Picture caption: Pictured: Winner of the Grand Champion Cheese product Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheeses. Owners Cheryl Hulls, Barry Charlton Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheeses. and Australian Grand Dairy Chief Judge Russell Smith
Delicious and decadent dairy was in abundance at the 25th Australian Grand Dairy Awards held in Victoria Pavilion at Melbourne Showgrounds on Thursday 1 February.
Melbourne Royal partnered with The Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA) and The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RASNSW) as part of a collaboration with Dairy Australia to deliver the 2024 Australian Grand Dairy Awards.
The Australian Grand Dairy Awards acknowledge excellence, quality and innovation across 18 dairy product classes, attracting entrants from each Australian state. Only manufacturers of gold medal-winning products that are made from Australian milk and have already been through a rigorous judging process at Australian qualifying competitions (such as Melbourne Royal) are invited to enter the prestigious annual Australian Grand Dairy Awards.
“Melbourne Royal along with The Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland and The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW are delighted to collaborate with Dairy Australia to present the 2024 Grand Dairy Awards. We thank Dairy Australia’s Managing Director David Nation and Glenys Zucco, Head of Marketing for the unique collaboration opportunity to celebrate excellence in the dairy industry together,” said Brad Jenkins Melbourne Royal CEO.
“The 2024 Grand Dairy Awards presented under this new partnership arrangement were an outstanding success. We thank all the producers who entered the 2024 Grand Dairy Awards and congratulate the winners and trust they enjoy great marketing value from their success”.
This year there were 380 entrants across 18 categories. Chief Judge, Russell Smith led a panel of judges to determine the finest products judged on flavour, aroma, texture, body, and visual appearance.
Victoria’s Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese Oak Blue was awarded Grand Champion Cheese and Queensland’s artisan gelato shop Milani Minus Eight Degrees crowned as Grand Champion Dairy, for its Peanut Caramel Gelato.
Glenys Zucco, Dairy Australia’s Head of Marketing, expressed satisfaction with the strengthened collaboration, emphasising its role in maintaining the awards’ status as a premier recognition platform for the Australian dairy industry.
“For 25 years, Dairy Australia has recognised the best of the best in Australian dairy. This year, we are pleased to have introduced a new partnership with the Royal Agricultural Societies to further strengthen the delivery of Awards and ensure they remain the premier dairy awards within Australia,”
The Awards saw 380 entrants across 18 categories judged on flavour, aroma, texture, body, and visual appearance to determine the finest products.
“We continue to be impressed by the quality of the entries year on year. This year was no exception.”
To shop the award-winning products, Australians are encouraged to look for the blue and gold medal on the pack.
For more information visit www.dairy.com.au/agda or click here.