Triple Bronze at the 2025 Inspire+ NZ Artisan Awards
We’re delighted to share some exciting news from the 2025 New Zealand Artisan Awards – Nutty D’Lites took home three Bronze medals this year! Our Roasted Caramelised Hazelnuts, Roasted Caramelised Almonds, and our brand new Gingerbread Spiced Caramelised Almonds all earned recognition from the judges.
We finally found a moment to enter the NZ Artisan Awards this year, something we’ve talked about doing for ages but never quite managed between roasting nuts, packing orders, and weekends at the market. It was worth the effort. Walking away with three medals on our very first go was a real buzz and a lovely bit of recognition for what we do every day.
About the NZ Artisan Awards
The New Zealand Artisan Awards is a national food and beverage programme that celebrates excellence and innovation among local producers. Hundreds of entries are judged by an expert panel of food industry professionals, who assess flavour, quality, presentation, and originality.
Winning a medal is a real achievement, and we’re proud to have our handcrafted nuts recognised among some of the country’s best.
Our 2025 Highlights
Our newest flavour, Gingerbread Spiced Caramelised Almonds, made its awards debut this year, and we’re thrilled it caught the judges’ attention. Inspired by the warmth of classic gingerbread, it’s a perfect mix of spice and sweetness – a festive favourite that’s quickly become a customer must-have.
Our Roasted Caramelised Hazelnuts and Roasted Caramelised Almonds also impressed the judges, earning Bronze medals for their rich caramel flavour and signature crunch.
Nelson Punches Above Its Weight
It wasn’t just us flying the flag for the Nelson region this year – our local food community truly shone at the awards.
Highlights included Atutahi, with their Lemon, Lime and Kawakawa drink, a refreshing carbonated version of the popular Kiwi Kai market favourite that’s been sold by the cup for nearly a decade. Kiwi Kai’s owner, Reni Wereta-Gargiulo, uses kawakawa – a traditional Māori rongoā (medicine) plant – celebrated for its many healing properties.
Neudorf Black won for their Black Garlic BBQ Sauce, another Nelson Market favourite, and Pete’s Natural Sodas earned medals for their Feijoa and Traditional Lemonade. Chia Sisters, Yum Granola, Proper Crisps, and Appleby Fudge also took home awards, making it a huge year for Nelson’s talented producers.
Looking Ahead
We’re so proud to be part of such a creative and supportive local food scene. A big thank you to the judges and organisers of the NZ Artisan Awards for recognising small producers like us who put everything into what we make.
We’ll be celebrating this milestone for a while yet, and we’re already thinking about what new creations we might enter next year.
Here’s to handcrafted goodness, local pride, and a region full of truly outstanding food!
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To see the full list of 2025 winners and learn more about the NZ Artisan Awards, visit www.supermarketnews.co.nz/
