Skip to content
NZBC BEVERAGE AWARDS 2026

Voting is open to NZBC members only. Each member company or organisation is entitled to one vote.
If multiple votes are submitted by the same member, only the first vote received will be counted.

After considering the information supplied by each finalist, please select your winner in each of the following three categories:
Best Beverage Innovation, Beverage Brand of the Year - Emerging, and Beverage Brand of the Year - Established.
1.Respondent Name(Required.)
2.Member Company Name(Required.)
Best Beverage Innovation

The Best Beverage Innovation Award recognises an outstanding new beverage product, that demonstrates clear innovation, launched between January 2025 and June 2026.

When voting, please consider the strength and originality of the innovation, its relevance to consumers or the market and its fit within the non-alcoholic beverage sector.

After reviewing the information provided for all finalists, please select the product you believe is most deserving of the award.
NODE MANGO by HJ Distribution

NODE Mango is a clean-label electrolyte drink designed to expand when and where electrolyte drinks belong. Made in New Zealand with real fruit juice, electrolytes and filtered water, NODE contains no added sugar, artificial sweeteners or artificial flavours.

Its formula is central to the innovation. To meet FSANZ compositional requirements for an electrolyte drink, NODE uses real fruit juice as a source of carbohydrate rather than relying on refined sugar, creating a cleaner ingredient profile and more refined natural flavour.

That thinking extends beyond the formula. NODE is positioned for everyday hydration, not just sport, making it relevant at work, while travelling, after exercise, at events or throughout the day. Its distinctive 330mL sleek can further shifts the product away from the traditional sports-drink format and into a range of occasions.

By combining functional compliance, real ingredients, contemporary positioning and considered packaging, NODE presents a new expression of the hydration category.
Symbiota Daily FOCUS - Berry Blush

Daily FOCUS is an innovative functional wellness drink sachet that combines cognitive performance, mental clarity and gut health into one simple daily ritual.

Each sachet combines daily doses of creatine, L-theanine, nootropics and probiotics—ingredients consumers often purchase separately across sports nutrition, cognitive support and gut health categories.

Its distinctive innovation is the choice of beverage experience. FOCUS can be mixed with water and enjoyed immediately as a still functional drink, or bottled for 12–48 hours to develop natural carbonation. This gives consumers a fermentation-inspired, self-carbonating beverage experience from a convenient, shelf-stable powdered sachet.

FOCUS reduces the complexity of a supplement routine by replacing scoops, tubs and multiple products with one portable, fruit-forward daily drink. It brings functional beverages, supplementation and fermentation together in a format designed for everyday life.

12 Ingredients. 1 Sachet. 1 Routine.

Real fruit. Natural flavours. No artificial colours or sweeteners.
TE-LED*Z Blue by TE-LEDOZ

TE-LED*Z True Blue is a truly cutting-edge electrolyte drink replacing synthetic dyes with natural blue spirulina — the only ingredient capable of producing a vivid, bright blue colour naturally. Available in delicious natural strawberry and pineapple flavours, it is clean label, low in sugar, preservative-free, and ambient-stable with a 12-month shelf life, requiring no refrigeration and suitable for all ages.

Its unique apple-based formula delivers precision-crafted electrolyte ratios for superior cellular absorption. What makes True Blue truly distinctive is its 'SHAKE IT UP!' ritual: spirulina settles over time, and shaking activates the signature vivid blue — the most visible, honest proof of naturalness any beverage can offer. TE-LED*Z is actively educating New Zealanders that settling is not a flaw — it is the feature. Ranged nationally at Z Energy just four months after launch, featured in Supermarket News, endorsed by elite athletes, and gaining international traction, True Blue is setting a bold new standard for New Zealand's non-alcoholic beverage sector.
Terps & Co Monday Mule by Terps & Co

The Monday Mule is a modern, non-alcoholic take on the classic Moscow Mule, created by Terps & Co to bring the ritual, flavour and sophistication of a great cocktail without the alcohol. Made in New Zealand, it combines bold ginger, zesty citrus and aromatic botanical terpenes for a distinctive, layered drinking experience.

The innovation starts with the ginger beer itself. We make our own zero-sugar ginger beer specifically for Monday Mule, giving us control over flavour, balance and finish while keeping it to just 6 calories per can. It’s also suitable for a wide range of dietary preferences.

Terpenes, naturally occurring aromatic compounds found in plants, fruits and herbs, add another dimension to the experience terpene-rich aromas can influence mood and emotional state, adding an intriguing sensory layer to the drinking experience.

And while much of the wellness category leans heavily into minimalist branding, we decided wellness could be more fun. Our bold, playful packaging brings personality, colour and a sense of occasion back to the category.
Wildly Delicious Water Kefir Mango Passionfruit & Lime by A Wildly Delicious Life

What sets Wildly Water Kefir apart from other non-alcoholic beverage options is the way it combines traditional fermentation, live cultures, subtle flavour and natural refreshment.

Wildly Water Kefir is a living drink, naturally fermented with live cultures rather than simply being a flavoured alternative to alcohol. The fermentation creates its own delicate complexity and natural sparkle, while passionfruit and mango bring subtle tropical notes without overpowering sweetness. With very low sugar, it’s a refreshing and healthy alternative to many conventional soft drinks.

At the heart of Wildly is a commitment to real ingredients, natural processes and no unnecessary shortcuts. We avoid artificial sweeteners and unnecessary additives, allowing fermentation and real ingredients to create the character of the drink.

The result is a light, crisp and naturally sparkling drink that is alive with live cultures, offering something genuinely different for people wanting a sophisticated, flavourful and naturally fermented non-alcoholic choice.
3.Based on the information provided, which finalist do you believe should win the Best Beverage Innovation Award?