The Auckland Food Show has once again proven itself as the ultimate destination for food enthusiasts, presenting a vibrant array of culinary delights, innovative products, and the latest trends in the food and beverage industry. This year's event brought together the finest offerings from local and international exhibitors, creating a feast for the senses and an exciting marketplace for industry professionals.
Attendees were treated to a diverse selection of gourmet delicacies, artisan treats, cutting-edge kitchen gadgets, and health-conscious options – ensuring there was something to captivate every palate and interest.
WILD CHEF
Wild Chef’s Has Browns and Hash Sticks were in hot demand at the Auckland Food Show.
Appealing to a wide customer base, Wild Chef’s Show Bundle sold out before the end of the expo and gained an influx of positive reviews. Visitors were impressed with taste and convenience, but most of all, its quality.
The Auckland Food Show provided a platform for Wild Chef to showcase the high standard of its products. Made from locally sourced ingredients, and produced in a gluten-free environment, the taste of Wild Chef’s Hash Browns and Hash Sticks is a reflection of its focus on offering quality products within the frozen category.
Wild Chef believes that familiarity and availability are the biggest drivers for consumer choices, as do product quality and price. As new disruptors enter the market and become more accessible to consumers, a shift towards higher quality in the frozen category will be inevitable.
For Wild Chef, the food show highlighted the brand’s appeal and its potential future within the region. With a bit of momentum, Wild Chef has aimed to expand its outreach in Auckland and continue to deliver on its promise of producing quality products without compromising on taste.
In the coming weeks, Wild Chef plans to visit supermarkets and retail stores around the Auckland region to capitalise on the connections made at the food show. In-store tastings will be part of a greater marketing campaign to strengthen its presence in the area, support brand awareness and generate sales.
OH BUBBLES
Oh Bubbles sparkled at the Auckland Food Show, with their engaging product presentation and demonstration. They showcased their innovative range of Oh Bubbles ALLFIZZ their most premium and award-winning Sparkling Drink Maker, along with Oh Bubbles Gas Bottles and Oh Bubbles concentrated Syrups which captivated the taste buds of show attendees.
The team behind Oh Bubbles was enthusiastic and knowledgeable, eager to share the story and benefits of their offerings. The OH Bubbles Stand was a ‘stand-out’ and ‘sparkled’ with Neon signage. The response from the crowd was positive, reflecting a strong interest in the OH BUBBLES products and brand, which is synonymous with Sparkling Water.
CARTEL FOOD CO
Consumers were in a positive mood as they explored the Auckland Food Show, looking for new products from their favourite brands. The Cartel Food Co stood out for its Mexican/LA street aesthetic, which featured vibrant colours and had a hip-hop feel — bringing the brand to life. Despite being in the market for nine years, Cartel Food Co engaged with many consumers who had seen their brand but had not tried their products.
The team proudly showcased their new Enchilada Bakes, giving away hundreds of samples, and in the current economic climate, consumers were happy to oblige! Cartel Food Co will continue to engage with their new followers from the show. They believe their category will continue to focus on quality in the convenience sector.
RUM & QUE
That’s a wrap for another year at the Auckland Food Show, with 28,364 food lovers coming through the halls. This year, Rum & Que were excited to introduce their new seasoning, Homegrown, to the range, which was a huge crowd favourite! Homegrown is a herbaceous Kiwiana Seasoning developed using Kawakawa, Horopito, thyme and Rosemary for the Hellers Sharp Blacks, which is New Zealand’s Competitive Butchery Team. The team are heading to Paris in March to compete at the World Butcher’s Competition, and Rum & Que is excited to be supporting the team on their journey to Paris, with all proceeds from the sale of Homegrown going to the team.
Over the four days, Meat Street was buzzing with great demonstrations and delicious samples. Matt wowed the crowd with mouth-watering Swift Ribs served up at his daily Rib Demonstration, along with their youngest pitmaster in the family, Zack (7), on the grill serving steaks.
Feedback from the crowd was they love supporting small New Zealand Businesses. "Matt and I enjoyed sharing our story with those who stopped by to try our Seasonings and Sauces."
Rum & Que started in 2017 as a competitive BBQ team, and after winning the first Jack Daniels Barbeque Competition in Kumeu, they were invited to America to compete at The Jack, one of America’s most prestigious Barbeque Competitions. In order to get the team over to America, they started selling their winning competition spice blends to friends and family as a fundraiser. Upon returning to New Zealand, they had enquiries from local butchers and BBQ Shops who wanted to purchase their blends.
Over the last six years, Rum & Que has continued to develop Award-Winning Seasonings and Sauces, all made here in New Zealand. As a husband-and-wife team with only one staff member, they wear many hats to continue doing what they love. They have an exciting 12 months ahead with some great new flavours on the horizon.
ALLIANCE MARKETING
"WOW!!! We were very impressed with the number of patrons plus the amazing feedback and sales we had on the products we demonstrated."
The Be Right Organic Vegan Coconut Rolls and the 5-star health-rated BC Bars were big hits with consumers. They were happy to shop up large on these products, along with Well Naturally's no-added-sugar Chocolate range.
The team said it was a great way to introduce new products, educate consumers on their health benefits, and tell them where to find them in their supermarket aisles.
MACY & TAILOR
Macy & Tailor is revolutionising the snack category with their innovative, healthy twist on traditional favourites. Their new Seaweed Chips were a hit at the Auckland Food Show, captivating attendees who eagerly sampled all three unique flavours. This marked Macy & Tailor's second successful year at the show, which they praised for its exceptional organisation and vibrant atmosphere.
The brand's dedication to connecting with fans was evident as they handed out popular 15g mini packs of their signature Pressed Pretzels. They also ran a successful giveaway to encourage newsletter signups, ensuring customers stay updated on exciting new releases.
Now, after a great show, Macy & Tailor are excited to launch their new products into New World, Pak'n'save and Foursquare stores this October. With their fresh, creative, and healthy snacks, they’re set to drive innovation and become a staple in households across the country.
