Arla Food takes home gold from the 2022 World Championship Cheese Contest
Image credit: Castello and Arla Foods
Arla Foods US won best Smoked Gouda cheese, with the company’s Castello Smoked Cracked Pepper Gouda, and was identified as one of the top 20 cheeses in the world at the biennial 2022 World Championship Cheese Contest that drew nearly 3,000 entries from 29 countries.
Castello Smoked Cracked Black Pepper Gouda combines mild and creamy Gouda cheese with cracked peppercorn, then is lightly smoked over hickory wood chips, says the company.
In addition to its Best Of Class award in “Smoked Gouda” Category, Arla also received both the Best Of Class and Second place Award in the “Havarti Flavored” category for its Dill Havarti cheese, earning Gold and Silver medals.
Hosted by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association since 1957, The World Championship Cheese Contest is the world’s premier technical cheese, butter, and yogurt competition. Nearly 3,000 entries were evaluated by a team of technical judges from all over the world who assessed in areas of flavour, body and texture, salt, colour, finish, packaging, and other appropriate attributes. A Gold, Silver and Bronze medal were awarded to the three highest-scoring entries in each class.
“We are thrilled to be honoured by such a prestigious organisation in the industry,” said Dave Newman, Arla Foods master cheesemaker. “At Arla, we strive to deliver best-in-class, high-quality dairy products, and recognition from the World Championship Cheese Contest reinforces our dedication to the craft.”
Arla Foods, that says it strives to produce high-quality dairy in the most natural and sustainable way, has also been recognised by members of the Wisconsin Senate as the number one producer of Havarti Cheese in the United States. The Wisconsin Hollandtown dairy was built in 1897. Today, the plant employs over 200 people and produces specialty cheese types, including Havarti, Gouda, Edam and Fontina.
For those looking to sample Arla’s award-winning cheese, the company will be exhibiting at the upcoming National Restaurant Show and International Dairy Deli Bakery Association tradeshows.
For more information about Castello Cheese, visit www.castellocheese.com.