Terms and conditions of entry

General

1. Beer and cider from any supplier, producer or agent may be entered. 

2. Beer and cider from any country may be entered. Entries imported from overseas must have New Zealand representation and distribution and must have the minimum volume requirement available in New Zealand at the cutoff date.

3. There is no restriction on the number of different beers and ciders entered from a supplier, producer or agent.

4. For all classes, each entry must be packaged and labelled for retail sale. However, for Class 12 (Weird & Wonderful), if final packaging is not ready for judging, entries may be submitted in bulk form (rigger, growler, or crowler, 500mL and over) for judging purposes only If selected in the Top 25 then these entries must comply with all Supply and Distribution deadlines (clauses 41 onwards) and all other relevant clauses within these Terms & Conditions. Multipacks are accepted.

5. Each entry must have both a product barcode and an outer case barcode with a Barcode Verification Report completed by GS1.

6. Each beer or cider entered into the competition must be able to supply the minimum volume within the required timeframe, in the event of being selected for the Top 25.

7. If your product is awarded a Top 25 position, the product being supplied to Foodstuffs DC must be from the same production facility (brewery) as the samples submitted for judging.

8. A beer or cider may be entered only once. The same beer or cider made at a different location or packaged in a different format (glass, can, plastic etc) cannot be entered a second time. 

9. Each entry is under the packaging format of the entrant’s choice (e.g. glass, can, plastic etc.). If the beer or cider is selected for the Top 25 and is available in different packaging format(s) (whilst being the same recipe, using the same ingredients, brewed at the same location and of the same discernible quality as that entered for judging) a commercial decision may be made as to the most appropriate packaging format to take into Foodstuffs ambient DC. Refer to point 49 for more detail.

10. Entries must be submitted using the online form

11. The cost per entry is $80 + GST. 

12. An invoice for entry fees with payment instructions will be emailed on Monday 5 May. Payment must be received by Friday 9 May 2025. If payment is not received by the due date entries may be withdrawn, results may be withheld or entrants may be ineligible for entry the following year at the organisers discretion.

13. The Top 25 beers and ciders will feature in an extensive national marketing campaign and in New World stores for the four-week promotional period. 

14. For existing Foodstuffs North Island suppliers, entry fees may be offset against the next payment from Foodstuffs North Island.

15. Withdrawals must be notified to the Competition Director at nwbca@foodstuffs.co.nz

16. Credits for entry fees for entries already invoiced but withdrawn will not be refunded. 

17. By entering the New World Beer & Cider Awards entrants agree to receiving emails updating them on the competition. Recipients can unsubscribe to these emails at any time.

18. Foodstuffs NZ will hold entrant’s email addresses in a database for future marketing and promotional purposes of the New World Beer & Cider Awards entry process.  This database may be securely shared with Foodstuffs agencies and third party suppliers for this purpose. 

19. By submitting an entry into the New World Beer & Cider Awards, you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the competition. 

Samples and Judging

20. Confirmation of entries and sample bottle instructions will be emailed to entrants on Monday 28 April 2025.

21. The final date for receipt of entry samples is Friday 9 May 2025. 

22. While every effort will be made to ensure entries are judged in the correct class according to the product’s labelling, it is the entrant’s responsibility to ensure that the beer or cider is entered into the correct class. However, the competition organisers reserve the right to move an entry to a more suitable class if this is deemed necessary. 

23. It is the entrant’s responsibility to ensure the details completed on the entry form are for the beer or cider that is submitted for judging.

24. It is the entrant’s responsibility to ensure that the beer or cider to be judged is received by the due date.

25. 8 x sample bottles or cans are required for products of 500ml or less
6 x sample bottles or cans are required for products of 501ml or more 
4 x sample riggers, growlers or crowlers of at least 500mL each are required for ONLY Class 12 unpackaged entries.

26. All sample bottles submitted for the competition become the property of Foodstuffs NZ. Despite requesting the least number possible, there may be some product which is excess to requirement. Every effort will be made to sell these appropriately and/or donate the proceeds to a suitable charity. 

