Ice Cream — Davis Food Ingredients | Provida Freight Low-Fat Champion
• MooMii Gelato, Golden Mango — Tetra Pak NZ Dairy-Free Champion
• Subi and Brother, Dulche de Letche Kheer — Formula Foods Open Creative Champion
• Joylato, Blueberry Yoghurt Gelato — Hawkins Watts New to Market Champion
• Joylato, Blueberry Yoghurt Gelato — NZICA New Entrant Champion
• Patagonia Chocolates — Pact Packaging Sustainability Champion
• Deep South, Mango Ripple Ice Cream — NZICA Kids' Choice Champion