Aldi's dominance at the Sydney Royal Cheese and Dairy Produce Show has upset boutique producers, who are calling for the "philistine" brands to enter into their own separate category moving forward.
The event aims to recognise and reward innovation, diversity and excellence in agricultural production, this year handing out 30 major awards and 89 Gold and Silver medals to Australia's best cheese, dairy and chocolate producers.
The top accolade of Champion Cheese of Show went to Victorian-based Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese for its Tarwin Blue, which also claimed the Champion Fancy Cheese and Champion Bovine Cheese award.
The five cheeses selected for the coveted Austraian Cheeseboard Perpetual Trophy were:
- Lion Dairy and Drinks (Burnie, TAS) – Tasmanian Heritage Red Square
- Lion Dairy and Drinks (Burnie, TAS) – Heidi Farm Tilsit
- Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese (Poowong, VIC) – Tarwin Blue
- Small Cow Farm (Robertson, NSW) – Petitvache Brie
- Bega Cheese (Bega, NSW) – Rindless Cheddar Cheese
However, supermarket Chain, Aldi, was a big winner in its first year at the event, taking home the Most Successful Dairy Produce Exhibitor award, Most Successful Butter Exhibitor and Champion Butter for its Just Organic Butter, as well as Most Successful Cultured Milk Products and Yoghurt Exhibitor.
Aldi walked away with 49 medals, including eight golds, upsetting a number of producers who feel they shouldn't be competing with large retailers.
Pepe Saya, who makes the hugely popular Pepe Saya butter, stopped participating in the awards once Coles started entering its generic brands.
"I don't believe that a non-manufacturer or a non-producer should be allowed to leverage off the Sydney Royal brand," he told Good Food.
"Here's a brand that's been given to the philistines like Aldi, Coles and Woolworths. [But] what does it mean to have a gold any more? This is the disappointment. This is the heartache."
Aldi's dominance has triggered calls for a separate awards category to be created. Michael McNamara, cheesemaker at Pecora Dairy in Robertson, NSW, and treasurer of the Australian Specialist Cheesemakers' Association said the Royal Agricultural Society is "shooting itself in the foot" by having supermarket brands compete alongside artisanal producers.
"The awards have become a parody of themselves if what they're taking is big, industrial products and putting them in the same category as hand-made, artisan products," he said.
Other 2013 Sydney Royal Cheese & Dairy Produce Show winners include:
CHAMPION MILK
The Jim Forsyth Perpetual Trophy donated by Jim R Forsyth.
Country Valley
Class No. 8 / Cat No. 39
Organic Lite
MOST SUCCESSFUL MILK EXHIBITOR
The Milk Marketing Perpetual Trophy donated by Milk Marketing NSW.
Warrnambool Cheese & Butter, Allansford
CHAMPION CHEDDAR CHEESE
The NSW Food Authority Perpetual Trophy donated by the
NSW Food Authority.
Bega Cheese
Class No. 23 / Cat No. 113
Bega Strong & Bitey
MOST SUCCESSFUL CHEDDAR CHEESE EXHIBITOR
Bega Cheese
CHAMPION FANCY CHEESE
NSW Food Authority Perpetual Trophy donated by the NSW Food Authority.
Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese
Class No. 39 / Cat No. 275
Tarwin Blue
MOST SUCCESSFUL FANCY CHEESE EXHIBITOR
The Bega Cheese Perpetual Trophy donated by Bega Cheese.
Bega Cheese
CHAMPION BOVINE CHEESE
The Australian Dairy Corporation Perpetual Trophy donated by Dairy Australia.
Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese
Class No. 39 / Cat No. 275
Tarwin Blue
CHAMPION CHEESE OF SHOW
Prize (Annual Trophy), supported by the Dairy Produce Committee.
Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese
Class No. 39 / Cat No. 275
Tarwin Blue
CHAMPION ICE CREAM
Serendipity Ice Cream
Class No. 50 / Cat No. 420
Salted Caramel Swirl
MOST SUCCESSFUL ICE CREAM EXHIBITOR
Serendipity Ice Cream
CHAMPION GELATO
Cow And The Moon
Class No. 59 / Cat No. 571
Banana And Salted Caramel
MOST SUCCESSFUL GELATO EXHIBITOR
Cow And The Moon
CHAMPION CULTURED MILK PRODUCT OR YOGHURT
Mundella Foods
Class No. 64 / Cat No. 670
Greek Natural
CHAMPION DIP
Brilliant Food
Class No. 73 / Cat No. 808
Smoked Kingfish Rillettes
MOST SUCCESSFUL DIP EXHIBITOR
Paradise Beach Purveyors
CHAMPION CREAM OR DAIRY DESSERT
Barambah Organics
Class No. 76 / Cat No. 819
Pure Cream
MOST SUCCESSFUL CREAM OR DAIRY DESSERT EXHIBITOR
Nicholson Fine Foods Pty Ltd
CHAMPION SHEEP, GOAT AND BUFFALO MILK PRODUCT
Simon Johnson Perpetual Trophy donated by Simon Johnson.
Jindi Cheese P/L
Class No. 86 / Cat No. 867
Goat Gouda
MOST SUCCESSFUL SHEEP, GOAT AND BUFFALO MILK EXHIBITOR
Hotel Inter-Continental Perpetual Trophy donated by the Hotel Inter-Continental, Sydney.
Holy Goat Cheese
CHAMPION CHOCOLATE
Bracegirdles House of Fine Chocolate
Class No. 112 / Cat No. 73
High Thai
MOST SUCCESSFUL CHOCOLATE EXHIBITOR
Nestlé Perpetual Trophy donated by Nestlé Confectionery.
Bracegirdles House of Fine Chocolate