Air New Zealand is on the hunt for the very best snacks in Aotearoa to add to their menu

Kiwis, it’s time to get snacking. 

Air New Zealand has launched ‘The Great Kiwi Snack Off’ and is on the hunt for the best Kiwi snacks to add to their in-flight menu by the end of the year. 

According to Chief Customer and Sales Officer Leanne Geraghty, Air New Zealand wants to surprise and delight its customers with snacks that cater to different dietary needs and time-of-day appetites. The airline is seeking snacks that celebrate the history and “provenance of NZ, Māori and Pasifika or social enterprises,” with inventive and tasty flavours that use sustainable ingredients and cater to customers with allergies and dietary needs. 

But there’s one catch – the snacks must all be made in New Zealand or with ingredients from NZ. This means that snack suppliers across the country, including boutique suppliers who currently serve a smaller customer base, are eligible to submit an expression of interest. Air New Zealand hopes that the wide criteria will encourage bespoke suppliers to submit their products too. 

Air New Zealand fans need not worry though – the end-of-flight lolly will be sticking around, as will the Koru hour cheese and crackers. The airline wants to revamp and expand their onboard trolley offerings while still keeping customer favourites. 

This is the first time the company has had a full review of the onboard snack options for domestic, short-haul, and long-haul flights since 2018. Last year, Air NZ updated the in-flight snack options for domestic flights with popcorn, crisps, muesli bars, and chocolate, after trialing the menu with more than 7000 customers. However, this snack hunt will result in bigger changes as the chosen bites will be rolled out across short- and long-haul international flights too. 

So, if you know of a delicious Kiwi snack that should be added to Air New Zealand’s menu, now is your chance to share it! The expressions of interest will be open until May 1, and the new range of locally-supplied snacks will be chosen before the end of the year. We can’t wait to see what tasty treats will be added to Air New Zealand’s menu. Happy snacking!