NZ ICE CREAM & GELATO AWARDS TROPHIES SHOWCASE NEW TALENT AND CLASSIC FAVOURITES
In a classic story, a new kid on the block and a long-lived favourite have taken top honours at the New Zealand Ice Cream & Gelato Awards 2026 with two contrasting Supreme Champions crowned: a tiny suburban Auckland gelato shop that only opened its doors seven months ago and one of the country’s well-established ice cream makers.
Joylato Blueberry Yoghurt Gelato was named Chelsea Sugar Supreme Boutique Champion, as well as collecting a further three trophies. Owner Esther Cai only opened the doors of the Joylato scoop shop on Hurstmere Road in Takapuna in January.
Congratulations also to MooMii Gelato – based in Claw&Art at 21 Hurstmere Rd, their Golden Mango topped the dairy free category!
At the other end of the scale, the Hall’s Cold Chain Logistics Supreme Champion was awarded to Open Country Motueka Creamery Mt Arthur Snowfall Vanilla.
The victories highlight the incredible depth and breadth of Aotearoa’s ice cream landscape, which saw a record-breaking surge from 260 entries last year to 320 in 2026.
NZ Ice Cream & Gelato Awards Head Judge, Geoff Scott says this year’s competition proved that whether you are an artisan operating out of a single suburban storefront or a powerhouse processing millions of litres of milk, technical mastery is the ultimate equaliser.
“At this level, the difference between a good ice cream and a Supreme Champion isn’t measured in miles – it’s measured in millimetres. That’s the level of precision our judges were looking for this year,” Geoff Scott says.
“What impressed the judging panel most in 2026 was the standard of technical execution. Whether it was a bold new flavour combination or a classic vanilla ice cream, the very best entries showed precision, consistency and an outstanding understanding of balance. That’s what separates a gold medal from a Supreme Champion.”
For Joylato, taking out the Supreme Boutique Champion, Gelato Champion, New to Market, and New Entrant trophies caps off its first year in business after opening in January 2026.
“The judging panel was unanimous in its praise for this outstanding gelato,” says Geoff Scott of JoyLato’s Blueberry Yoghurt Gelato. “It delivered everything we look for in a Supreme Champion – exceptional technical execution, beautiful balance and absolute clarity of flavour. The yoghurt base was wonderfully clean, fresh and vibrant, with just the right amount of natural tang, while the blueberry complemented rather than dominated the palate.
It was a perfect marriage of flavours, finished with an outstanding creamy texture and mouthfeel. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the hardest to execute, and this was a superb example of craftsmanship at the very highest level.”
“Vanilla is often regarded as the benchmark by which great ice cream is judged, and the Open Country Motueka Creamery Mt Arthur Snowfall Vanilla. was a truly exceptional example,” Geoff Scott notes. “The flavour was rich, authentic and beautifully rounded, supported by an incredibly smooth, creamy texture and luxurious mouthfeel. Every element was in harmony, delivering exactly what consumers hope for from a premium vanilla ice cream. It was classic, elegant and technically outstanding – proof that when the fundamentals are executed perfectly, simplicity becomes something truly memorable.”
Beyond the Supreme Champions, the 2026 awards showcased adventurous culinary flavours. Alongside traditional scoops, judges tasted everything from cereal milk and garlic bread gelato to internationally inspired entries like Formula Foods Open Creative Champion, Subi and Brother’s Dulche de Letche Kheer and Big Chill Export Ice Cream Champion, Appleby Farms’ Salted Lemongrass Ice Cream.
“These creative entries reflected New Zealand’s increasingly multicultural food landscape and the confidence of our artisans to push boundaries while still respecting the fundamentals of great ice cream and gelato,” Geoff Scott adds.
Central Otago’s Patagonia Chocolates proved that sustainability and indulgence go hand-in-hand, winning the Pact Packaging Sustainability Champion trophy alongside the DKSH Chocolate Gelato, Sorbet or Dairy Free title for its Patagonia Chocolates Dark Chocolate Sorbet.
Sustainability judge Fiona Stephenson praised Patagonia’s business-wide commitment: “Patagonia Chocolates is a stand-out with sustainability initiatives spanning the entire business. Their environmental credentials include owning a 7-hectare organic fruit orchard for ingredients, upcycling second-grade fruit into award-winning products, fully home-compostable packaging, an electric frost fighting fan to replace diesel and EVs for transport. While their social commitment includes ethical procurement policies, fair wages and donations to more than 40 local community causes this year alone. A worthy winner that demonstrates rigorous, wide-ranging sustainability practice across the whole business.”
NZ ICE CREAM & GELATO AWARDS 2026 TROPHY WINNERS
Supreme Champions
- Joylato, Blueberry Yoghurt Gelato; Chelsea Sugar Supreme Boutique Champion
- Open Country Motueka Creamery Mt Arthur Snowfall Vanilla; Hall’s Cold Chain Logistics Supreme Champion
Category Champions:
- Much Moore Ice Cream Co, Premium Vanilla Ice Cream; Invita NZ Classic Vanilla Ice Cream Champion:
- Much Moore Ice Cream Co, Awesome Salted Caramel Seduction Ice Cream; Bonson Packaging Classic Flavoured Ice Cream Champion
- Open Country Motueka Creamery Mt Arthur Snowfall Vanilla; International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) Premium Vanilla Ice Cream Champion
- New Zealand Natural, Boysenberry Dream; Americold Premium Flavoured Ice Cream Champion
- CrocShake, Spiced Plum and Pinot; RD2-International Best of Fusion Champion
- Kohu Road, Dark Chocolate Ice Cream; DKSH Performance Materials NZ Chocolate Ice Cream Champion
- Patagonia Chocolates, Dark Chocolate Sorbet; DKSH Performance Materials NZ Chocolate Gelato, Sorbet or Dairy Free Champion
- Joylato, Blueberry Yoghurt Gelato; Sensient Technologies Gelato Champion:
- Kohu Road Mango Sorbet; Infruit Sorbet Champion
- Appleby Farms Salted Lemongrass Ice Cream; Big Chill Export Ice Cream Champion
- Much Moore Ice Cream Co, Wonders Strawberry Low Fat Yoghurt Ice Cream; Davis Food Ingredients | Provida Freight Low-Fat Champion
- MooMii Gelato, Golden Mango; Tetra Pak NZ Dairy-Free Champion:
- Subi and Brother, Dulche de Letche Kheer; Formula Foods Open Creative Champion
- Joylato, Blueberry Yoghurt Gelato; Hawkins Watts New to Market Champion
- Joylato, Blueberry Yoghurt Gelato; NZICA New Entrant Champion
- Patagonia Chocolates; Pact Packaging Sustainability Champion
- Deep South, Mango Ripple Ice Cream; NZICA Kids’ Choice Champion