27. Each entry must be presented for judging in its retail packaging. No tank or barrel samples can be entered EXCEPT for Class 12, Weird & wonderful beer where riggers, growlers and crowlers are accepted for JUDGING ONLY. Please ensure this is indicated on the entry form. 

28. Under the Food Standards code, cider falls under the fruit wines definition. Due to the Sale & Supply of Alcohol Act and the Off Licenses granted to New World stores, only cider which adheres to the Food Standards definition is eligible for entry into the competition. Fruit Wine Product which is made with additional ingredients not derived from the fruit itself and which falls outside the definition is not eligible for entry into the competition, as it cannot be sold through New World stores.

29. Non-standard beer and cider products (for example alcoholic ginger beer) must be approved as grocery/supermarket compliant by Foodstuffs North Island and South Island legal teams prior to judging. Please contact nwbca@foodstuffs.co.nz for more information.

30. Each beer or cider supplied for judging must be fully consistent with all beer or cider produced under the same label and made available for sale in New Zealand. All entry samples must be taken from, and therefore representative of, a homogeneous quantity of that product. Such beer or cider may be produced in multiple batches, lots or bottlings provided that:

a. Every batch, lot or bottling is composed of identical source materials blended in identical proportions and subjected to identical brewing practices and processes as far as practically achievable in terms of good brewing practice.
b. Every batch, lot or bottling is consistent in terms of sensory characteristics and chemical profile, allowing for analytical tolerances and the effects of maturation.
c. It is fully consistent with all beer or cider produced under that same label and with that available in the market.

31. All product entered for judging must be of merchantable quality and comply with all applicable laws and relevant Food Safety legislation and standards for retail sale, including full compliance with the labelling regulations as specified in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.

32. New beers and ciders may be entered for judging with a temporary label but if the beer or cider is selected for the Top 25 it must be fully labelled and available for photography by 2nd June 2025 or you might risk your placement. 

33. New bottlings without a final label must have a temporary label applied. Temporary labels must include the product name, name and address of the producer, package size, alcohol % and standard drinks. For example: 

The Special Hazy IPA
Produced by The Special Brewery, 35 Landing Drive, Auckland
330ml. 6.0% alc. 1.6 standard drinks 
Alternatively, a copy of the proposed label may be attached to the bottle / can.

34. All top ranked entries will be photographed during the judging for marketing purposes. If a winning entry is a non-packaged entry from Class 12, it must be available for photography by 2nd June (see clause 32.)

35. Each entry is judged individually on its merits using a collaborative judging method which evaluates the entry’s qualities, technical excellence, balance and drinkability. Similar style beers and ciders will be grouped together within a class.

36. The top entries in each class will be randomised, re-tasted and ranked by a senior panel to determine the Top 25. 

37. The next 25 best beers and ciders will be Highly Commended.

38. In the event of any dispute, the decision of the Chair of Judges and Foodstuffs NZ shall be final.

39. Medal results will be confirmed by email on Thursday 22 May 2025.

40. All results are confidential and embargoed until the New World Beer & Cider Awards launch.  The dates of lifting the embargo to New World stores and of lifting the public embargo will be confirmed by email from the Competition Director.

Supply and Distribution

41. The brewery or distributor (“supplier”) of Top 25 beers & ciders will be emailed on Thursday 22 May 2025 by the Competition Director to confirm the entry meets the competition criteria, which includes : supplying the required volume within the required timeframe as per the classes and minimum volume requirements; that the product being supplied to Foodstuffs DC is from the same production facility (brewery) as the samples submitted for judging and be the same recipe, using the same ingredients and of the same discernible quality as that entered for judging; that the entry has both a product barcode and an outer case barcode and these have a Barcode Verification Report completed by GS1; that the entry is manufactured under current food safety certification; that entries imported from overseas have New Zealand representation and distribution and will be landed and available in New Zealand by 25th July ; for non-standard beer and cider products (for example alcoholic ginger beer) it is approved as grocery/supermarket compliant by Foodstuffs North Island and South Island legal teams prior to judging.
Please note: Foodstuffs is supporting industry moves to outers of 12 for single bottles and cans.

