New Zealand's Kāpiti Kikorangi Triple Cream Blue was crowned Supreme Champion Cheese at the 2026 International Cheese and Dairy Awards (ICDA) in the United Kingdom.
The cheese is made at Lactalis New Zealand's Eltham Bridge Street site in Taranaki.
Lactalis New Zealand CEO Pascal Francisque said:
"This achievement reflects the world-class talent and expertise within our New Zealand team.
“From our skilled cheesemakers through to those supporting production, logistics and quality, it takes exceptional people working together to deliver these outstanding results. It’s wonderful to see the Kāpiti brand recognised on the global stage.” Pascal Francisque - CEO Lactalis New Zealand
The Supreme Champion title is one of the highest honours awarded at the competition and reflects the quality and craftsmanship behind the cheese. Kāpiti Kikorangi Triple Cream Blue, made at the Bridge Street site in Eltham, was judged against more than 4,500 entries from over 20 countries.
Alongside the Supreme Champion trophy, the Lactalis New Zealand team also received:
- Champion Overseas Cheese - Kāpiti Kikorangi Triple Cream Blue
- Best New Zealand Cheese - Kāpiti Kikorangi Triple Cream Blue
- Best Vegetarian Cheese - Kāpiti Kahurangi Creamy Blue
“This achievement reflects the world-class talent and expertise within our New Zealand team.“
- Pascal Francisque, CEO Lactalis New Zealand
Cathy Lang, Master Cheesemaker at Eltham Bridge Street, said that producing award-winning cheese at this level is a team effort.
“This one means a lot. We’ve come close before, so to finally take out Supreme Champion with Kāpiti Kikorangi Triple Cream Blue is incredibly special for everyone involved.”
“It takes a huge amount of care behind the scenes to get to this point. From the cheesemakers through to the people who help get it shipped safely across the world, this result belongs to the whole team.”
The result highlights the skill of the Lactalis New Zealand team at Eltham Bridge Street in Taranaki, and the craftsmanship that underpins New Zealand cheesemaking.