New Zealand’s meat producers have clinched multiple gold awards at the esteemed World Steak Challenge, featuring competitors from 25 leading steak-producing nations globally.
ANZCO Foods, headquartered in Christchurch with ten processing plants nationwide, emerged as the standout performer. The Japanese-owned enterprise secured three gold medals for its ribeye steaks, two for its sirloin steaks, and one for its fillet steak, accumulating six gold medals in total.
Three other New Zealand companies also distinguished themselves. Invercargill’s Alliance Group garnered two gold medals for its fillet and ribeye steaks.
Dunedin-based Silver Fern Farms and Havelock North’s First Light Farms each received a gold medal for their ribeye steaks. All participating companies presented entries that were grass-fed.
Rick Walker, Sales and Marketing General Manager at ANZCO Foods, expressed his enthusiasm. “This is splendid acknowledgement for both our farmers and plant workers, affirming that we offer exceptional products,” he said. Notably, ANZCO’s Ocean Beef brand, sold in China, Japan, and Europe, won three golds for fillet, sirloin, and ribeye.
Furthermore, Alliance Group’s Shane Kingston, General Manager Sales and Marketing, commented on their wins. “The global recognition attests to our relentless pursuit of excellence and serves as a confidence-booster for our consumers as well as our farmer shareholders,” he said.
Silver Fern Farms and First Light Farms also earned bronze medals for their sirloin steaks. Alliance secured two additional silver medals for steaks processed at its Southland-based Mataura plant.
The final results, including the overall winners, are expected to be announced in London next month.
Last year’s champions included Japanese company Starzen Co, Poland’s Carni, and Australia’s Ambers GmbH and Jack’s Creek, all of which presented grain-fed steaks. Northern Ireland’s Linden Foods and Marks & Spencer received the accolade for the best grass-fed steak.
This considerable success on the international stage continues to establish New Zealand as a producer of world-class beef.
