Nearly 900 dairy products this week competed in the 2021 SA Dairy Championships, the largest and oldest dairy competition in Africa. After a 17-year absence, the championships judging returned to Elsenburg outside Stellenbosch this year.
“It is a remarkable achievement by the dairy industry to enter such an enormous number of products in this difficult year that is behind us,” says Johan Ehlers, chief executive of Agri-Expo. The agricultural giant has been the organiser of the championships since 1834.
Ehlers adds, “It is also exciting news that out of the 68 participating manufacturers, eight new participants have entered the championships this year.”
The judging process had to be divided into two days this year with only 30 judges per day. According to chief judge Alan Fourie the championships is one of the only competitions in the world that uses five judges per category.
“The SA Dairy Championships creates a special platform to promote excellence in the dairy industry.
“Only the best of the best from each manufacturer is entered and therefore the judging has become the national standard according to which large and small manufacturers – from international companies to small cheesemakers – measure themselves against every year, ”says Fourie.
Virtual prize-giving ceremony
The winner in each of the more than 100 SA Dairy Championships classes will be crowned SA Champion, while products of exceptionally high quality also receive the Qualité award, which is recognised as the only mark of quality for dairy products in South Africa.
A panel of five experts determines the Product of the Year. These winners will be announced during the South African Dairy Awards on Friday, 26 March 2021.
The 2021 SA Dairy Championships is made possible by the partners Agri-Expo, Synercore, AECI Food & Beverage, the Western Cape department of agriculture, Condio, the Milk Producers’ Organisation (MPO), The Dairy Mail, Woolworths, Hollard, Mane, Orchem , Polyoak Packaging, IMCD and Tetra Pak.
For more information, visit www.cheesesa.co.za and www.agriexpo.co.za, or contact Agri-Expo on 021 975 4440 or cheese@agriexpo.co.za.
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