Judging Complete: 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards

After days of tasting, testing, and blind judging, the 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards has finished and only the best products will be crowned Australia’s finest at the trophy presentation on Thursday 2 October 2025, Melbourne Showgrounds - Secure your tickets here.

Over 880 entries from across Australia were blind judged by 45 expert panellists - including chefs, food technologists, industry leaders and producers - each carefully selected for their expertise in assessing quality, flavour and technical excellence across Dairy, Preserves, Smallgoods and Meat.

For some judges, this meant sampling 52 different ice creams; for others, fiery chillies, sweet preserves, smoky smallgoods or wagyu cooked to perfection - all part of a meticulous blind judging process that determines Australia’s best.

Medal and trophy winners gain valuable media and trade exposure, plus the opportunity to feature products at the 2025 Melbourne Royal Show in the Gourmet Pantry & Cellar Pavilion.

How is Australia’s Best Food Judged?

The Awards give producers of all sizes - from boutique makers to large-scale manufacturers - the chance to put their products to the ultimate test and cement their reputation in the Australian food industry.

Every entry is blind judged with a unique tasting number, assessed on its own merits for quality, style, and commercial excellence. Nothing is taken for granted; every detail is scrutinised, every flavour evaluated.

Scores are meticulously recorded and verified, with classes awarded Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medals - the highest-scoring Gold in each class will earn a Best in Class Medal and the chance to vie for the prestigious Champion Trophy.

Medal and trophy winners can feature the prestigious Melbourne Royal seal of excellence on packaging and in marketing, signalling quality and building consumer confidence.

Celebrate Australia’s Finest Food

This year, 12 major trophies and 10 category awards are up for grabs - including the much-coveted Champion Australian Small and Large Producer trophies. Who will take home the top honours?

Be among the first to find out at the Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards Trophy Presentation, where you can taste the nation’s finest products and celebrate with the producers defining Australia’s culinary standard.

As a bonus, every ticket includes complimentary admission to the 2025 Melbourne Royal Show (valued at $49.50).

Event Details

• Thursday 2 October 2025
• 2.30pm – 5.30pm
• MasterChef Kitchen, Melbourne Showgrounds, Ascot Vale
• Members & Exhibitors $129 | Non-Members $149 (inc. GST)
• Smart Casual (block heels only – stilettos not permitted in the kitchen)