Ireland 'steaks' its
claim as leading grass-fed beef producer
Ireland has once again been crowned the top-performing country at the World Steak Challenge, taking home a record-breaking 82 medals, including 29 gold, at this year's competition in Amsterdam
At this year’s presigious awards, Ireland finished ahead of Australia with 42 medals, and England with 26 medals, to retain its position as the world's leading grass-fed beef producer.
Tesco Ireland took the title of World's Best Grass-Fed Sirloin for its Angus Cross steak, supplied by ABP, while Lidl Ireland and Dawn Meats secured a consecutive World's Best title this time with its Grass-Fed Ribeye for the Aberdeen Angus Cross entry. The results cap another outstanding year for Irish beef on the international stage, according to Bord Bia [Irish Food Board].
Speaking after the awards ceremony, Joe Burke, Bord Bia's senior manager for meat and livestock, said: "Once again, Ireland's grass-fed beef has been recognised as the best in the world. These results are testament to the dedication of our farmers and processors, and to the quality that comes from producing beef from pasture-based, sustainable systems under the Origin Green programme.
“For Tesco Ireland and Dawn Meats to take home category titles, in a year when Ireland secured the greatest medal haul of any country in the competition, underlines just how consistently Irish beef performs against the very best in the world. Ireland's World Steak Challenge successes are important because they convert into commercial gains for Irish exporters, and continue to open doors for Irish beef with customers and consumers internationally."
'Huge endorsement'
Niall Browne, CEO of Dawn Meats said the result was a brilliant one for Dawn Meats, Lidl and its farmer suppliers. "To be named World's Best Grass-Fed Ribeye for the second year running following on from our World’s Best Steak success last year is a huge endorsement of the quality and consistency our teams work so hard to deliver, and it reflects the standard of grass-fed beef being produced across Ireland. Our Lidl Deluxe Angus ribeye is available to shoppers now, so people can taste for themselves why it's been recognised as the best in the world. I want to thank our farmers, our team at Dawn Meats, and the judges at the World Steak Challenge for this recognition."
'Further recognition'
John Walsh, commercial director of ABP Food Group added: “This award is further recognition of the quality of Irish grass-fed beef and the dedication of the farmers who produce it. We are extremely proud to work with Tesco Ireland to bring this exceptional product to customers across the country. To have Tesco Finest Irish Striploin Steak recognised on the world stage is a significant achievement.”
Winners
The award-winners were announced following a day of blind judging at Vlees & Co. steakhouse by a panel of more than 60 international experts, including Richie Wilson of Dublin’s FIRE Steakhouse and Bar. A Senku Pure Wagyu Fillet from Australian producer Paradigm Foods was named the overall World's Best Steak. Elsewhere, ABP UK's Wagyu Cross Holstein fillet was named World's Best Grass-Fed Fillet and Europe's Best Steak, representing Northern Ireland.
€10m beef promotion
After Ireland's 2025 World's Best Steak win, Lidl launched a €10m Irish beef promotion across 26 European countries, featuring award-winning cuts from Dawn Meats and Liffey Meats and supported by Bord Bia's international office network. It was a wonderful model of how these titles open doors for Irish exporters.
Launched in 2015, the World Steak Challenge is regarded as an international benchmark for quality within the global steak industry. Thousands of steaks from 25 steak-producing countries have been assessed since the competition began through an independent judging process involving industry experts.