42. The supplier of Top 25 beers & ciders must confirm the competition criteria are met by midday Friday 23rd May.

43. For any beer or cider selected for the Top 25 which doesn’t meet the competition criteria, the product will not be eligible for the four week NWBCA promotion. As a result, the product will not be warehoused in Foodstuffs ambient Distribution Centres (DC), stocked in New World stores or promoted as part of the NWBCA during the four week promotional period. It will be awarded Highly Commended, and the next highest ranked product will take its place in the Top 25.

44. After the Top 25 selection, the next 25 best beers and ciders will be Highly Commended and listed on the New World website. There is no guarantee of distribution through New World stores for Highly Commended products. 

45. If a Highly Commended product doesn’t meet the competition criteria, the product may not be eligible for the Highly Commended award. The next highest scoring product will take its place in the Highly Commended.

46. Foodstuffs North Island (FSNI) and Foodstuffs South Island (FSSI) will warehouse the Top 25 beers & ciders that meet the competition criteria in Foodstuffs ambient DC for the duration of the four-week NWBCA promotion. These Top 25 beers and ciders will be stocked in all New World stores nationwide (excludes Trust areas) that are permitted to sell the product in accordance with that stores valid off-licence, price promoted and marketed in the NWBCA four-week promotion.

47. Foodstuffs North Island only: Foodstuffs North Island only agrees to distribute Top 25 beers & ciders through their ambient DCs for the duration of the NWBCA 4-week promotion. If there is any stock left in the DC’s, it will be returned to the supplier within a reasonable timeframe, at the cost of the supplier, and a credit will be requested for the returned stock.

48. The Top 25 beers and ciders supplied to Foodstuffs ambient DC must be of the same recipe, use the same ingredients, be brewed at the same location and be of the same discernible quality as that entered for judging. 

49. Where a Top 25 beer or cider is available in a different packaging format a commercial decision will be agreed between Foodstuffs Liquor Category teams and the supplier as to which size will be taken into Foodstuffs ambient DC. Refer to clause 9 for more detail.

50. The suppliers of Top 25 beers & ciders being warehoused in Foodstuffs ambient DC will be sent a confirmation email with full instructions for new supplier approval (if required) and set up either via GS1 ProductFlow or Data eXpress (DEX) by Friday 6 June 2025. Warehousing of the products in the Foodstuffs Ambient DC is contingent on the agreement and application of warehouse cost recovery terms.

51. Completed Foodstuffs Compliance documentation, including (where you do not already have one) a written grocery supply agreement, for new suppliers is due by 5pm on Friday 6th June. Failure to meet this deadline may lead to that beer or cider being withdrawn from the NWBCA four-week promotion

52. New suppliers who do not currently hold their own food certification acceptable to Foodstuffs must be willing to meet the requirements of Interim Approval and obtain the necessary certification over a specified time period; this may include being audited against Foodstuffs Importer/Broker Standard. 

53. Each Top 25 beer or cider featured in the four week NWBCA promotion must be set up either via GS1 ProductFlow or Data eXpress (DEX). The required information must be submitted by 5pm on Friday 6th June.

54. Failure to submit ProductFlow or Data eXpress (DEX) information by 5pm on Friday 6th June 2025 may lead to that beer or cider being withdrawn from the four week NWBCA promotion.

55. Actual orders, delivery dates and delivery details for each Top 25 beer & cider featured in the four week NWBCA promotion will be confirmed by the relevant Replenishment Buyer, with the first order being delivered 11th August 2025

56. All Top 25 beers & ciders being warehoused in Foodstuffs ambient DC must be received with at least 90 days before the Best Before date.

57. Failure to supply stock in required quantities by the Wednesday before the promotion starts may result in exclusion from entering the competition in the future.

58. Foodstuffs undertakes to make all reasonable efforts to maximise sales of each Top 25 beer and cider featured in the four week NWBCA promotion by working in partnership with the supplier, but does not guarantee an order for the minimum volume requirement. Some beverages will sell in excess of this amount and others will sell less.

59. For the suppliers of Top 25 beers and ciders featured in the four week NWBCA promotion, to continue selling to Foodstuffs South Island beyond the NWBCA four week promotional period the product must be re-presented to the Liquor Category Analyst for ranging.

