Woolworths shines at the 37th World Cheese Awards in Switzerland
Taking place from 13 to 15 November in Bern, Switzerland, the Guild of Fine Food organised the 37th edition of the prestigious World Cheese Awards. Fine Food, a British organisation dedicated to celebrating artisan food and drink, has been spotlighting extraordinary cheese producers the world over since 1988.
The World Cheese Awards is widely regarded as the most distinguished event in the global cheese calendar, with over 5,000 cheeses from nearly 50 countries. And standing out among the winners was Woolworths, bringing home 10 awards: 5 Bronze, 1 Silver, 3 Gold, and, even more prestigious, a Super Gold award.
A World-Class Judging Panel
Event organisers curate an international judging panel, consisting of over 200 cheese experts. It’s a lively mix of technical experts, chefs, buyers, acclaimed food journalists, and passionate connoisseurs – including prominent industry names like Giles & Charlie Barber, Barber’s Cheese, Jasson Hinds, Borough Cheese Company, and Cathy Strange, Whole Foods Market.
Celebrating her 15th year as a judge at the awards, Suzy O’Regan, Woolworths’ Product Development Manager for Central Sensory Quality, stepped into the role of team coordinator this year. She brings with her eight years of experience as a Supreme Judge, saying, “It’s such an honour to be part of the judging panel for this prestigious event, alongside some of the loveliest, most knowledgeable and passionate people in the industry.”
She was joined this year by Woolworths’ Product Developer for Dairy, Caryn Albers, who served as an assistant judge.
The Judging Process
A meticulous and transparent process, each cheese is tasted blind, with no indication of its name or producer until the reveal. The judges, who are divided into teams of two or three and led by a team coordinator, assess the appearance of the rind and paste, the aroma, texture, mouthfeel, and most importantly, the flavour during a blind tasting.
Judging teams award bronze, silver, and gold medals, nominating one standout cheese per table for Super Gold consideration. Trophies are presented for various special categories, including “Best Artisan Cheese”, “Best Raw Milk Cheese”, or “Best Female Cheesemaker”.
Super Gold winners undergo a second round of tasting by a Super Jury, consisting of 14 internationally recognised experts. Each juror selects their standout cheese to advance to the final, where each cheese is tasted live on stage. Each cheese is scored between one to seven points, and the one with the highest total score is crowned World Champion Cheese.
Proudly South African Wins
Woolworths proudly brought home multiple awards.
Bronze awards were awarded to cheeses produced by Klein River, Fairview and Lactalis, including its Klein River Havarti, Klein River Oak Smoked Stanford, Lactalis 10 months matured Gouda, Lactalis 20 months matured Gouda, and Fairview Rock Brie (an amazing accomplishment for a brand-new cheese).
Earning a Silver award was the Klein River Gruberg Vintage 12 months matured, with Fairview Chevre Roue, Dalewood Fromage Huguenot, and Klein River Gruberg 6 months matured bagging Gold awards.
I’m incredibly proud of Woolworths’ unwavering commitment to delivering cheeses of the highest quality”, Suzy commented. “Woolworths remains dedicated to collaborating with top-quality cheese producers, and our cheesemakers and partners are the true heroes behind these wins. Their expertise, drive for continuous innovation, and passion help us ensure that Woolies’ award-winning products continue to delight both everyday cheese lovers and gourmet enthusiasts alike. We are extremely proud of our team and suppliers whose hard work made this achievement possible”.
To add to this, the Dalewood Fromage Boland cheese scooped up a coveted Super Gold Award. Dalewood and Woolworths have been in partnership for 25 years, and remain an exclusive retailer for Boland. This semi-hard, washed-rind cheese is made in the style of a Port Salut, delivers a mild, savoury-sweet flavour and a smooth, velvety texture.
