The Guild of Fine Food are pleased to announce that the World Cheese Awards 2023 will be held at Trondheim Spektrum, Trondheim, Norway, from Thursday 26 to Saturday 28 October 2023.
Key dates for the 2023 World Cheese Awards are as follows:
Open for entry: 5 June 2023 Closed for entry: 8 September 2023 Cheeses staged: 26 October Judges arrive: 26 October Judging: 27 October Cheese, food & drink tours: 27 & 28 October Results available: 29 October.
John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food, organisers of the competition, says:
“We’re delighted to be working with the city of Trondheim and our Norwegian partners to bring the 2023 World Cheese Awards to Norway this October.”
“There’s more to Trondheim than its venerated Cathedral. Hailed as a destination that champions local and seasonal produce, with a rich cheese culture, we are excited to introduce the World Cheese Awards community to this region of Norway. We cannot wait to see our panel of international cheese experts, alongside cheese entries from around the world, in this impressive city later this year.” Farrand concludes.
This will be the 35th year of the World Cheese Awards, the largest ‘cheese only’ event of its kind. Last year, the competition held in Newport, Wales, saw a record-breaking 4,434 cheeses arrive from around the world by boat, truck, train, and plane. A judging team made up of 250 technical experts, graders, buyers, retailers, and food writers, tasted and reviewed all the cheeses in just one day. A super jury of 16 judges then came together to judge the World Champion Cheese.
How the judging works:
Working in teams of two or three, the judges identify any cheeses worthy of a gold, silver, or bronze award. They look at the rind and the body of the cheese, its colour, texture, consistency and, most importantly, its taste. Each team then nominates one exceptional cheese as the Super Gold from their table.
These exceptional cheeses are identified as the best in the world and go on to be judged a second time by a Super Jury made up of 16 internationally recognised experts, who each select one cheese to champion in the final round of judging. The Super Jury, coming together to represent all four corners of the globe, then debate the final cheeses in front of a live consumer and trade audience, before choosing the World Champion Cheese live on WCA TV, with cheese lovers and enthusiasts from around the globe tuning in to watch the event unfold. In addition to the Bronze, Silver, Gold and Super Gold prizes, there are country and cheese specific trophies.
The World Cheese Awards 2023 is sponsored by The Fine Cheese Co, Le Gruyère AOP, Parmigiano Reggiano, Hâute Fromagerie, Bertsch Foodtech GmbH, Barbers, and The USA Cheese Guild. The World Cheese Awards 2023 trophy sponsors will include Agri Expo, Ardis Group, Atalanta Plaza, Forever Cheese, Lacteo Network, Specialist Cheesemakers Association, Rupp AG, Somerdale, and Snowdonia Cheese Company.
For all producers wishing to enter, the awards will open for entry on Monday 5 June 2023.
2023 Entry Prices
Company turnover: less than £1m | £54 per product (+VAT)
Company turnover: £1m - £5m | £62 per product (+VAT)
Company turnover: more than £5m | £79 per product (+VAT)
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