Looking to innovate and scale? We're here to help.

Our services

Flexible offerings designed to be responsive and bespoke to industry need to overcome technical or business challenges. As a commercially-focused partner, we help you bring new products and innovation to market faster. 

Does your idea need infrastructure?
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Facility services

We de-risk product commercialisation through purpose-built innovation centres, robust compliance programmes, and the largest collection of pilot scale food processing equipment in the Southern Hemisphere, our facilities give you the access to develop and manufacture market-ready products or conduct processing trials. 

Product and processing trials with expert support for transitioning your product from bench-top scale or produce samples for analytical, sensory, and shelf-life testing.

While not your standard contract manufacturer, we are the ideal solution to enable you to flexibly produce market-ready products at export-grade facilities with no MOQs, no long-term contract requirements, and bookings from a short as 1 day. With support from processing and compliance experts on-site, we work with your team to build capability while you validate your market, grow you demand, and work towards larger scale manufacturing. In some cases our team can manufacture product on your behalf. 

Get access to our equipment at your manufacturing facility with short or long-term rentals to increase your efficiency or expand your product lines.

Professional services

With a team of food experts, with diverse backgrounds and years of industry experience, we can find the right support to develop your product and process for different stages of the innovation journey.

Designing and developing new products, line extensions, compositional analysis, or reformulation work with unique access to top end analytical equipment.

Equipment trials and pilot testing delivered by our team on your behalf with expertise in HPP, UHT, retort validation, extrusion, and extractions.

Regulatory guidance and HACCP plan development.

Contract-manufacturer integration or process design and optimisation at your facility.

People looking at plans on a table
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You build the dream. We bring the team.
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Developing the next generation of food 
innovators and technical experts.

Education & training

NZFIN is a leader in applied training programs for industry, building technical capability in science, engineering, compliance, and product design as well as business capability to launch, commercialise, and grow brands. We work in partnership with experts from industry and government to deliver training relevant to your needs to build your capability and confidence.

Upskilling and certification in specific technologies and process operations such as UHT, retort, drying, and bioprocessing.

Food science, new product development (NPD), and compliance training to create and refine and safely produce commercially ready products.

Getting you prepared for working with contract manufacturers and retailers to support scaling and pathways to market.

Helping you to understand and navigate the complex world of entering overseas markets effectively.

Our products

Packaged offerings designed to give innovators targeted and comprehensive support across specific stages of the journey.

Our people

The expertise and experience to solve your innovation challenges and help you get the outcomes you need.

