Leading the charge was Duck River Butter, made in Spreyton, northern Tasmania, taking home gold as the best Dairy Butter Spread. This amazing butter is no stranger to awards, previously having won the coveted title of Champion Butter at the Australian Grand Dairy Awards earlier this year.

Fonterra’s Butter Team Leader at Spreyton, Matthew Nash, said Duck River had been made in Tasmania for 120 years, and the team today continued to honour its origins. 

“Duck River is a testament to the outstanding quality of milk produced by Tasmanian dairy farmers and the unwavering dedication of our expert butter makers at Spreyton,” he said.  

Cheddar made at Stanhope in northern Victoria and Wynard in Tasmania both collected gold medals in the Best Australian Cheeses category, reflecting our ability to create top-tier cheese now recognised as some of the finest in the world. 

Perfect Italiano Mozzarella, also made in Stanhope, stretched its way to a silver medal, showcasing its superb quality and texture that has been perfected at the northern Victorian site for more than 100 years.

Fonterra Stanhope Quality Manager, Shayna Street, tastes and tests cheese to ensure it is of the highest quality. She said her team hold great pride in ensuring only the highest quality cheese makes it out of the factory.

“The Stanhope cheese team can’t put into words how proud we are to be recognised at the International Cheese and Dairy Awards,” she said.   

“It shows the expert craft of our people, as well as the quality processes and quality milk collected from our northern Victorian farmers that makes the cheese we can confidently call the best in Australia,” Shayna added.