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Scoop
02-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Independent Cheesemakers Reign Supreme – Trophy Winners Named In NZ Champions Of Cheese Awards 2025
Press Release – NZ Specialist Cheesemakers Assn Established by fourth-generation Otago farmers Bob and Sue Berry in the farming downturn of 1987 to diversify their business – and today managed by their son Simon the company employs more than 80 staff, with the majority in Oamaru at their factory … Independent cheesemakers were the heroes of this year's NZ Champions of Cheese Awards, with Whitestone Cheese Co, Barrys Bay and Anabelle Exquisite Diary taking out the top three trophies. Eighteen of the Award's 24 trophies were awarded to independent producers. Family-owned, Oamaru-based Whitestone Cheese Co was the big winner at the country's annual Awards, taking out five trophies, including the top award, Woolworths Champion of Champions for Whitestone Cheese Co, Monte Cristo, which also receivedtrophies for; Fonterra Co-operative Group Champion Original Cheese and Maui Sheep Milk Best-in-Class Sheep Milk Cheese. Judges praised sheep milk cheddar, Monte Cristo saying; 'Complex, waxy, balanced with a beautiful ivory paste. Delicious. Favourite of the day!' Whitestone Cheese Co, Pukaki Blue Brie was named FOSS Champion New Cheese and Whitestone Cheese Co cheesemaker, Jonathan Emerson was MilkTestNZ Champion Cheesemaker. Established by fourth-generation Otago farmers Bob and Sue Berry in the farming downturn of 1987 to diversify their business – and today managed by their son Simon – the company employs more than 80 staff, with the majority in Oamaru at their factory and the Whitestone Cheese Diner & Deli. FSQSNZ Champion of Champions Mid-Sized, Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Aged Gouda, was pronounced 'delightful' by the judges who also made these tasting notes; 'Lovely chewy fudgy texture. Pronounced fruit, sweet, umami flavours. Excellent.' The Champion of Champions Mid-Sized was one of four trophies awarded to Barrys Bay. They also won: AsureQuality Champion Dutch-Style forBarrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Aged Gouda, Tetra Pak Champion Retail Cheddar Cheese for Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Canterbury Red, and Sabato Chefs' Choice with Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Parmesan. Akaroa's Barrys Bay Cheese was founded in 1895, as one of nine small, family-owned dairy cooperatives around Banks Peninsula. Over time, these small dairy businesses closed, leaving Barrys Bay Cheese. In the early 1950s a new Barrys Bay factory was built – which is used today. Purchased by Daniel and Amy Shields in 2017, in 2020 Barry's Bay Cheese celebrated 125 years of cheesemaking. It prides itself on a commitment to traditional cheesemaking, producing handcrafted traditional cheese using fresh, Banks Peninsula milk. Puhoi Valley Champion of Champions Boutique, Anabelle Exquisite Dairy, Cremeux Herb & Garlic received the following feedback from the judging panel; 'Lovely fresh cheese, love the fresh garlic. Cheese is smooth with a great balance of flavours and a good texture. ' Anabelle Exquisite Dairy, Cremeux Herb & Garlic was also awarded Big Chill Distribution Champion Fresh Flavour Added Cheese. Anabelle Exquisite Dairy is a boutique producer of French-influenced fresh cheese made with sheep, goat and cow milk. Founder Anabelle David, a French-born Kiwi who moved to Aotearoa in 2007, has a Masters in Food Technology and a passion for fine cheese, which she combines in the creation of high-quality dairy products. Anabelle uses natural fermentation with live bacteria, developing cheeses suitable for various dishes, admired by cheese lovers and top chefs. Another family-owned business to receive multiple accolades was Meyer Cheese from Waikato, which received five trophies. They were: IXOM Champion European-Style Cheese for Meyer Cheese, Maasdam, IFF Champion Farmhouse Cheese with Meyer Cheese, Smoked Gouda, FSQSNZ Champion Aged Flavour Added Cheese for Meyer Cheese, Fenugreek, their assistant cheesemaker Jarvis Whyte was named Innovative Packaging Aspiring Cheesemaker and the company was named Woolworths Sustainability Champion. Woolworths Sustainability Champion is assessed by a panel including Woolworths New Zealand, Sustainable Sourcing Manager, Tami Schiefelbein. This year, the Award recognised a cheese producer embedding environmental stewardship into business practice. Bestowing the Award, the judges' note to Meyer Cheese said; 'The judging panel was impressed by your holistic, Pasture to Plate approach, which demonstrates a commitment to sustainability at every stage of production. Your long-standing legacy of