Queensland preserves score top marks prestigious awards
The Melbourne Royal Food & Beverage Awards officially unveiled its winners and Queensland has taken a healthy bite of the titles.
The 2026 Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards were announced in the MasterChef Kitchen at Melbourne Showgrounds on Wednesday and Queensland took home a basketful of goodies.
Queensland-made delicacies earning top marks included Noosa Black Garlic, who were named Champion Australian Small Preserves Producer for its Caramelized Black Garlic Paste with a score of 96.2/100 and Black Garlic Honey awarded Champion Savoury Preserve and Champion Sweet Preserve respectively.
Noosa Black Garlic co-owner Teneille Newton said it was an absolute surprise to win champion trophies for not one, but two of their products.
“It’s just been a whirlwind 24 hours and we’re absolutely thrilled,” Newton said.
“We got champion savoury preserve two years ago for our Black Garlic Cloves, which are the base of all of our products, and then last year they won back to back Best in Class as well. So it’s actually our third year in a row that we’ve been in the major awards there for Melbourne Royal.”
Stockyard Beef in Darling Downs was awarded the title of Champion Australian Large Meat Producer for its premium grain-fed beef, with Meatsmith founder and acclaimed butcher Troy Wheeler leading the Branded Meats & Value Add Meats judging panel.
Kirrily Waldhorn, Melbourne Royal Senior Manager of Food & Beverage Awards said that this year’s winners represented the extraordinary depth of talent and exceptional produce being created across the country.
“These awards are a wonderful opportunity to shine a light on the quality and craftsmanship that goes into producing some of Australia’s best food,” she said.
Stay informed, daily
“We look forward to celebrating their achievements and sharing their stories with food lovers across the country.”
Other major category award winners include;
- Champion Australian Small Dairy Producer: Del Bocia, Victoria
- Champion Australian Large Dairy Producer: St David Dairy, Victoria
- Champion Australian Large Preserves Producer: Last St, Victoria
- Champion Australian Small Smallgoods Producer: Uncles Smallgoods, Victoria
- Champion Australian Large Smallgoods Producer: Griffin Morris Village Butchers, Victoria
- Champion Australian Olive Oil Producer: Fedra Olive Grove, ACT
- Champion Australian Bakery: Piece of Cake Bakery, Victoria
- Champion Bread: 7 Fruit Sourdough, Backhaus Bakery, Victoria
- Excellence in Apprentice Butchery Trophy: Harry Owen, The Meat Inn Place, Victoria
Want to see more stories from InDaily Qld in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily Qld as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily Qld". That's it.
