{"id":2117,"date":"2017-07-27T11:26:00","date_gmt":"2017-07-26T23:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thechipgroup.co.nz\/?p=2117"},"modified":"2019-03-13T13:29:32","modified_gmt":"2019-03-13T00:29:32","slug":"so-fine-seafoods-crowned-grand-national-winner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thechipgroup.co.nz\/news\/press-releases\/so-fine-seafoods-crowned-grand-national-winner\/","title":{"rendered":"So Fine Seafoods crowned Grand National Winner!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over 150 conference delegates and all 7 Regional Winners<\/a> attended the Potatoes New Zealand Awards Dinner, in Pukekohe on 26 July 2017, where the Best Chip Shop Competition<\/a> awards were presented.<\/p>\n

After fat sampling and 2 rounds of mystery shopping… the prestigious title of Grand National Winner<\/strong> went to So Fine Seafoods<\/strong><\/em> in Lower Hutt, Wellington. It’s pleasing to note that So Fine Seafoods were a regional finalist in 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2009!<\/p>\n

The mystery shopper had this to say about So Fine Seafoods\u2026 \u201cThe store was well lit and welcoming. I was asked for my order immediately by a well-groomed team member wearing branded clothing. The food grade (A) was on display and clearly visible.\u00a0<\/em>The team member cooked the chips, shook and banged the basket before they asked if I wanted extra seasoning. The food was hot, fresh and tasty. Easily the best chips I\u2019ve ever had the pleasure of eating<\/em>.\u201d.<\/p>\n

Anthony Cho (Owner\/Manager) of\u00a0So Fine Seafoods said… \u201cThis was such a surprise. We are delighted to have won this amazing award. We place a big emphasis on our customer service and quality of our chips, fish and other foods served.\u00a0<\/em>We\u2019d like to thank Potatoes New Zealand and the Chip Group for organising this competition. The Chip Group Training was very good for teaching us how to make healthier chips that still taste great<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Potatoes New Zealand Chief Executive Chris Claridge offered his congratulations to the finalists and winner\u2026 \u201cFish & Chips is a Kiwi tradition. New Zealanders love hot potato chips and there\u2019s all the more reason to love the healthier chips served by our regional winners. Congratulations to So Fine Seafoods they are renowned for producing\u00a0great tasting, healthier chips\u201d<\/p>\n

The competition\u00a0was open to any business or operator that served hot potato chips to the public. To enter they had to have completed and passed the Chip Group’s Best Practice Frying training, then simply filled out on online registration form then\u2026<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Entrants submitted a sample of their cooked hot potato chips to Hill Laboratories<\/em> for scientific testing of the fat content percentage.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Stores whose chips were 9% fat or less received Highly Commended Chips<\/strong> awards and became \u2018Regional Finalists<\/strong>\u2019. Those whose chips were more than 9% fat were eliminated from the competition.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 All 51 Regional Finalists<\/strong> were then mystery shopped by Hoed Research<\/em>. They mystery shopper assessed chip taste & quality, cooking process, salt options, customer service and store presentation.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The highest scoring store in each region became the \u2018Regional Winner<\/strong>‘.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 All 7 Regional Winners<\/strong> were then mystery shopped with the with the highest scoring store being crowned \u2018Regional Winner\u2019.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The\u00a07 regional winners\u00a0were;<\/span><\/p>\n