environmental consciousness, dating back to the company's founding, is a testament to your genuine dedication…' Other independent cheesemakers to be named NZ Champions of Cheese Awards Champions 2025 were: Zany Zeus, Italian Style Ricotta, dish Champion Fresh Italian-Style Cheese Belle Chevre Creamery, Marinated Goat Cheese, OJI Fibre Solutions Best-in-Class Goat Milk Cheese Over the Moon Dairy, Creamy Blue, Hill Labs Best-in-Class Buffalo Milk Cheese New Zealand's largest cheesemaker Fonterra also was recognised with the following four trophies: Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kikorangi Triple Cream Blue, ECOLAB Champion Blue Cheese Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Artisan Ash Rind White, Novonesis Champion Soft White Rind Cheese Fonterra Co-Operative Group, NZMP Traditional Cream Cheese, WINTEC Champion Fresh Unripened Cheese Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Pakiri Blackcurrant Cheddar, Dominion Salt Champion Export Cheese The Trophy announcement following 199 medals were bestowed upon the country's finest cheeses after evaluation of over 240 locally produced cheeses. The awards, managed by the New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association, highlighted exceptional quality and innovation in the local cheese industry. Assessment was conducted at Hamilton's WINTEC in early March with Master Judge Jason Tarrant guiding thirty judges, supported by 20 stewards, through an evaluation of 240 NZ-made cheeses. Jason Tarrant said 'this year the superb quality of cheeses had the judges working overtime to separate the best of the best and confirm the Champions. It's great to see such fantastic kiwi produce being created and all trophy winners are deserving of their status among the finest NZ cheese.' Kiwi cheese lovers will find trophy winners and NZ Champions of Cheese Awards medal winners at their local supermarkets and specialty retailers. Many local cheesemakers also sell these award-winning cheeses at their store or café, local farmers market or online. Consumers will recognise award-winning cheese because it will sport NZ Champions of Cheese trophy, gold, silver, and bronze medals – it's a consumer guarantee cheese is made in NZ, and it has been assessed by experts who affirm it is of the highest quality. Buying NZ cheese helps maintain jobs and income for Aotearoa businesses. NZSCA Chair, Simon Lamb thanked the Awards sponsors and all the volunteer judges and stewards whose expertise made the awards possible. Without the voluntary contributions of judges and stewards who donate their time to help find NZ's best cheeses and without whom the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards wouldn't be possible.' Owned and managed by the New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association, the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards are in their 22nd year of recognising Aotearoa's finest cheeses and shining a light on the best examples to guide consumers on purchase decisions with trophies and medals awarded to outstanding NZ Cheese. NZ Champions of Cheese Awards 2025 Champions at the are listed on NZ Champions of Cheese 2025 Trophies Whitestone Cheese Co, Monte Cristo, Woolworths Champion of Champions (Commercial) Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Aged Gouda, FSQSNZ Champion of Champions (Mid-Sized) Anabelle Exquisite Dairy, Cremeux Herb & Garlic, Puhoi Valley Champion of Champions (Boutique) Jonathan Emerson, Whitestone Cheese Co, MilkTestNZ Champion Cheesemaker Whitestone Cheese Co, Monte Cristo, Fonterra Co-operative Group Champion Original Cheese Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Kikorangi Triple Cream Blue, ECOLAB Champion Blue Cheese Whitestone Cheese Co, Pukaki Blue Brie, FOSS Champion New Cheese Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Artisan Ash Rind White, Novonesis Champion Soft White Rind Cheese Puhoi Valley Cheese, Cow's Milk Feta, Cheeselinks Champion Greek-Style or Danish-Style Cheese Zany Zeus, Italian Style Ricotta, dish Champion Fresh Italian-Style Cheese Fonterra Co-Operative Group, NZMP Traditional Cream Cheese, WINTEC Champion Fresh Unripened Cheese Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Aged Gouda, AsureQuality Champion Dutch-Style Cheese Meyer Cheese, Maasdam, IXOM Champion European-Style Cheese Meyer Cheese, Smoked Gouda, IFF Champion Farmhouse Cheese Over the Moon Dairy, Galactic Gold, Thermaflo Champion Washed Rind Cheese Meyer Cheese, Fenugreek, FSQSNZ Champion Aged Flavour Added Cheese Anabelle Exquisite Dairy, Cremeux Herb & Garlic, Big Chill Distribution Champion Fresh Flavour Added Cheese Barrys Bay Traditional Cheese, Canterbury Red, Tetra Pak Champion Retail Cheddar Cheese Open Country, Ched M (Matured Cheddar), Sealed Air Champion Bulk Cheddar Cheese Belle Chevre Creamery, Marinated Goat Cheese, OJI Fibre Solutions Best-in-Class Goats Milk Cheese Whitestone Cheese Co, Monte Cristo, Maui Sheep Milk Best-in-Class Sheep Milk Cheese Over the Moon Dairy, Creamy Blue, Hill Labs Best-in-Class Buffalo Milk Cheese Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Kāpiti Pakiri Blackcurrant Cheddar, Dominion Salt Champion Export Cheese NZ Champions of Cheese 2025 Special Awards are:
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
National Pi Day is Friday! How to get deals, discounts on pizza, pies in Texas on March 14
It's National Pi Day, so treat yourself to some pie — pizza, dessert or both, whatever your heart desires! That first "Pi" isn't a typo and differs from the tasty "pie" we eat, though we could easily draw some geometric similarities between the two. So before we dive in, we should probably clarify... March 14 (think 3.14) is commonly referred to as Pi Day, a day that aims to celebrate the ratio of the circumference of a circle. The number is known as 3.14 or π and can actually go on forever. The most accurate value for Pi, according to Guinness World Records, is more than 62 trillion digits (62,831,853,071,796 to be precise), calculated in August 2021 by the University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland. While the day is popular in math circles, it is also a day for those looking to score great deals on actual pie, pizza pie and other circular treats. Several chains are offering discounts or freebies to celebrate the unofficial holiday. Here's how you can score a deal in Texas on March 14. Blaze Pizza is offering customers a buy one 11-inch pizza, get a second pizza of equal or lesser value for $3.14 on March 14. Additionally, each customer taking advantage of the deal on Pi Day will receive a code, redeemable in the Blaze Pizza app, that unlocks another buy one, get one for $3.14 any time through the end of March. This offer also includes delivery orders made through the company's app. The company said this is its 12th straight year celebrating the day and the offer will be available at all of its nearly 300 locations across North America, which includes 21 in Texas. Click here to find a Blaze Pizza near you. Customers at Marco's Pizza can get a medium 1-topping pizza for $3.14 with the purchase of any large or extra-large menu-priced pizza, with code "PIDAY." The offer is available for online and app orders only, according to the company. With nearly 200 locations, Texas claims the highest number of Marco's Pizzas among states. Click here to find a Marco's Pizza near you. Cici's Pizza customers who buy one medium or large 1-topping pizza with Cici's original round crust can purchase a second pizza of the same size for $3.14. The offer can be redeemed in-store or online with the code "PIDAY." "At Cici's, we jump at every chance to deliver more of what our guests love at an unbeatable value," said Jeff Hetsel, President of Cici's Pizza, in a news release. "Pi Day is the perfect opportunity to have some fun while staying true to our mission — offering delicious pizza at a price that's worth celebrating." With over 100 stores, Texas claims one third of all Cici's Pizza locations in the U.S. Click here to find a Cici's Pizza near you. For two days only, on March 13 and 14, CPK Rewards members can get an Original BBQ Chicken, Pepperoni, or Traditional Cheese pizza for $3.14 with any purchase of $25 or more. Non-members can enroll in CPK Rewards on or on the CPK app anytime through March 14 to get the deal, which is available for dine-in, takeout or delivery. "Pi Day has become a mathematically proven pizza holiday, and we're thrilled to deliver an amazing value to help guests celebrate," said Chef Paul Pszybylski, Executive Chef and Vice President of Culinary Innovation at California Pizza Kitchen, in a news release. "Your favorite CPK pizza at an unbeatable price is the best value equation I can think of." Texas has two California Pizza Kitchen locations, one in Houston and the other in Plano. Papa Murphy's is offering customers 31.4% off your online order, no minimum purchase required, using code "PIDAY25." The discount is applicable to regular priced menu items only. Click here to find a Papa Murphy's location near you. Customers who join Papa Johns' rewards program by Friday can buy one large or extra-large pizza and receive another of equal or lesser value for $3.14 on March 14. Click here to find a Papa Johns near you. Pizza Hut will offer its "pizza charcuterie" meal, which includes two medium pizzas, eight boneless wings and breadsticks for $25, on March 14. Click here to find a Pizza Hut near you. Round Table Pizza is offering Royal Rewards