National
FoodBowl
Global food industry leader creating value in premium food products across Asia, Latin America and Australasia. Sarah has held executive roles across foodservice, FMCG and ingredients, including Miraka, Pāmu and Fonterra. She now shapes and advances NZFIN’s strategy, delivering meaningful outcomes through innovation and partnerships.
Sarah Kember
Chief Executive Officer
National
FoodSouth
Experienced executive and NZFIN leader since inception. John established FoodSouth and FoodOtago, delivering 600+ projects for 250+ clients. He now leads strategic partnerships to maximise NZFIN’s impact – connecting industry, capability and stakeholders to accelerate innovation and commercial outcomes for NZ businesses.
John Morgan
Strategic Partnerships & Impact Lead
FoodPilot
Massey University
Business
Nikki’s career spans 25 years in food manufacturing across the UK, Europe, and Asia, working across private label, branded products, quick service, foodservice, and research. As GM, she leads FoodPilot with energy and intent, championing students, researchers, and clients to turn ideas into commercially successful outcomes for NZ.
Nikki Middleditch
General Manager, FoodPilot
National
FoodBowl
Business
Leads NZFIN’s national commercial team to grow services, revenue and industry impact. Trained in food science and culinary arts, Marshall brings NPD experience from Canadian innovation centres plus consulting capability in systems innovation and organisational strategy. He positions NZFIN’s value and connects clients to solutions.
Marshall Bell
Head of Business Activation
National
FoodBowl
Business
Food technologist specialising in product development and commercial support for innovative ideas. Gabi helps clients navigate technical challenges, streamline development pathways and connect with NZFIN expertise to build market-ready products through her action-oriented approach to problem-solving.
Gabrielle Lobo
Business Development Manager
National
FoodSouth
Business
Commercially focused F&B leader with 25+ years’ international experience in food technology, innovation and commercialisation. Jarrod has led award-winning teams and delivered successful launches across categories and global markets. At NZFIN, he connects partners and helps businesses turn ideas into real-world outcomes.
Jarrod Robinson
Business Development Manager
National
Business
Helps businesses connect quickly to the right NZFIN expertise, resources and partners nationwide. Nicky brings extensive innovation experience across organisations of all sizes, supported by broad industry connections. With a PhD in Food Science and a long history at NZFIN, she excels at providing guidance and friendly coaching.
Nicky Solomon
NZFIN Navigator
FoodOtago
Delivery
For 30+ years, Pat has helped start-ups to multinationals achieve technical and commercial outcomes across a range of categories. He integrates food chemistry, flavour and sensory expertise with strong experimental design, data, analytical capability and IP strategy experience to new product and process development.
Pat Silcock
Operations Manager & Senior Food Technologist, FoodOtago
National
FoodSouth
Compliance
Food compliance specialist with qualifications in Food and Nutrition and deep expertise in NZ regulations, HACCP and packaging requirements. Jane supports clients to implement practical food safety, quality and H&S systems that reduce risk and accelerate development. She’s known for clear guidance and fit-for-purpose solutions.
Jane Petrie
National Compliance Manager
FoodBowl
Delivery
Operations leader with experience from process engineering through to plant operations since 2015. Jacob leads the Auckland operations team and supports safe, efficient delivery of client projects. With background in supplements and poultry, he brings practical capability in continuous improvement, process development and execution.
Jacob Lee
Operations Manager, FoodBowl
National
FoodBowl
Leads NZFIN’s financial strategy, governance, reporting, budgeting and risk management across the national network. Jonah brings 10+ years’ senior finance experience including a Fortune Global 500. He delivers strong financial control and practical analysis that supports operational delivery and long-term strategy.
Jonah Wang
Chief Financial Officer
FoodPilot
Massey University
Delivery
Branagh brings extensive experience developing products for both New Zealand and international businesses. At FoodPilot, he leads complex projects with an inquisitive, innovative approach. His expertise spans boutique confectionery through to spray-drying novel formulations, combining technical depth with creative problem-solving.
Branagh Ward
Senior Food Technologist
FoodBowl
Delivery
Food engineer with strong maintenance and reliability capability, and equipment-focused improvement. Mariana supports FoodBowl projects across freeze-drying, HPP, UHT, separation, hot fill, bottling and fermentation. She develops HACCP plans and procedures to ensure safe, repeatable operations with her clients.
Mariana Menconi
Process Engineer
FoodBowl
Delivery
Process engineer with 24+ years across food manufacturing, spanning operations, logistics, supply chain, and continuous improvement. Mark translates hands-on plant experience into practical solutions – supporting product and process development, reducing risk and delivering manufacturable outcomes through disciplined systems.
Mark Robb
Process Engineer
FoodPilot
Massey University
Compliance
A compliance specialist with 30 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical sector, Andrea offers deep expertise in navigating regulatory frameworks. She supports undergraduate students to senior researchers and commercial clients, guiding them through compliance needs with curiosity, clarity, and a practical, solutions-focused approach.
Andrea Holman
Compliance Manager
FoodSouth
Delivery
Operations leader with 30+ years in food and beverage as a technologist, process engineer and plant manager. Grant brings deep pilot plant and manufacturing know-how, plus 16 years running a contract manufacturing business. He helps SMEs build robust processes, de-risk scale-up and deliver consistently.
Grant Titheridge
Operations Manager, FoodSouth
National
FoodBowl
Business
Food technologist with 25+ years across NZ and international F&B. Braden has held senior commercial, innovation and technical roles across ingredients, FMCG, and packaging across start-ups to multinationals. He runs NZFIN's Catalyst Programme to support founders with a disciplined approach to innovation and strategy to unlock value.
Braden Loveridge
Catalyst Manager
FoodBowl
Delivery
Food technologist specialising in bioprocessing and research-level projects. Wess brings deep expertise in thermal processing, centrifugal separation, extraction and technical problem-solving. He supports clients to design robust trials, interpret results and progress complex processes toward scalable, repeatable production outcomes.
Wesley Magg
Lead Process Engineer
FoodSouth
Business
Food scientist specialising in plant-based formulation, process engineering and protein extraction. Alex has delivered patented innovation and grant-backed R&D, developing meat and milk analogues for NZ and global markets. He partners with clients from development to production to optimise scale-up, quality and performance.
Alex Nicolle
Client Solutions Manager
FoodPilot
Massey University
Delivery
Rob has spent his career building, repairing, and modifying equipment across the food sector. He brings a practical, level-headed approach to engineering solutions, supporting both student projects and complex commercial production with ingenuity, reliability, and hands-on expertise.
Rob Gaw
Workshop Engineer
FoodOtago
Business
PhD-qualified food scientist specialising in flavour development and analytical chemistry. Tobias supports product developmentcacross beverages, bakery, sports nutrition and alternative proteins. He combines strong food chemistry with practical expertise to refine flavour, validate performance and accelerate market readiness.
Tobias Richter
Client Solutions Manager
FoodOtago
Delivery
Food scientist specialising in formulation and flavour development, with 15+ years leading university development laboratories. Sarah brings strong capability in lab operations, safety and technical precision, supporting organised, high-quality product development from concept through testing.
Sarah Johnson
Food Technologist
FoodPilot
Massey University
Delivery
With 20 years’ experience supporting both student and commercial projects, Nok specialises in process development, delivering precision and careful attention to detail to every stage. She also has experience in food safety compliance, enabling her to guide clients through regulatory requirements with practical insight.
Nok Sawatdeenaruenat
Food Technologist
FoodBowl
Delivery
Food technologist focused on process engineering, with specialist experience in brewing and distillation. Beau supports clients with practical process development, trial execution and scale-up thinking – combining engineering rigour with hands-on plant capability to improve consistency and efficiency.
Beau Welch
Process Engineer
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NZFINJumpstart

