October 19 2023  |  Catering

Air New Zealand issues call for taste testers

By Alex Preston


Air New Zealand is nearing the end of its Great Kiwi Snack Off, with taste testers needed to decide the final intake of snacks

Air New Zealand has issued a call for five foodies to test and help the airline make its final decision on what snacks will be served onboard as part of the airline's Great Kiwi Snack Off.

Earlier this year, the carrier announced a nationwide search for the most flavourful Kiwi snacks to introduce onboard. Air New Zealand Chief Customer and Sales Officer Leanne Geraghty said more than 400 suppliers expressed their interest, putting forward everything from nuts to nachos.

"We've had some incredible suppliers reach out with snacks of all shapes and flavours and they've got some great stories to tell. Whether they're on a mission to highlight the best of locally sourced produce, or want to help a deserving charity, the calibre of suppliers has been exceptional. We've managed to whittle the list down to 30 suppliers still in the running, but we need a hand to make the final call.

"What's become really clear through this process is Kiwis are passionate about snacks, so why not give a few of the country's most enthusiastic foodies a chance to be snacksperts and have their say on what we serve onboard," she added in a recent statement.

Air New Zealand's panel of snackers has already narrowed down the list to ensure suppliers meet key requirements, for example, options that can be served without heating and are easy and light to transport. Every snack needs to be easy to eat. Some aircraft only have a short window of 15-20 minutes to turn around for their next flight, so snacks that won't make a huge mess and create lots of work for cleaners are important.

Snacks on Air New Zealand’s domestic flights need to be easy to transport and fit into a selection of containers. Every morning and afternoon 1,200 snacks are loaded onto an aircraft, so the snacks need to be small enough to fit in these containers.

The carrier also likes to ensure there are gluten free options available and looks where possible to source other options such as vegan and dairy free options.

"We've got dozens of snacks that highlight a variety of classic Kiwi flavours including tangy feijoas and kiwifruit for our snacksperts to try. From cookies and bliss balls to crunchy bacon chips to churros, it won't be an easy task for them to narrow the snacks down."

There's no age limit for those who want to put their name forward for this meaty challenge, with kids and adults alike eligible to enter to become snacksperts. They'll be given the chance to taste test the snacks in Auckland and give their verdict before the final selection is announced in the coming weeks.

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