The Queenstown woman who was the only South Island finalist in Bluebird's national competition to find a new potato chip flavour says she is disappointed another flavour won this week, but $5000 was "not a bad consolation prize".
MedRecruit consultant Hayley Kyte, of Lake Hayes Estate, whose "Cheesy Garlic Bread" flavoured chip was one of four finalists selected from 28,889 entries, was pipped at the post by David Martin, of New Plymouth, whose entry "Sunday Roast (the crispy bits left in the pan)" won him $20,000 and 2% of future sales of his chip flavour.
"I was disappointed, but I saw him on Breakfast and he did a lot of work promoting it and getting out on the street with samples", Miss Kyte told the Queenstown Times.
"At the end of the day, [Sunday Roast] is quite a Kiwi flavour."
Mr Martin's flavour took the top spot based on a combination of sales and 56,506 votes cast by the public on the Bluebird website.
"Cheesy Garlic Bread" came in second followed by "Butter Chippin" and "Paua Fritters with Lemon Wedges".
Mr Martin has pledged 10% of his cash prize and 10% of future earnings to Surf Life Saving New Zealand.
Bluebird announced it would match his pledge dollar for dollar, and also give the proceeds to Surf Life Saving NZ.
The winning flavour will be available across the country from mid-December.
