Australia’s top produce has been announced at the 2024 Perth Royal Branded Meats and SmallgoodsAwards, featuring a record-breaking 259 entries from 37 exhibitors.
The breadth of participants from across WA’s regions as well as Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales, cements the Perth Royal Food Awards (PRFA) as a premier platform for showcasing the exceptional quality and diversity of the nation’s produce.
Champion trophies were awarded in categories ranging from beef to bacon and biltong, offering producers a valuable opportunity to benchmark their products against leading competitors in their field.
The trophies provide customers with a reliable guide to choosing top-quality ingredients for their Christmas lunch or an upcoming special occasion. Most products are available at butchers, independent supermarkets, and are commonly used by chefs in high-end restaurants.
Branded Meats
The Branded Meats judging panel of six was led by Stuart Laws, owner of Brown Street Grill and Channel 9’s A State on a Plate presenter. Entries were assessed on criteria such as visual appeal (raw), tenderness, juiciness, flavour, and overall satisfaction.
- Futari Wagyu, a WA producer based the South Coast near Albany, took centre stage. Their Futari Export produce was named Champion Export Beef, Champion Single Origin Beef and the overall Champion WA Beef.
- Stockyard Beef, whose cattle farms are located on the Northern Tablelands in NSW, was awarded Champion Grain-Fed Beef for their Stockyard Gold produce, and Champion Waygu for their Stockyard Silver They also won a Gold Medal for their Stockyard Black produce.
- Black Label Berkshire, run by industry figurehead Linton Batt in Corrigin, took home Champion Open Pork, Champion Heritage Breed and the overall Champion WA Pork for their signature Black Label Berkshire.
- Bunbury-based Amelia Park, was crowned Champion Export Lamband Champion WA Lamb, also taking home a Gold Medal in the Export Beef Category.
Overall, 4 Champion Trophies, 5 Gold Medals, 12 Silver Medals, and 9 Bronze Medals were awarded. No Champion Trophy was awarded for Grass Fed Beef – a testament to the stringent judging standards.
The complete list of 2024 Perth Royal Branded Meats winners and results can be downloaded here.
Smallgoods
The Smallgoods entries were evaluated by a panel of nine judges, assessing criteria such as flavour, colour, craftsmanship, texture, and firmness.
The Champions represented a proud mix of first to third generation WA butchers, each bringing a rich cultural heritage to their craft.
- McLoughlin Butchers, an Irish family operating for over 30 years, proved a cut above the rest to win three Trophies – Champion Ham for their Shoulder Ham, Champion Cooked Product for their Slow Cooked Gammon Ham, and Champion Continental Smallgoods Product for their Irish Black Pudding. They were also awarded a Gold Medal for their Irish White Pudding.
- The British Sausage Company, based in Bibra Lake but hailing from the UK, earned the covetedChampion Bacon Trophy for their British Smoked Back Bacon.
- Eurostyle Smallgoods, founded by Croatian butcher Steve Hlevnjak in the early 1980s, was awarded the Champion Specialty Dried/Cured Smallgoods Productfor their Dry Speck, a pork belly dry cured using rock salt, garlic and pepper. They were also awarded a Gold Medal for their Cajna Salami and Cheese Kranski.
- First-time entrants The Jerky Co claimed the Champion Jerky/Biltong StripsTrophy for their Great Southern Outback Spiced Jerky. Their South African recipes won an impressive six Gold Medals, including Exotic Truffle Jerky, Chilli Jerky, BBQ Biltong, Smokey Biltong and Exotic Truffle Fatty Biltong.
Other notable achievements included:
- Pink Lake Butchers in Esperance won Gold Medals for their Pink Lake Butchers Coppa, Pink Lake Butchers Biltong and Pink Lake Butchers Chilli Biltong, and was awarded nine Medals overall.
- Mondo Butchers & Smallgoods took home Gold Medals for their Mondo Coppa Mild, Mondo Coppa Mild Sliced and Mild Cacciatora.
- Barbaro Butchers was awarded Gold Medals for their Country Bake Leg Ham,Casalingo Salami and Roast Pork.
- Re and Sons was awarded Gold Medals for their Prosciutto, Toscano Salami and Felino Salami Mild.
- Mondo Doro won a Gold Medal for their Middle Speck Bacon.
- Coastal Meats in Yanchep took home a Gold Medal for their Coastals Signature Bacon.
- FUTARI Wagyu won Gold for their Futari Manzo Marmorizzato Bresaola, an aged, air-dried salted beef.
