Uncle Joe’s of Marlborough are working towards three in a row at this year’s New Zealand Gourmet Oil Competition. Producers of walnuts, hazelnuts and related products, Uncles Joe’s Walnut Oil was awarded Best in Show at the 2007 and 2008 New Zealand Gourmet Oil Competition.
“We are very excited and proud to have attained the win two years in a row. The New Zealand Gourmet Oil Competition is a leading competition and well recognised event. We find that their gold medal displayed on our bottle helps people realise the point of difference in the quality of Uncle Joe’s Walnut Oil,” commented Jenny Horwell of Uncle Joe’s.
The New Zealand Gourmet Oil Competition is run by the Canterbury A&P Association and held in conjunction with the Royal New Zealand Show. The competition is open to New Zealand produced Olive Oil including classes for Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Delicate, Medium and Intense plus classes for Infused Oil, Walnut Oil, Hazelnut Oil, Avocado Oil and Macadamia Oil. Best in Show is judged from all gold medal winning entries.
Uncle Joe’s Walnut Oil is the product of efforts from two companies that strive to give only the best to their customers. “Marlborough is renowned for its old walnut groves and solitary giants in and around Blenheim. Uncle Joe’s carefully selects walnuts with great flavour and after processing is complete, the kernels are delivered to Oil Seed Extractions in Ashburton. They are acknowledged as leaders in their field, cold pressing the walnuts without the intrusion of light or air and retaining the delicate health benefits and rich nutty flavour,” added Horwell.
This combination of effort and expertise has culminated in Uncle Joe’s producing the premium quality required to win Best in Show as well as Best Walnut Oil at the New Zealand Gourmet Oil Competition.
According to Horwell, their award winning achievements has built the business through giving them confidence and belief in their product and helping it sell on the shelf.
“We have promoted the oil at New Zealand Food Shows, Mystery Creek Field Days, markets and in store tastings. We have discovered that the gold medal is significant in influencing people’s choices and it has greatly influenced our sales volumes. We are proof that any company that can display the New Zealand Gourmet Oil Competition gold medal will reap the rewards it represents,” said Horwell.
Entries for the 2009 New Zealand Gourmet Oil Competition close 5pm Wednesday 28 October with winners announced on Wednesday 4 November 2009. Medal winning oils will be on display at this year’s Royal New Zealand Show in Christchurch, Wednesday 11 to Friday 13 November.
For further information please contact
Nicola Cull, Marketing Manager, Royal New Zealand Show
Telephone 03 365 4203, Mobile 0212 65 1174
Email nicola@theshow.co.nz
