From over 5,000 global entries, New Zealand secured a number of awards, with Fonterra's NZMP™ ingredients brand claiming three gold medals including the coveted Best “Cheese on Toast” award for NZMP Tasty Lite. This recognition holds special significance for the UK market, where cheese on toast remains a much-loved staple across households from Scotland to Cornwall.

The other New Zealand class winners - spanning traditional cheddars, innovative formats, and premium butters - demonstrates the breadth of New Zealand’s offering at a time when UK consumers are re-evaluating their dairy choices. Recent changing trade relationships have opened new opportunities, and New Zealand's ICDA success provides quality credentials to help capitalise on them.

British consumers have long appreciated New Zealand dairy, with the UK being Fonterra’s largest dairy market until the 1970s – supplying butter into the UK for over a century.

“Following the NZ-UK Free Trade Agreement entering into force in 2023 we have rebuilt historic relationships and developed new routes to market. The great news for Fonterra is that British buyers and consumers are loving having New Zealand dairy available again, with over 10,000mt of product contracted in the first financial year post FTA.” Alexander Hume, Country Manager (UK), Fonterra.

This year’s  ICDA results validate several key attributes that resonate strongly with UK buyers:

Heritage and Craft: Traditional cheddar varieties winning gold and silver awards highlight New Zealand's reputation in formats recognised and valued by UK consumers.

Innovation Within Tradition: The Best Cheese on Toast gold for NZMP Tasty Lite demonstrates how Fonterra  are innovating within familiar formats. For UK consumers seeking lower fat options without sacrificing flavour, this represents the kind of product development they're looking for.

Grass-Fed Credentials:  While not highlighted in the awards, we think Fonterra's grass-fed and pasture raised milk credentials offer a clear point of differentiation and compelling offering to UK consumers. The awards recognition potentially provides New Zealand a platform for showcasing these credentials.  For more information about Fonterra’s grass-fed claims visit: www.nzmp.com/grass-fed.

NZMP, Fonterra's ingredients brand, offers UK retailers an appealing proposition: New Zealand grass-fed* cows make milk that is naturally higher in beta-carotene, giving a distinctive golden tint, especially to their butter. This is because Fonterra farmers’ cows spend over 350 days a year grazing on pasture; that’s more time than anywhere else in the world**. NZMP cheese and milkfats are also distinguished by award recognition that affirms premium quality—helping retailers attract discerning customers and achieve stronger margins.

The timing of these awards couldn't be better for UK market expansion. Recent trade data shows UK dairy imports from New Zealand growing steadily, but the market share potential remains significant. Several factors align to suggest accelerated growth:

Retail Opportunity: Major UK retailers are actively seeking premium dairy ranges that offer both quality and provenance stories. ICDA- awarded products provide retail buyers with confidence in ranging decisions, particularly for own-label premium tiers.

Food Industry Expansion: The commercial food manufacturing and foodservice sectors, recovering strongly post pandemic, increasingly values ingredients with proven credentials. Award-winning cheddars and butters can command premium pricing in  dairy applications, like baked goods where quality is non-negotiable.

Export Infrastructure: New Zealand's established export systems and long-standing trade relationships with the UK create a foundation for scaling successful products quickly to meet growing demand.

The challenge now is translating ICDA awards into meaningful UK market penetration. Early indicators suggest this is already happening:

Distribution Partnerships: According to Alexander Hume, Country Manager (UK), Fonterra; “Current distributors have observed increased demand for Fonterra’s grass-fed dairy products, particularly after recent awards, as customers look for higher-quality alternatives associated with award-winning offerings.”

Consumer Awareness: Consumer Awareness: Winning the “best cheese on toast” category for the fourth time, highlights NZMP Tasty Lite’s consistent quality. These recent accolades are translating into tangible commercial interest, as distributors increasingly recognise the value of stocking award-winning products to meet evolving buyer expectations and differentiate their portfolios.

Premium Positioning: ICDA recognition enables premium pricing strategies that make UK exports more viable, particularly given shipping costs and currency considerations.

The UK dairy market is experiencing a premiumisation trend that strongly favours New Zealand's positioning. Consumers are increasingly willing to pay more for products that deliver on taste, quality and ethical credentials. The ICDA results provide independent validation across all three dimensions.

Moreover, the awards arrive as UK consumers express growing interest in alternatives to European dairy products. Trade tensions, supply chain disruptions, and quality concerns in some traditional source markets have created space for trusted alternatives. 

Fonterra’s NZMP ICDA success offers more than a moment of recognition – it potentially builds a platform for sustained market growth. The recognition conferred by these awards indicates that New Zealand dairy effectively combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary innovation - attributes that are likely to appeal to UK consumers.