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Every year the NZ Ice Cream & Gelato Awards shine a light on the best frozen treats in the country. While it’s easy to get caught up in the fun of flavours like Licorice, Strawberry Yoghurt or Spiced Biscoff, there’s a bigger story behind the trophies.
These awards are more than a celebration of taste. For us logistics enthusiasts, they show the precision, consistency and innovation required to succeed in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry. From sourcing ingredients to managing the cold chain, it’s the processes behind the product that make it a winner.
But First, Highlights: NZ Ice Cream & Gelato Awards 2025 Winners
A record 68 gold medals and 18 trophies were awarded this year. Standouts included:
Takapuna Beach Café’s Licorice Gelato – Supreme Boutique Champion
Much Moore’s Wonders Strawberry Low Fat Yoghurt Ice Cream – Supreme Champion
Island Gelato Co’s Spiced Biscuit and Cucumber & Yuzu Gelato – winning in both Best of Biscuit and New to Market categories
Kohu Road’s Dark Chocolate Ice Cream and Sorbet – taking both chocolate trophies
Judges praised the winners for texture, balance, and above all, consistency.
What FMCG Businesses Can Learn
Behind every scoop is a process: ingredient sourcing, production control, cold storage, and careful transport. Any weak link can undo months of work.
It also happens that ice cream is one of the toughest FMCG products to move. If the temperature slips, or delivery runs late, the product loses quality fast. Timing, handling, and accuracy have to be right every single time.
Here are some tips for success:
Protect the Product
Cold chain or not, quality has to hold up in transit. Invest in monitoring and checks that make sure goods arrive in the same condition they left the warehouse.
Match Supply with Demand
FMCG runs on speed. Use forecasting tools and real-time data to keep shelves stocked without overloading storage.
Keep Orders Traceable
Customers expect updates. Retailers expect accuracy. A clear chain of custody — from warehouse to final drop — prevents disputes and builds trust. Leverage end-to-end tracking and electronic proof of delivery (EPOD) to ensure every handoff is recorded.
Increase Visibility
Blind spots slow everything down. Use systems that let you see stock levels, delivery progress, and driver performance in real time.
Plan for Exceptions
Even with a thought-out plan, things can go wrong: Delays, traffic, breakdowns. Build workflows that flag issues early and trigger the right response.
Takeaway for FMCG Leaders
The NZ Ice Cream & Gelato Awards 2025 show off New Zealand’s talent and skill. But they also remind us excellence is more than flavour, it’s the systems and processes behind the scenes that make it happen.
With Transvirtual FMCG companies can achieve that same precision in logistics — turn good products into great customer experiences.