- Nick’s Jerky took home a Gold Medal for their Chilli Jerky.
- Princi Butchers Fremantle won a Gold Medal for their Fennel Salami.
- Woolworths Food Company was awarded Gold for their Woolworths Boneless Crackling Leg Ham.
Head Judge Frank Vizzari, Founder of Princi Smallgoods, said: “We have been seriously impressed by the quality of the entries. Our job judging was incredibly difficult, with such a credit to everyone here tonight. You don’t wake up one morning and say, ‘I’m going to make smallgoods’. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and a lifetime of experience. I would like to congratulate all of the contestants.”
Overall, 7 Champion Trophies, 33 Gold Medals, 85 Silver Medals, and 62 Bronze Medals were handed out, demonstrating the incredibly high standard of entries from our producers.
The complete list of 2024 Perth Royal Smallgoods winners and results can be downloaded here.
ENDS
Photo Credit:Ammon Creative
Perth Royal Food Awards
The Perth Royal Food Awards have become an important part of the agricultural industry in WA and carry longstanding traditions dating back over 150 years.
The Perth Royal Food Awards form part of the mission of the Royal Agricultural Society of WA (RASWA) to encourage and reward excellence and support a viable and prosperous future for agricultural communities.
Media Contact:
Calli Graham
PR & Communications Lead
Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia
Phone: 0412 508 435
Email: Calli.Graham@raswa.org.au
Media Assets
Please contact media@raswa.org.au for professional photography from the Judging Events and Awards Night.
Spokesperson/s
The following representatives are available for interview:
- Robyn Sermon, CEO, Royal Agricultural Society of WA
- Head Judge – Branded Meats, Stuart Laws (Brown Street Grill)
- Head Judge – Smallgoods, Frank Vizzari (Princi Smallgoods)
Contact details for the Champion Producers can be provided upon request.
About the Judges
Head Judge (Branded Meats): Stuart Laws, Brown Street Grill
Stuart, a dedicated West Australian chef, has become a passionate advocate for West Australian cuisine. Believing chefs are the bridge between farmers and consumers, he takes pride in sharing the stories behind the ingredients he uses. As chef-owner of Brown Street Grill at Bright Tank Brewing Co. and a presenter on Channel 9’s Our State on a Plate, Stuart continues to champion West Australian producers across the nation.
Head Judge (Smallgoods): Frank Vizarri, Princi Smallgoods.
With over 40 years of experience in the meat and smallgoods industry, Frank is a butcher by trade and co-founder of Princi Smallgoods, established in 1991. Along with his family,
Frank’s aim is to introduce the distinct flavours and high-quality products of Italy to the Australian smallgoods market. Currently serving as the operations manager, Frank oversees the daily operations of the factory, which specialises in the manufacturing of a wide range of continental smallgoods distributed across Australia.
Chase Weber
Chef Chase Weber has been hailed as a trailblazer in Perth’s dining scene, earning praise as a “Culinary Savant.” He has been featured in The Sunday Times Magazine, hosted events for the WA Good Food Guide, launched Linley Valley Pork’s premium brand Pure Pork in Singapore and serves as a brand ambassador for Harvest Road’s Akoya Oysters, all while receiving glowing reviews from top Australian food critics. A passionate advocate for West Australian producers, his food has been described as “excellent,” “clever,” and “magically elevated.”
Alex Crisp
With a passion for food shaped by a diverse heritage as a first-generation Australian with Danish and South African roots, Alex Crisp discovered her love for cooking while preparing meals for their family as the eldest child. Despite earning a double degree in science and design, Alex followed her heart into the culinary world, spending the past seven years in food sales, providing artisanal products to retailers across Perth and the South West. A recent competitor on MasterChef Australia, placing ninth, Alex now shares their love for food through cooking demonstrations (most recently at Perth Royal Show 2024), MCing food events, and hosting a weekly food segment on TripleM WA radio. Passionate about ethical sourcing, sustainability, and reducing food waste, Alex is also working towards her dream of launching a private dining business.
Royal Agricultural Society of WA
The Royal Agricultural Society of WA (RASWA) is a member-based not-for-profit organisation dedicated to growing opportunities for the future of WA food and agriculture. Since 1903, the 194-year-old organisation has been based at the Claremont Showgrounds — a much-loved community asset, best known as the home of the annual Perth Royal Show and hundreds of different community events. Importantly, RASWA supports the future of agriculture through a range of student scholarships, farm skills and young judges programs , the rural ambassador competition and our Next Generation committee.
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