For the fifth year running, Kiwis have thrown their weight behind their favourite dairy-free delights, and once again, the people have spoken loud and clear. The Vegan Society Dairy-Free Awards have wrapped for another year, with familiar faces and fresh contenders battling it out for coveted top spots.
And yes, Vutter’s back in the winner’s circle because when it comes to plant-based butter, it’s still the one everyone’s spreading on their toast.
Source: Vutter - Vutter Plant-Based Butter
In a climate where ditching dairy is more than just a trend—think smaller carbon footprints and kinder food choices—these awards give a solid nod to the brands Kiwis can’t get enough of. Streets, Magnum Dairy-Free Almond ice cream remains a rockstar in the frozen aisle, proving going plant-based doesn’t mean sacrificing indulgence.
Source: Streets Icecream - Winning Magnum
Meanwhile, Boring Oat Milk isn’t boring at all—it’s become a fridge staple for many, snatching the milk crown once again and cementing its cult status.
This year’s awards weren’t just about the usual suspects. With two new categories - Spreads and Dips, and Toppings and Sauces, the competition heated up, spotlighting the growing variety on New Zealand shelves. Barker’s, a true Kiwi classic, scooped the top spot in the Toppings category with its Butterscotch Caramel Sauce, giving dessert lovers a sweet reason to celebrate.
Source: abillion - Barkers Butterscotch Caramel Sauce.
Claire Insley from the Vegan Society couldn’t be happier about the growing enthusiasm. “The competition gets fiercer every year,” she said. “It’s great to see so many people passionate about their dairy-free choices, and with more products hitting shelves all the time, there’s never been a better time to try something new.”
Further on the icecream awards. It wasn’t all landslides and easy wins either. Some categories saw nail-bitingly close results, with just a handful of votes separating the champions from the runners-up. The likes of Wahiki’s Salted Caramel, Tip Top’s Vegan Boysenberry Trumpet, and Duck Island’s Peanut Butter Cookie Dough were hot on Magnum’s heels in the ice cream showdown, while Raglan Food Company took both first and second place in the yogurt category.
As shelves continue to fill with new dairy-free options from silky creams to decadent dessert toppings, one thing’s clear, the plant-based movement isn’t slowing down. And if this year’s fierce voting is anything to go by, next year’s awards will be even bigger.
But for now, let’s give Vutter another guernsey - it’s earned it.
ENDS:
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