New and Expanded 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards
Melbourne , 20 May,2025
Entries are now open for the 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards, with the expanded program unveiling major new Meat classes and more ways for producers to get their products in front of top chefs, food buyers, retailers and media.
The Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards inspire and celebrate excellence across Dairy, Preserves, Smallgoods and Branded Meat. From house-made chorizo, small-batch gelato, heritage cheddar to dry-aged sirloin – if it’s top-shelf, it belongs here.
New and Expanded Categories to Enter
In response to industry feedback Melbourne Royal has introduced some changes to the Food Awards in 2025 to better reflect industry needs, wants and expectations along with consumer interests.
-Dairy
Open to both major producers and family farms, this category champions sustainable farming, quality processing and innovation from key dairy regions across Australia
-Smallgoods
Celebrating tradition and craft, this category highlights everything from heritage techniques to ethical sourcing and clean-label innovation.
-Preserves
Ideal for artisan producers focused on seasonality, local ingredients and small-batch excellence – with growing industry and consumer interest.
Meat
Now back in the spotlight, this category invites beef, lamb, pork, sausages, burgers and more – perfect for butchers and processors aiming to showcase quality and
consistency.
Why enter the 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards
Judged by highly respected judges in their specialty areas, the Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards offer a unique and valuable opportunity for Australian food
producers to have their products and produce benchmarked against their peers to improve quality and inspire innovation.
For the 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards there are12 major trophies and 10 category awards – including new honours for Meat.
Medal and trophy winners can leverage their success and market medal-winning products using the Melbourne Royal seal of excellence in marketing and on packaging.Winners also gain valuable exposure through Melbourne Royal’s extensive media and trade networks, plus the opportunity to showcase their products at the 2025 Melbourne Royal Show in the popular Gourmet Pantry & Cellar Pavilion.
A major highlight for 2025 is Troy Wheeler (owner of Meatsmith and co-author of Meatsmith) joining as Head Judge for the Meat categories, bringing unmatched
expertise and raising the competition’s prestige to new heights.Melbourne Royal Senior Manager, Food and Beverage Awards Kirrily Waldhorn said the Awards provide producers large and small with the chance to benchmark their products and establish their credentials in the Australian food industry.
“A coveted Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards Trophy or Medal on product packaging is one of the best ways to ensure the product being purchased is of the
highest quality, having been judged by Australia’s most esteemed judging panel,” she said.
Key Dates
Entries close: 27 June 2025
Judging: 5–13 August 2025, Melbourne Showgrounds
Awards Presentation: 2 October 2025
To enter and for detailed criteria, visit:melbourneroyal.com.au/foodawards
About the Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards
Australia’s most respected food awards celebrate the very best in local food production across Dairy, Smallgoods, Preserves and Meat. With national recognition, expert judging, and powerful marketing support, the Awards give producers of all sizes the opportunity to benchmark their products, build their reputation, and stand out in a competitive market. Winners receive gold, silver or bronze medals – a mark of excellence – along with detailed judging feedback, media exposure, and the chance to showcase at major Melbourne Royal events.
