Looking back over the past weeks and to the weeks ahead – to rate the noteworthy, the cringeworthy, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the truly amazing.
Kiwi icons discontinued
I noted the passing of two Kiwi food and beverage items with a note of nostalgia this week. One is a beer brand from my hometown and the other is a much loved sweet treat that I never imagined would be discontinued.
Lion Breweries announced recently that they will no longer be brewing Canterbury Draught and it’s the end of an impressive run that stretches back to 1854. As a lad growing up in Christchurch in those days before the craft beer revolution there weren’t many options when it came to beer and Canterbury Draught was always a popular choice. The changing tastes of New Zealand beer drinkers has resulted in a once loved favourite receding into the distance.
“A Lion Breweries spokesperson said it had stopped making bottles and cans of the beer about 10 years ago, but continued brewing for kegs as long as it could. ‘It’s always very sad to let go of an iconic brand; however, with consumer choice increasing and tastes changing, it gradually declined in popularity and so was not commercially sustainable anymore.'” (Source: “Last orders: Canterbury Draught discontinued,” by Brianna McIlraith, 27th June, www.stuff.co.nz).
In news that affects more in the country, the chocolate fish is no more. I should clarify that to be fair – the chocolate fish as produced by Cadbury is no more. There are a few confectionery companies that are still making them. So what drove Cadbury to drop what I would have thought was still a firm favourite? Well, apparently, it is a lack of demand.
“‘Either fewer good deeds are being done or people just haven’t been following through with their promise of the reward,’ the spokesperson said. ‘It became harder to secure shelf-space alongside other bars and snacking innovations in stores and harder for them to find their place on the production runs.’” (Source: “Cadbury stops making chocolate fish as demand dwindles,” by Esther Taunton, 27th June, www.stuff.co.nz).
My childhood self is rather appalled by this. I hope hokey pokey ice cream is safe!
3 stars – I guess things can’t always stay the same as our tastes change.
NZ cheeses win big at international competition
I know that some European countries consume more cheese per capita and have storied histories of cheesemaking going back many hundreds of years but Kiwis sure love cheese and we make some wonderful cheeses.
At the International Cheese and Dairy Awards held in the UK recently, New Zealand cheesemakers won two trophies and 27 medals – which is a very impressive haul.
“Cheese expert and awards ambassador Franco Cesa told Afternoons New Zealand was developing its own identity in cheese-making. ‘For a long period of time we were a cheddar making country but over time cheesemakers have realised … consumers have become more adventurous in wanting to try different style of cheeses.'” (Source: “Kiwi cheesemakers win big at 128-year-old International Cheese and Dairy Awards,” 1st July, www.rnz.co.nz).
It seems as if every time the economy takes a hit the one thing Kiwi consumers struggle with is the rising price of our own home produced fare. Now I find myself being choosier and buying smaller amounts. That means choosing many different varieties and brands. It’s a worthwhile exercise, if you’re cheese addicted, as I am.
5 stars – great to see New Zealand food producers making their mark overseas!
Japanese gardener superchargers the four leaf clover
Apparently the four leaf clover is meant to bring luck and a gardener in Japan has spun that out to create a 63 leaf clover that has garnered the Guiness World Record and beaten the previous winner by seven leaves. Where will it end?
Using cross pollination, Yoshiharu Watanabe “said he started off with a clover patch in his garden. When he went out and about and saw a clover with four or more leaves, he would bring it home and add it to his garden. A few years ago, he successfully grew a 20-leaf clover and then became inspired to try and break the record. He let some of the clovers pollinate naturally in the open air but also pollinated some by hand.” (Source: “Gardener has luckiest day ever with 63-leaf clover,” 24th June, www.bbc.co.uk).
5 stars – can’t fail the ingenuity and the industry but how many clovers do you really need?
