who we are

Beef + Lamb New Zealand is a not for profit organisation responsible for the domestic marketing of beef and lamb in New Zealand. We are funded by levies from farmers, meat processors and retailers. 

WHERE WE’VE BEEN

The Beef and Lamb New Zealand foodservice portfolio has been around for a long time.  Back in the 1980’s they ran the Lamb Cuisine Awards which helped put New Zealand lamb on restaurant menus around the country. In 1997 the Awards became the Hallmark of Excellence Awards which was developed by a group of chefs to include both beef and lamb dishes and to establish what was to go on to be New Zealand’s longest-running culinary award. The Beef and Lamb Excellence Awards ran for 23 years and during that time awarded the prestigious gold plate to over 3000 restaurants around the country. 

The Ambassador Chef Programme was an off-shoot of the Excellence Awards and over the last 23 years has seen some of our best-loved chefs join the beef and lamb family as Ambassador Chefs. Some of these chefs went on to become Platinum which is a lifetime status granted to chefs for their longevity as ambassadors for Beef and Lamb New Zealand.

  WHERE WE ARE GOING

As with anything in life, change is inevitable and although the popularity of the Beef and Lamb Excellence Awards never wained, the changing face of marketing and the issues facing the red meat industry in New Zealand and around the world meant that in 2019 Beef + Lamb New Zealand had to make some tough decisions including not continuing with the Beef and Lamb Excellence Awards.

Moving forward it is our intention for the foodservice portfolio to be a hub within the New Zealand food industry for chefs to get inspired to cook with New Zealand beef and lamb. We see it as a forum for conversations to begin, introductions to be made and ideas to be shared about any industry-related issues. We see it as an opportunity to build relationships with chefs around the country who are creating and cooking amazing beef and lamb dishes for their customers.