Celebrating the achievements of women in New Zealand’s food-and-drink industry has never been more important. Women in Food & Drink Aotearoa New Zealand showcases the remarkable women who continue to inspire and influence those around them, near and far. Each one plays a part in shaping the industry’s future; working in harmony to create positive outcomes; using their voices to be seen, heard, tell their story and make a difference in the community. There are many impressive women throughout the industry doing incredible work, day in and day out, and these are just a few of them. These are women standing tall and proud and all share an equal passion for what they do. We’re excited to announce that nominations for the Women in Food & Drink Aotearoa New Zealand Awards for 2025 are now open, so head to wifd.co.nz to tell us who you think should be in the running.

Written by Mia Bennett

Josie Robinson
Product Development / Entrepreneurship

The road to success for Josie Robinson (or as we may call her, Mrs Pickles), founder of Robbies Pickles, has been a long but incredibly worthwhile journey. “I am proud of my personal growth. I have finally found my voice, my heart, passion and truth: I can finally share my back story.” So says Josie who pushed through the fears and trial and error of fuelling her passion and starting her business. “I was afraid to tell my story, I didn’t think it was special or unique and I didn’t think anyone would be interested. My capability and skill set grew, my business brain and determination increased. I am now well into creating my core range and new, original recipes.” With products being sold to stockists throughout the country, Josie’s drive and success in creating clean, healthy and enriching products is certainly admirable. Enabling Kiwis to be immersed in the world of clean food is a goal of hers; she wants to educate families and kids to grow authentic, wholesome food and break the chain of the fast-food-induced cycle. A woman proud to stand among others in Women in Food and Drink Aotearoa New Zealand, what is the next step for her remarkable journey? “April 1st next year is 10 years since I quit my job for a gut feeling that became my calling. We will celebrate with our food community; it really does take a village. I am looking at a couple of potential sites for Robbies and hopefully a food school too, which is crazy exciting!” @robbies.nz @RobbiesNZ

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Leilani Sutton
Hospitality Marketing Manager

From chefs to restaurants to media, Leilani is on the job to help them tell their unique stories and bring their visions to life. The marketing lead for food and beverage at SkyCity Auckland, she shapes the narrative of some of New Zealand’s most celebrated restaurants and the iconic Sky Tower. With a deep sense of pride and passion for the industry, Leilani shares what inspires her most about her work. “I love that I get to wake up every morning and work with some of the best restaurants, chefs, suppliers and managers in the country to tell their stories. From showcasing the best local producers to highlighting the rich heritage that shines through in our menus, there’s never a dull day.” Between celebrating the launch of Metita and orchestrating sell-out dining experiences at MASU, Leilani remains true to her passion in showcasing the very best of what the industry has to offer. “The hospitality industry in Aotearoa is so inspiring and our campaigns help people discover new flavours, cultures and experiences. By telling the stories behind these experiences, we’re able to bring people closer to the heart of what makes each restaurant and foster a deeper appreciation and love for what we do.” Leilani’s recent accomplishment of launching Metita stands out as one of her proudest moments. She’s thrilled to be part of a restaurant that honours and pays homage to traditional Pacific cuisine while adding a modern twist to its dishes. @Leilani(Toiting)Sutton

Anna Baird
Marketing, Sponsorship & Events Specialist

Anna Baird of Massey University knows the ins and outs of the food-and-drink industry. She is a vital contributor to the New Zealand Food Awards, playing a key role in supporting stakeholders across the sector by aiding in their communication of expertise, boosting their brand visibility and strengthening consumer trust. She is a woman making positive change and supporting those in the food-and-drink industry to reach their goals and elevate success. “The food-and-beverage industry is much more than the products we consume; it’s a highly interconnected ecosystem of researchers, scientists, innovators, and creators.” Taking pride in highlighting the passion, creativity and unwavering dedication behind every product, Anna gets a rewarding feeling from being at the forefront of executing the awards that many businesses, owners, suppliers and passionate creatives can not only dream of but can actually achieve. “I love the diversity of my role working with organisations across all parts of the food-and-beverage value chain. It’s incredibly fulfilling to understand and communicate the essential role each player has, not only in the industry but also in our daily lives as consumers.” @AnnaBaird

Sofia and Gwen Taquet
Digital Content Creators

An innovative mother-daughter duo, Sofia and Gwen are taking the online world by storm as founders of ‘SkyFoody’, an online food-and-beverage presence that showcases the very best food around the world with an emphasis on New Zealand’s culinary offerings. With quite an impressive global following, this pair has recently launched a SnapChat Show, Food with a View, in which the duo prepare straightforward, scrumptious recipes and take them to locations across the country, showing their followers the very best of New Zealand’s landscapes and cuisine. Using social media to connect with a younger audience has allowed Sofia and Gwen to get their message behind ‘SkyFoody’ across: ‘Embrace the joy of cooking and appreciate the value of nutritious, homemade meals. Skyfoody’s mission goes beyond just food; it’s about building community and creating meaningful connections.’ This duo continues to embrace the importance of supporting local small businesses as well as committing to sustainability to create a positive impact on the food-and-beverage industry. Sofia and Gwen have their global foodies eagerly awaiting their next moves, eats and recipes. Through every post they continue to inspire a new generation of food lovers. Rooted in creativity and passion, they prove that cooking can be accessible, enjoyable and a fulfilling experience for all. @skyfoody
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