The future of food innovation is set to be revealed at Fine Food New Zealand. It is New Zealand’s largest food trade event for food retail, food service, bakery and food manufacturing and will be held at Auckland Showgrounds from 29 June to 1 July 2025. A magnet for those in the trade, the event will present the who’s who, the what’s new and best to do, a buzzing hub to meet, network, educate, research and investigate all the tools and tricks of the trade.

Rebecca Stewart, Group Director of XPO says, “Trade events are a way to stay ahead of the curve and with increasing pressure on all businesses to put their very best foot forward to convince customers to invest with them, this is the one-stop shop to ensuring your business is operating at an optimal level. There is no better environment to do business than face-to-face, with everyone you need to meet all in one place, at the same time.”

At the show this time is the NZ Chefs Championships, which promise to bring on the best from New Zealand’s culinary community – everyone from seasoned chefs and pastry experts to emerging young talents, trainees and secondary school students. Competition categories include the mystery box main dish, a junior showstopper cake and a secondary schools pasta main course, as well as the hotly contested NZ Chef of the Year, NZ Pastry Chef of the Year and NZ Emerging Chef of the Year.

Pizza makers will have their chance, too, as the Caputo Cup (aka the world championships of pizza) will also be held during Fine Food New Zealand. Inspired by Auckland pizzaiolo (pizza chef) Enis Bacova of Dante’s, who won third prize in the Neapolitan class in 2023, the country’s best pizza makers get to battle it out for the honours.

Alongside new products, masterclasses, innovations and best practices, a networking event for Women in Food and Drink Aotearoa New Zealand will prove the power of building a community with interested, and interesting, individuals. finefoodnz.co.nz TRACY WHITMEY