Check out our previous winners below!

Foodstuffs Emerge is the evolution of the successful FoodStarter competition, launched in 2020. Each year there is a new opportunity for grocery entrepreneurs to gain access to industry leaders and Foodstuffs mentors to take their new products on a fast-tracked journey from small beginnings to New World shelves across Aotearoa.

Discover the winners of previous competitions below.

The winners will now work alongside Foodstuffs and industry mentors and embark on a journey that will take them from small beginnings to New World shelves across Aotearoa.

Adam McConnochie from Solid says he’s grateful to have customers that have supported them on its journey so far and believe in the kaupapa of Solid.

“We believe we can do things differently and more sustainably, so it’s cool Foodstuffs is prepared to back us. The bigger we are, the greater impact we can make, it’s about showing what’s possible and how sustainability can go hand in hand with innovation and business growth.”

Craig Brown from Herbivore says at Herbivore we believe in a world where butter grows on trees.

“We’re so grateful for Foodstuffs running such a special event to celebrate emerging businesses. We’re pushing forward into traditional categories and to have Foodstuffs support us shows their true commitment to sustainability and innovation.

“We think Herbivore is the best butter on the planet for the planet.”

Mary Devine Foodstuffs South Island CEO and Emerge judge, says both winners impressed the judges with the exciting way they had used innovation and sustainability to create new opportunities.

“While we could only pick two winners, all our finalists are now part of the inaugural Foodstuffs Emerge alumni. Just by making it to the finals, everyone is a winner, and our hope is that for all our finalists this is just the start of their relationship with us.”

“We’ve always known New Zealand is a hotbed for FMCG creativity, and what we’ve seen tonight proves this.”

The two winners have a busy road ahead, as they begin to scale up their operations and product. They will soon be meeting with Foodstuffs category managers to begin sharpening up their strategies and ensuring their products launch with a resounding bang.

Check out the 2022 Foodstarter Event

Pressure Cooker evening 2021

The 2021 search for New Zealand’s most innovative food and beverage products culminated with ten finalists pitching their exciting products to the judging panel in the Pressure Cooker event. 

Kaitahi As One - Frozen Superfood Smoothy Drops

Whanganui-based Kaitahi As One (Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi Iwi) is based on a social-ecological entrepreneurship model, which recognises and captures value through enterprises where people and nature matter. The enterprise works collaboratively to grow and source native plant foods and transform them into healthy food and beverage products, with the financial returns invested into the community. Their Frozen Superfood Smoothy Drops combine nutritious fruit and vegetables with traditional Maori ingredients such as puha and kawakawa. Designed to make healthy living easier, you just combine the frozen drops with liquid and shake – no blender required! In an exciting development, Kaitahi As One has recently launched their winning Smoothy Drops across New World stores nationwide.

Lilo Desserts - Lilo Plant Based Cheesecakes

Lilo Desserts are creating the future of feel-good snacking with their plant-based cheesecakes using rescued fruit from New Zealand orchards. Following a stint living and working overseas, the team behind Lilo – Cleo Gilmour, Russell Haines, Alex Worker and Hayden Kennedy - returned to New Zealand with a new appreciation for the value of New Zealand orchardists. This sparked a great idea and the team set out to invent an innovative product that celebrates our food growers using fruit that might otherwise go to waste.

Ananda Vegan Goodness

Ananda’s flagship product Italian Style Vegan Sausage is now selling at New World in South Island, made possible with the support of Foodstuffs South Island’s category management team, who provided expertise in the areas of product development, distribution and commercialisation.

For Ananda, support with the sourcing of appropriate manufacturers, branding, packaging and many, many hours working with FoodStarter partner, FoodSouth, to perfect the product for larger volumes of production proved invaluable.