Who made the cut to this year's FoodStarter 2022 Event? This prestigious event is a nationwide search for revolutionary and innovative healthy products led by New World and the Ministry of Awesome, in cooperation with Foodstuffs South Island, Foodstuffs North Island, including Food Innovation Network, Grid AKL, Socialites, Strategy Creative and PHD. Just to be part of this event was already a massive once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Being a contestant means presenting your product to a distinguished panel of judges and a shot at fame.
FoodStarter 2022 event set up, ready for the hosts & finalists to present their products.
The FoodStarter event was divided into 4 main phases, and from the selected top 20 semi-finalists, only 10 finalists have been invited by the panel of judges at the final event. There were two categories in this competition: the Start-Ups Category and the Small Suppliers category. As the name suggests, the first category was designed for startups in the food and beverage industry whose products are not selling to the New World Network. While for the latter category was made for small suppliers registered as a vendor with New World.
The distinguished Board of Judges from different sectors in the Food Industry. Carefully deliberating the products presented during the event.
Apart from the fame and the title, the winners of this year's FoodStarter 2022 have brought home staggering package prizes worth up $70,000 with benefits such as brand support, PR for launch activities, and support from industry experts.
Some of the visitors present during the event enjoyed their time at the FoodStarter 2022. Everyone was all ears listening to the finalists presenting their products. It was a great day where everyone had a great time and discovered revolutionary new products.
One of the products that stood out under the Start-Ups Category was none other than New Zealand's famous freeze-dried beef and camper's favourite meal buddy — No Rush.
No Rush founder and spokesperson at the event, Woo Meng Wai showcased the different varieties of No Rush products.
During the event, No Rush founder and spokesperson Woo Meng Wai unveiled the different varieties of No Rush products and all the things we need to know about. From freeze-drying to its health benefits, this truly changes how we view and incorporate convenience into home cooking!
No Rush deals with the concept of freeze-drying to formulate a meal that lasts long, but the quality of the meat remains the same, not to mention healthy and identically tastes similar to freshly cooked raw meat. Freeze-dried food process is a form of dehydration by freezing, then reducing the pressure and removing the ice through sublimation. This concept of preserving food is no longer new to us since this method dates back to 1906 and has already proven to be safe and healthy to consume.
No Rush products displayed during the FoodStarter 2022. Showing the different ways to enjoy the deliciousness of No Rush. There are so many ways to enjoy and savour the goodness of No Rush. This is a perfect ingredient to add to your daily meal plans since it is very easy to prepare and tastes beyond palatable.
No Rush is proudly made from 100% natural meat products in Aotearoa. It is a good source of protein, iron and zinc. Yes, you read it right! No Rush maintains the nutritional value of its meat even after the freeze-drying process, something preserved food products lack. Speaking of which, No Rush is purely made free from additives and preservatives. There is no single harmful chemical was added to preserve the life of the meat. So if you are only looking for products closely related to fresh meat to add to your diet, No Rush is definitely the best choice.
If you are a parent looking for a way how you can quickly bring home fresh meat to your abode without rushing to the market now and then, this one is for you. No Rush can stay fresh for years without the use of refrigerators. You can comfortably store it at your party and cook it whenever you need it. You can find No Rush in almost all supermarkets across New Zealand. It is also very easy to prepare and transform into your favourite meals.
So far, No Rush offers No Rush Beef Cubes, No Rush Chicken Cubes, and No Rush Beef Slices, available in resealable packages so you can simply seal the left meat to be cooked on other days. Talking about convenience, right?
There was no doubt why No Rush was a strong contender for this year's FoodStarter 2022. It took pride in innovation and promoted environment-friendly food that is healthy and suitable for everyone.
It is the moment many have waited for! Finally, a group of authentic products made it out to the final stage as finalists, and the announcement of winners under the Start-ups category and the Small supplier category.
The Finalists Are:
* Start-ups Category:
- Black Doris Ltd
- No Rush
- Oliver’s
- PARKERS Beverage Company
- QB’s Snacks
* Small Suppliers Category:
- Feliz Wholefoods Limited
- Kavita’s Kitchen NZ Ltd
- Olive and Ash Ltd
- The Damn Good Food Company
- The Excellent Side Project
The Winners Are:
- QB's Snacks, QB's Crunchy Cheese under Start-up Category
Start-up Category - QB's Snacks, QB's Crunchy Cheese- A puffed up cheese snack made from 100% New Zealand cheese with low sugar and Gluten free.
New World Small Supplier Category – Olive & Ash, Vince- A dehydrated plant-based vegetable mince, sourced and made in New Zealand with over 500g of real vegetables in every pack.