2026 Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards unveiled

Melbourne Royal Food & Beverage Awards has unveiled the winners of the 2026 Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards (MRAFA) at the Trophy Presentation in the MasterChef Kitchen at Melbourne Showgrounds. From truffle butter and black garlic honey to Tajima Wagyu bresaola and sourdough, this year’s winners showcase the quality, craft and diversity of producers across dairy, preserves, smallgoods, meat, olive oil and bread and baked goods from across the country.

Among the standout winners was Del Bocia, Victoria, named Champion Australian Small Dairy Producer, with its Truffle Butter also taking out Champion Butter. St David Dairy, Victoria was named both Champion Australian Large Dairy Producer and Champion Victorian Dairy Producer, while its Premium Full Cream Milk claimed Champion Milk.

In cheese, Daniel Hales of Prom Country Cheese, Victoria, was recognised as Champion Australian Independent Cheesemaker, while Capriole from Main Ridge Dairy, Victoria, took home Champion Cheese.

Queensland producer Noosa Black Garlic was a standout in the preserves category, named Champion Australian Small Preserves Producer, with its Caramelized Black Garlic Paste and Black Garlic Honey taking out Champion Savoury Preserve and Champion Sweet Preserve respectively.

The smallgoods and meat categories also showcased Australia’s premium produce, with Andrews Meat Industries, NSW, taking Champion Smallgoods for its Tajima Wagyu Bresaola, while Harmony Agriculture & Food Co., Victoria, claimed Champion Branded Meat for Black Opal. Pyrenees Premium Cuts, Victoria, was recognised for its Satay Chicken, winning Champion Value Add Meat.

Andrews Meat Industries’ Tajima Wagyu Bresaola.

The returning Bread & Baked Goods categories also produced a strong showing, with Piece of Cake Bakery, Victoria, named Champion Australian Bakery and Champion Victorian Bakery. Backhaus Bakery, Victoria, took Champion Bread for its 7 Fruit Sourdough, while The Butcher Club – Williamstown, Victoria, claimed Champion Baked Good for its Lamb Stroganoff and Mushroom Pie.

Piece of Cake Bakery’s Sourdough Raspberry Ring Croissant.

Tasmania’s Canopy Foods was recognised for its Salted Walnut Ice Cream, named Champion Ice Cream, while Tweedvale Dairies, South Australia, took Champion Cream for its Milk Pure Pouring Cream. In olive oil, Punchbowl Hill Estate, Victoria, claimed Champion Olive Oil for its Extra Virgin Olive Oil, while Fedra Olive Grove, ACT, was named Champion Australian Olive Oil Producer.

The awards also recognise the next generation of talent in the industry, with Harry Owen of The Meat Inn Place, Victoria, receiving the Excellence in Apprentice Butchery Trophy.

“This year’s trophy winners and champions represent the extraordinary depth of talent and exceptional produce being created across the country,” said Kirrily Waldhorn, Melbourne Royal Senior Manager of Food & Beverage Awards.

“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.”

The awards were judged by a panel of highly respected industry experts, with Meatsmith founder Troy Wheeler leading the Branded Meats & Value Add Meats judging panel, dairy specialist Mark Livermore returning as Head Judge for Dairy, and the Olive Oil program led by Claudia Guillaume from the Olive Wellness Institute.

The full list of 2026 Australian Food Awards champions is included here:

Dairy

Champion Australian Small Dairy Producer: Del Bocia, Victoria

Champion Australian Large Dairy Producer: St David Dairy, Victoria

Champion Victorian Dairy Producer: St David Dairy, Victoria

Champion Australian Independent Cheesemaker: Daniel Hales, Prom Country Cheese, Victoria

Champion Butter: Truffle Butter, Del Bocia, Victoria

Champion Cheese: Capriole, Main Ridge Dairy, Victoria

Champion Cream: Milk Pure Pouring Cream, Tweedvale Dairies, South Australia

Champion Milk: Premium Full Cream Milk, St David Dairy, Victoria

Champion Ice Cream: Salted Walnut Ice Cream, Canopy Foods, Tasmania

Preserves

Champion Australian Small Preserves Producer: Noosa Black Garlic, Queensland

Champion Australian Large Preserves Producer: Last St, Victoria

Champion Victorian Preserves Producer: Pennyroyal Farm Otway Preserves, Victoria

Champion Savoury Preserve: Caramelized Black Garlic Paste, Noosa Black Garlic, Queensland

Champion Sweet Preserve: Black Garlic Honey, Noosa Black Garlic, Queensland

Champion Chilli Preserve: Signature Chilli Oil, Sim Sim Food Studio, Victoria

Smallgoods & Meat

Champion Australian Small Smallgoods Producer: Uncles Smallgoods, Victoria

Champion Australian Large Smallgoods Producer: Griffin Morris Village Butchers, Victoria

Champion Victorian Smallgoods Producer: Griffin Morris Village Butchers, Victoria

Champion Smallgoods: Tajima Wagyu Bresaola, Andrews Meat Industries, NSW

Champion Australian Small Meat Producer: Ashburton Meats, Victoria

Champion Australian Large Meat Producer: Stockyard Beef, Queensland

Champion Victorian Meat Producer: Ashburton Meats, Victoria

Champion Branded Meat: Black Opal, Harmony Agriculture & Food Co., Victoria

Champion Value Add Meat: Satay Chicken, Pyrenees Premium Cuts, Victoria

Olive Oil

Champion Australian Olive Oil Producer: Fedra Olive Grove, ACT

Champion Olive Oil: Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Punchbowl Hill Estate, Victoria

Bread & Baked Goods

Champion Australian Bakery: Piece of Cake Bakery, Victoria

Champion Bread: 7 Fruit Sourdough, Backhaus Bakery, Victoria

Champion Baked Good: Lamb Stroganoff and Mushroom Pie, The Butcher Club – Williamstown, Victoria

Champion Victorian Bakery: Piece of Cake Bakery, Victoria

Apprentice Butchery

Excellence in Apprentice Butchery Trophy: Harry Owen, The Meat Inn Place, Victoria

For more information, visit here.

Top image caption: Noosa Black Garlic’s Black Garlic Honey

All images: Supplied