Members a Personal Pizza with a choice of one topping for $3.14 with the purchase of any Large or XL pizza at participating locations on March 14. The deal is valid for Royal Rewards Members who have signed up for the rewards program prior to March 14. Click here to find a Round Table Pizza near you. Mountain Mike's Pizza is offering Mountain rewards members a free mini pizza with the purchase of a 20 oz. bottled beverage on March 14. Click here to find a Mountain Mike's Pizza near you. 7-Eleven and Speedway convenience stores will offer whole pizzas for $3.14 on Pi Day. Toppings include plain cheese, pepperoni and supreme (pepperoni, sausage, bell pepper, onion and mushroom). Click here too find a 7-Eleven near you. Grimaldi's Pizzeria is offering their giant slices for $3.14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, March 14. Click here to find a Grimaldi's Pizzeria near you. When dine-in customers purchase one regular, full-size Pizookie at BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse on March 14, they can get a second one for $3.14. Click here to find a BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse near you. The Brass Tap is offering customers $12 pizzas, available at participating locations only. Click here to find a location near you. Schlotzky's is offering Rewards Members a pizza or flatbread for $3.14 on March 14. The offer is valid online or in-store at participating locations. Click here to find a Schlotzky's near you. Customers at Crust Pizza Co. can buy a large pizza and get a large 1-topping pizza for $3.14 on March 14. Click here to find a Crust Pizza Co. near you. Members of the Royal Perks reward program who spend $3.14 or more at Burger King can get a free Hershey's chocolate pie, available on March 14 while supplies last. Click here to find a Burger King near you. Famous Dave's is offering a free slice of Bakers Square pie with a $10 minimum purchase on March 14. Click here to find a Famous Dave's near you. Village Inn is offering a free slice of pie with the purchase of an entrée and beverage on March 14, available for dine-in customers at participating locations. El Paso has six Village Inn locations. — USA TODAY contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Pi Day specials: Deals, freebies on pizza, pies in Texas on Friday
Associated Press
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
California Pizza Kitchen Celebrates Pi Day with $3.14 Pizzas for Two Days Only
COSTA MESA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 10, 2025-- California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) is celebrating Pi Day in true culinary style with an unbeatable offer! For two days only, this Thursday and Friday - March 13 and 14 - guests can enjoy The Original BBQ Chicken, Pepperoni, or Traditional Cheese pizza for just $3.14 with any purchase of $25 or more. It's the perfect way to commemorate the famous mathematical constant with a mouthwatering slice of pizza. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: (Graphic: Business Wire) 'Pi Day has become a mathematically proven pizza holiday, and we're thrilled to deliver an amazing value to help guests celebrate,' said Chef Paul Pszybylski, Executive Chef and Vice President of Culinary Innovation at California Pizza Kitchen. 'Your favorite CPK pizza at an unbeatable price is the best value equation I can think of.' This exclusive Pi Day offer is available for two days, but only to CPK Rewards members. Not yet a Rewards member? Guests can enroll on or the CPK app anytime through March 14 to get this special two-day deal. Whether dining in, grabbing takeout, or getting delivery straight to your door, there's no wrong way to celebrate Pi Day with CPK. Available at all locations nationwide, excluding Hawaii. For more details, visit and follow @ cpk on Instagram, @ calpizzakitchen on X or @ calpizzakitchen on TikTok. About California Pizza Kitchen In 1985, California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) opened its first restaurant in Beverly Hills and introduced diners to gourmet California inspired pizza. With a passion for combining fresh, seasonal ingredients with flavor inspirations from around the world, today CPK is a global brand serving creative California cuisine in restaurants across 27 states, as well as nine countries and U.S. territories. From its innovative, hearth-baked pizzas such as The Original BBQ Chicken, Thai Chicken, and California Club, to inventive salads, and unique pasta dishes that combine the old world with the new, CPK does everything with an imaginative California-inspired twist that guests love. SOURCE: California Pizza Kitchen Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 03/10/2025 08:45 AM/DISC: 03/10/2025 08:47 AM
