LOT EIGHT Awarded MindFood Emerging Exporter at the 2015 Artisan Producer Awards

LOT EIGHT confirmed its standing as a leading artisan producer at the MiNDFOOD Artisan Producer Awards 2015 in Wellington earlier this month when they were announced as the winner of the Emerging Exporter Award and a finalist for the Artisan Producer Award.

MiNDFOOD editor-in-chief, Michael McHugh summed up the judging panel’s observations by saying that they were impressed with Lot Eight’s business objectives which included focusing on retaining quality and bringing that quality to local and offshore customers instead of looking for rapid expansion. Their commitment is reflected in decisions to turn away from opportunities for rapid expansion to take a long term approach to export that builds on relationships and high personal levels of service extending to the careful selection of distributors in overseas markets.

LOT EIGHT also led with R&D based objectives adding value to their core product, extra virgin olive oil. This is particularly evident in their cold pressed fragrant oils. The first of these was LOT EIGHT Citrus Olive Oil launched 5 years ago sourcing quality New Zealand citrus to press with their olives. Oil Maker, Nalini Baruch explains that when working with chefs and with home cooks seeking the taste of real ingredients, the only option was cold pressed oils. Our latest R&D initiative has allowed LOT EIGHT to add a new product which we see as the way forward for our business and increasing our uniqueness in local and international markets.
Lot Eight have worked closely with New Zealand Trade & Enterprise over the last 3 years to develop a US market. Today LOT EIGHT is available across the US by direct order or through their LA based agent and used by chefs in New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles and San Francisco and further international expansion will occur later this year.

Highlight: the judging panel was impressed with Lot Eight’s business objectives of focusing on retaining quality instead of looking for rapid expansion.
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