The stellar quality of Australian smallgoods was on show in Sydney last month at the 2024 Australian Charcuterie Excellence Awards (ACEA), with producers nationwide celebrated for their exceptional craftsmanship and innovative, world-class products.
Hosted by the Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) in partnership with Australian Pork Limited and MLA, the ACEA are designed to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of Australia’s smallgoods manufacturers, as well as elevating Australian charcuterie as a premium, high quality and exciting product category for consumers.
AMIC National Smallgoods Council Chair and head judge Franz Knoll says the awards were an integral part of AMIC’s goal to help consumers recognise excellent smallgoods products and expand consumer knowledge of charcuterie options for various meals.
“Ham and bacon are people’s go-to charcuterie product, but the personality and character of the industry doesn’t come from those, it comes from the unique products that producers and chefs add flavour to, and that skill drives how people consume it,” he says.
“Our job is to make these products more of an everyday-use ingredient for any occasion, rather than something consumers like but only eat if someone else cooks it.”
Champions celebrated
The awards night was held at Shangri-La Hotel, with 32 category champions announced across 35 categories.
From traditional ham and bacon to unique specialty smallgoods such as duck terrine, beef cheese and jalapeno kabana, and wagyu bresaola, more than 800 products were entered into this year’s awards, with producer representation from all states.
Category champions include:
- Barbaro Smallgoods Free Range Semi-Boneless (Australian Pork: Leg Ham, Semi Boneless)
- Bertocchi Smallgoods Long Rindless Bacon (Imported Pork: Traditional Bacon)
- Euromaster Smallgoods Continental Frankfurt (Continental Australian Frankfurts)
- Lago Smallgoods Streaky Bacon Sliced (Imported Pork: Bacon, Middle Rashers)
- Lucas Brothers Butchers Traditional Corned Beef (Corned Beef)
- Mike’s Beef Jerky and Specialty Meats Chilli Cheese Kransky (Kranski)
- Otway Pork Boneless Leg Ham (Australian Pork: Leg Ham, Boneless)
- Peter Bouchier Oven Roasted Turkey Breast (Chicken / Turkey (Ham)
- Re and Sons Felino Mild (Salami, Fermented (UCFM) Below 35mm )
- South Food Group Porchetta (Roast Pork)
- Wintulichs Smallgoods Double Smoked Slicing Ham (Meat Products for Slicing)
The full list of winners can be found here.
Global recognition
The Australian Charcuterie Excellence Awards are now into their third year, having launched in 2022.
Next year, winners of gold medals will become eligible to enter IFFA, the leading international trade fair for the meat and protein industry, which takes place every three years, and will be held in Frankfurt.
Oliver Stankovski, AMIC’s General Manager – Smallgoods says this will give the gold medal winners the chance to be recognised on the world stage.
“It will be highly competitive, but our award-winning products are a strong symbol of Australian excellence and innovation, and we’re excited to see them do well against our global counterparts,” he said.
“Australian consumers can be confident when they see an ACEA medal branded on its packaging they’ll be purchasing a product that represents the pinnacle of industry standards and quality.”