60. For the suppliers of Top 25 beers and ciders featured in the four week NWBCA promotion, Foodstuffs North Island will review sales and performance six weeks after the NWBCA promotional period ends to decide on-going ranging status. 

61. Foodstuffs South Island only : If the beer or cider is not performing and needs to be removed from the DC the category teams will:

• work with the supplier on additional promotional activity within New World 
• if this isn’t successful the product will be offered to other retail banners within Foodstuffs
• if this isn’t successful the stock will need to be returned to the supplier within a reasonable timeframe, at the supplier’s cost, and a credit will be requested for the returned stock. 

62. For any suppliers of Top 25 beers and/or ciders featured in the four week NWBCA promotion, Foodstuffs North Island Limited and Foodstuffs South Island Limited will enter into a fixed term supply agreement, for that four-week promotional period in respect of the Top 25 beers and/or ciders provided by the relevant supplier."

Price Promotion & Marketing Promotion

63. The Top 25 beers & ciders being featured in the NWBCA four week promotion are expected to be supported by the supplier with price promotions to enable these products to be featured in the weekly New World mailer and in national advertising. This price promotion activity will be negotiated with the FSNI Beer Category Manager and New World South Island Liquor Promotions Manager.

64. If your Top 25 beer or cider falls under the FSNI commercial model, the promotional support requested is over and above what is agreed in the CPT and will be negotiated with the FSNI Category manager.

65. The Top 25 beers and ciders will feature in an extensive national marketing campaign and in New World stores for the four-week promotional period. 

66. Suppliers of Top 25 beers & ciders are expected to make available up to 24 units for samples to promote the New World Beer and Cider Awards with influential media through targeted PR activity. 

67. Suppliers of Top 25 beers & ciders featured in the four week NWBCA promotion are expected to seriously evaluate supporting complimentary instore sampling activity.

68. Suppliers of Top 25 beers & ciders featured in the four week NWBCA promotion are expected to make available enough product to be tasted and promoted to New World Liquor Managers and Owner Operators at launch events to promote the 2025 New World Beer & Cider Awards, as requested by the individual Foodstuffs liquor category teams. Foodstuffs undertakes to keep this request to a reasonable volume.

69. New World Beer & Cider Awards Top 25 and Highly Commended medal stickers and images can only be applied to the brand, variety, recipe and brewery location submitted and judged in the 2025 New World Beer & Cider Awards and cannot be transferred to any other brand, variety or brewery location. The Top 25 and Highly Commended medal stickers can be used on any packaging format providing the conditions for brand, variety, recipe and brewery location submitted and judged are met.

70. New World Beer & Cider Awards Top 25 and Highly Commended medal stickers can only be applied to beverages as per the confirmation of results emailed on Thursday 29 May 2025. 

71. New World Beer & Cider Awards Top 25 and Highly Commended medal stickers can only be applied after the lifting of the public embargo (date to be confirmed by email by the Competition Director).

72. Any advertising, promotion or publicity relating to or referring to medals, awards or accolades won in this competition must not be false, misleading or deceptive.

73. New World Beer & Cider Awards Top 25 and Highly Commended medal stickers will be available to purchase from Thursday 29 May 2025. Details will be emailed by the Competition Director with the judging results. The medal sticker order form will be available from nwbca@foodstuffs.co.nz 

74. A roll of 1,000 medal stickers will be sent to the supplier of each Top 25 and Highly Commended entry with the medal certificates. The cost of these stickers is included in the entry fee. The stickers and certificates will be sent by post and will be dispatched week commencing 16 June 2025

75. The New World Beer & Cider Awards Top 25 and Highly Commended medal designs are owned by Foodstuffs NZ. Medal stickers can only be purchased from the authorised supplier whose details will be advised by email w/c 26th May. 

