The 37th edition of the prestigious World Cheese Awards took place from 13 – 15 November in Bern, Switzerland. Organised by the Guild of Fine Food, a British organisation dedicated to celebrating artisan food and drink, the competition has been spotlighting exceptional cheese producers from around the globe since 1988.
With over 5,000 cheeses from nearly 50 countries, the World Cheese Awards is widely regarded as the most distinguished event in the global cheese calendar. Once again, Woolworths’ exceptional range stood out among the winners, reaffirming its position as a leader in quality and innovation. Of its 20 submissions, Woolworths suppliers proudly took home 10 awards – 5 Bronze, 1 Silver, 3 Gold, and even more impressively, a Super Gold award – a momentous accomplishment.
A World-Class Judging Panel
Event organisers curate an international judging panel of over 200 leading cheese experts – a balanced mix of technical experts, chefs, buyers, acclaimed food journalists, and passionate connoisseurs, including prominent industry names like Giles & Charlie Barber (Barber’s Cheese), Jason Hinds (Borough Cheese Company) and Cathy Strange (Whole Foods Market).
Suzy O’Regan, Woolworths’ Product Development Manager for Central Sensory Quality, celebrated her 15th year as a judge at the awards, stepping into the role of team coordinator this year. Suzy also brings eight years of experience as a Supreme Judge – one of the select few entrusted with choosing the World Champion Cheese. “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 said.
She was joined this year by Woolworths’ Product Developer for Dairy, Caryn Albers, who served as an assistant judge.
The Judging Process
Judging at the World Cheese Awards is meticulous and transparent. Each cheese is tasted blind, with no indication of its name or producer until the end.
The judges, 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 of their allocated cheeses. Teams award bronze, silver, and gold medals and nominate one standout cheese per table for Super Gold consideration. Trophies are also presented for various special categories such as “Best Artisan Cheese”, “Best Raw Milk Cheese” or “Best Female Cheesemaker”.
The Super Gold winners then undergo a second round of tasting by a Super Jury of 14 internationally recognised experts. Each juror selects their standout cheese to advance to the final, where all 14 are tasted live on stage. After being scored from one to seven points, the cheese with the highest total is crowned World Champion Cheese. This year, the winning cheese was the Super Gold carefully selected by the team Suzy led, highlighting her expertise and ongoing commitment to excellence.
Proudly South African Wins
Following this rigorous process, Woolworths’ cheeses, made in close collaboration with its trusted and dedicated local cheesemakers earned a host of accolades.
Bronze awards were received for 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 Paarl Rock Brie – a phenomenal accomplishment for a brand-new cheese, exclusive to Woolworths. The Klein River Gruberg Vintage 12 months matured earned a Silver, and three other Woolworths-exclusive creations – the Fairview Chevre Roue, Dalewood Fromage Huguenot and Klein River Gruberg 6 months matured – each secured a Gold.
An even greater honour was attained as Dalewood Fromage Boland cheese scooped a coveted Super Gold Award. Woolworths has been in partnership with the master cheesemakers at Dalewood for 25 years, and remains the exclusive retailer for Boland, so it was a proud moment for all involved. This semi-hard, washed-rind cheese, made in the style of a Port Salut, delivers a mild, savoury-sweet flavour and a smooth, velvety texture. This accomplishment is among many Super Gold honours Woolworths’ cheeses have earned over the years, reflecting the strength, consistency, and craftsmanship of its cheesemaking partnerships.
“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”.
