Fonterra strikes gold with top awards on International Cheese Day
The Co-operative took home a total of 52 awards
29 March 2024
2 minute read
By: For the fourth time in five years, Kāpiti Kikorangi Triple Cream Blue won gold in the Blue Cheese category, cementing its place as the most awarded cheese in New Zealand, according to a press release from Fonterra.
Fonterra’s Mainland won gold for its new Special Reserve Chilli and Garlic Brie launched late last year, while NZMP won six gold and Anchor rounded out the golden tally with two medals.
“These wins cement Fonterra’s position as the leading player in cheesemaking in New Zealand," said Renée Milkop Kerr, Marketing and Innovation Director for Fonterra Brands New Zealand.
Kāpiti and Mainland’s specialty cheese range are produced at the Co-op’s Eltham site in Taranaki, which has been making cheese for more than 100 years from high quality milk produced by local dairy farmers.
Fonterra’s Lichfield, Hautapu, Stirling and Whareroa sites also took away awards for their cheeses.
Cathy Lang from the Eltham site has also been nominated for the 2024 Champion Cheesemaker award, which will be announced in May this year. She previously won this award in 2022.
“Our team puts in a lot of work to create our beloved Kāpiti cheese range, it’s fantastic to see that be acknowledged by the judges," Lang said.
More than 270 cheeses were assessed by the 30-person judging panel, led by Master Judge Jason Tarrant. The awards are in their 21st year and celebrate the country’s finest cheese.