76. Reproduction of the New World Beer & Cider Awards Top 25 and Highly Commended medal stickers in print or online must use the authorised images files. These are available from nwbca@foodstuffs.co.nz 

77. New World Beer & Cider Awards, New World Beer & Cider Awards 2025 and New World are brands owned by Foodstuffs NZ. Any use of these brands in any form must be authorised in writing by Foodstuffs NZ. Requests can be emailed to nwbca@foodstuffs.co.nz

78. Any producer or supplier that breaches the rules of the 2025 New World Beer & Cider Awards will be disqualified, have awards withdrawn and may be prevented from entering the competition in future.

Audit 

79. All beers and ciders entered into the New World Beer & Cider Awards competition may be subject to verification of compliance with the regulations of the competition by auditors appointed by the organisers of the competition. 

80. All breweries with Top 25 beers and ciders featured in the four week NWBCA promotion are obliged to disclose the brewing location of the samples which were judged and the brewing location for deliveries to Foodstuffs ambient DC.

81. Foodstuffs NZ recognises that beer and cider sensory characteristics will change over time. In the event of a quality query or discernible difference generated by a change listed under Point 48 (recipe, ingredients, location) the reference sample beer or cider held in cold storage will be tasted against a sample of that beverage taken from deliveries bound for Foodstuffs ambient DC. Only finished packaged product will be tasted. Beers and ciders available for retail sale may be purchased in the course of the audit.

82. Acceptable quality differences between batches tested in this fashion to confirm the beverage is consistent will be considered by the Chair of Judges and two judges, at least one of whom will be a brewer. The decision of this quorum will be final.

83. In the event of a judged beer or cider being found to be inconsistent with beer or cider produced under the same label, that beer or cider will be disqualified and excluded from entering the competition in the future. 

Terms and Conditions for Entry:

1. Competition Overview

The "Weird & Wonderful" Beer class invites brewers to showcase their innovative and unconventional brewing techniques. The competition celebrates creativity by encouraging the use of unexpected or unusual ingredients to create distinctive beers that break away from traditional brewing styles.

2. Eligibility

All entries must feature the use of unconventional ingredients, including but not limited to fruits, herbs, spices, or other unexpected elements (such as pickle juice or marshmallow) that enhance the flavour profile and offer a unique drinking experience. Please note must be supermarket compliant so no spirits.

3. Entry Format

o Unpackaged Samples: Entries in the "Weird & Wonderful" class are permitted to be entered in unpackaged formats for judging purposes only (e.g., in bulk form such as a rigger, growler, or crowler). These samples must be at least 500mL in volume.
o Judging Samples: Samples should be provided in a manner that best represents the beer's intended flavour and drinking experience.

4. Judging Criteria

Entries will be judged based on creativity, flavour innovation, and the effective use of unexpected or unconventional ingredients. The goal is to create a beer that offers a unique, exciting, and delightful drinking experience, which deviates from traditional brewing practices.

5. Top 25 Selection

o If your entry is selected as one of the Top 25, you will be required to provide a final version of the beer that meets the full criteria outlined in the competition’s terms and conditions.
o Only beers that comply with the standards of creativity, flavour innovation, and quality will be considered for this distinction.

6. Submission Requirements

o Entries must be submitted with a clear description of the ingredients used, highlighting the unconventional elements that define the beer as “Weird & Wonderful.”
o By entering, you consent to the use of your beer name and details in promotional materials related to the competition.

7. General Terms

o All entries must comply with relevant local alcohol production and distribution laws.
o The competition organisers reserve the right to disqualify any entry that does not meet the required standards or does not adhere to the submission guidelines.
o All decisions made by the judging panel are final.

8. Final Acceptance

o If your entry is selected in the Top 25, you agree to provide a final version of the beer that meets the standards of innovation and creativity as determined by the competition’s judges.
o The final beer will be judged based on the agreed-upon criteria, and only beers that meet the standards of creativity and flavour innovation will be considered.

Submission Guidelines:

Please note that unpackaged samples are permitted for judging for this class only. This is to encourage innovative brewing and to limit the barriers to enter this special class, Entries are permitted to be entered in bulk form (rigger, growler or crowler 500mL and over) for judging only. If selected in the Top 25 then all entries must comply with the criteria outlined in the T’s & C’s, and only beers that meet the standards of creativity and flavour innovation will be considered.