Essential foundations for entering the F&B development & manufacturing industry

Jumpstart is a self-directed online training course, delivered in partnership with BFGs. It gives you the core knowledge to navigate food and beverage product development in New Zealand and bring products to market. Designed for those without a technical background, it uses a food technology lens to quickly build foundational F&B industry knowledge.

Topics include:

  • Product development and concept validation
  • Packaging, food safety, shelf life, sensory, labelling and compliance
  • Scale up, commercialisation, sales, and distribution considerations
  • Costing and margins (including costing and margin templates)

Jumpstart is for you if you:

  • Are a startup preparing to launch your first F&B product
  • Want practical guidance on development and commercialisation
  • Want the foundations to make informed decisions and work effectively with your team, industry partners, manufacturers, and customers
Brought to you in partnership with BFGs (Product Development and Food Technology service providers)
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The Rise F&B Accelerator

Expert coaching and support to accelerate your FMCG journey.

Feeling stuck on what will take your brand to the next level? This 12-week programme, is for busy founders who want to grow profitably and feel in control of what comes next. You’ll create a 12-month growth plan, backed by expert coaching, a proven framework, and a community that gets it.

Topics Include:

  • Defining Success – clarify where you’re heading
  • Market & Business Analysis – uncover critical insights
  • Growth Roadmap – focus your time, budget, and marketing 
  • Execution with Impact – turn your plan into action 

Rise Growth Lab is for you if you:

  • Are in market and at a crossroads for your next steps
  • Want to refine your FMCG strategy, messaging, and activation
  • Want a growth roadmap for near- and long-term resource allocation
  • Want connections to industry experts and like-minded founders
Delivery partner: Rise Growth Lab
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NZFINCatalyst

Wraparound support for the innovation journey.

Catalyst is NZFIN’s flexible, one-on-one coaching service that helps food & beverage innovators evaluate, validate, and turn ideas into commercially viable F&B businesses. Working alongside you, this bespoke offering builds your innovation capability and connects you to the right partners to prepare and guide you through every stage of the pathway. Founders begin with a 90-minute Innovation Baseline Assessment to benchmark their current capabilities and identify key areas for support over 5 modules.

Topics Include:

    • Value proposition and market validation,
    • Strategy and business model/innovation design,
    • Innovation road-mapping and IP considerations
    • Pitch preparation, and early-stage fund raising considerations

Catalyst is for you if you want to:

    • Benchmark and build your innovation capability with best-practice tools and frameworks
    • Develop and test your Strategy to gain clarity on scaling a food & beverage to build your innovation roadmap to commercial success
    • Prepare thoroughly to engage with key stakeholders (e.g., funders, investors, and contract manufacturers)