Four Patagonia ice creams won silver awards at the New Zealand Ice Cream Manufacturers Association annual awards recently.
The Patagonia dark chocolate, tramontana and vanilla bean ice cream and the boysenberry, strawberry and apple sorbet were four of 70 the ice creams to win medals, from more than 230 entrants.
Owner Alex Gimenez said it was the first time the business had put its ice cream up for judging against others and he was quietly pleased with the results.
"We're pretty happy about it.
"It was good fun ... and the first time to get four out of four awards is all right.
"I thought at least a couple might have got gold, but in reality, there are several things they are evaluated on; it's not just about the tasting."
The five judges required 1.5kg of each ice cream entered, split into three different containers and freezer-couriered to Auckland for judging, which was an expensive process.
The company would enter again next year and was planning on putting 10 ice creams up for the competition, to be held in Queenstown, coinciding with the association's annual meeting.
While he was considering developing more flavours for next year's awards, he would also be busy expanding the Patagonia business, with negotiations under way to open two stores in Christchurch by the end of the year.
The company, which had operations in Arrowtown and Queenstown, added a shop at Queenstown Airport last June, and in October opened a production plant in Glenda Dr, to streamline operations.
During the April floods the Queenstown shop, located next to Earnslaw Park, had to close for 10 days, making the quiet season even quieter, Mr Gimenez said.
However, the awards gave the company reason to celebrate.
