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A record of 408 entries from 21 manufacturers were received for the Bloem Show’s dairy show.
This is 86 more than last year’s entries according to Natalie Thersby, chairperson of the dairy product show. “This shows the word is spreading about this wonderful opportunity for large manufacturers as well as artisan producers to showcase their dairy produce.”
The winners were revealed last week during a cheese and wine social event. The various manufacturers provided the cheese, and Checkers sponsored the wine and wineglasses.
“We invited several buyers from big firms in the Free State to attend the award ceremony, so they could also witness which produce scooped up the awards,” Thersby said, adding that this was one of the reasons why these awards was an excellent platform to showcase one’s produce. “It was also great to be able to talk with competitors about the unique challenges the dairy industry face specifically in the central region of South Africa.”
Fairness prioritised
Elmarie Prinsloo, CEO of Bloem Show, said to ensure that all entries were treated anonymously they were placed in unidentifiable containers for each judging panellist. Only the class number were placed on these containers.
The judgment then took place on electronic tablets by the 20 panellists, who were divided into three groups that each had certain classes assigned to them.
Showcase for boutique talent
Valerie Kneppert, cheesemaker, farmer, and owner of Jackal’s Hill Fromage, said she’s been entering this show for the past nine years and loves the fact that the event acknowledges the contributions of smaller producers. “I mostly use the event for marketing, but it’s also a good way of knowing that I’m doing something right.” The Bloem Show is also an affordable and feasible alternative to other major national cheese festivals, and therefore it makes sense to enter her produce in this competition.
“I mostly sell my produce to speciality shops. While large supermarkets have approached me to produce for them, the reality is that it’s not feasible. This year for instance, we’ve struggled to produce enough hay due to the heavy rains. And I am the cheese maker, farmer, and even the delivery person,” Kneppert said, adding that the cost of expanding the farm did not make sense within her current business model. She only has one employee – a female worker who was trained by hand over many years. – Susan Marais, Plaas Media
Winners of the 2025 Dairy Show at the Bloem Show
| Butter |
| Best Unsalted Butter – Clover SA – Springbok |
| Best Salted Butter – Clover SA – Mooirivier |
| Best Flavoured Butter – Lactalis SA – President – Garlic & Parsley |
| Best Butter Spread – Clover SA – Butro |
| Gouda Cheese |
| Best Round Gouda Cheese – Lactalis – Bonita |
| Best Baby Gouda Cheese – Woodlands Dairy – Spar |
| Best Rindless Gouda – Lactalis SA – Parmalat |
| Best Matured Gouda – Lactalis SA – President |
| Cheddar Cheese |
| Best Rindless Cheddar – Clover SA |
| Best Matured Cheddar – Lactalis SA – Woolworths |
| Best Extra Matured Cheddar – Lactalis SA – Woolworths |
| Continental Cheeses |
| Best Hard Cheese – Meze Foods – Pecorino |
| Best Semi Hard Cheese – Lancewood – Spar Edam |
| Speciality Cheeses |
| Best Feta Cheese without condiments – Lactalis SA – President |
| Best Feta Cheese with condiments – Clover SA – Pepper |
| Best Surface Ripened White Mouldy Cheese with added flavour ingredients – Jackal’s Hill Fromage – Porcini |
| Best Surface Ripened White Mouldy Cheese without added flavour ingredients – Jackal’s Hill Fromage |
| Best Mozzarella – Famous Brands |
| Best Plain Halloumi from cow’s milk – Meze Foods |
| Best Flavoured Halloumi from cow’s milk – Meze Foods – Chilli |
| Best Plain Mascarpone – Sundale Dairy |
| Best Flavoured Mascarpone – Meze Foods – Cocoa |
| Best Ricotta – Meze Foods |
| Processed Cheese |
| Best Processed Cheese Plain – Lancewood – Crystal Valley |
| Best Processed Cheese Slices Cheddar – Clover SA |
| Best Processed Cheese Slices Gouda – Woodlands Dairy – First Choice |
| Best Flavoured Processed Cheese Spread – Lactalis SA – Melrose – Biltong |
| Best Plain Processed Cheese Spread – Lactalis SA – Melrose |
| Best Cheddar Based Cheese Sauce – Lancewood |
| Best Plain Cheese Wedges – Lactalis SA – Melrose |
| Best Flavoured Cheese Wedges – Lancewood – The Laughing Cow – Beef Barbeque |
| Best Dairy Based Dip – Lactalis SA – President – Green Jalapeno |
| Goat’s Milk Products |
| Best Plain Fresh Cheese – Meze Foods |
| Best Fresh Cheese with Condiments – Meze Foods – Herb |
| Best Semi Hard Cheese – Roe-Mhy Goat Dairy – Tuckers blooming Garlic – Garlic Flowers & Daslook |
| Best Hard Cheese – Roe-Mhy Goat Dairy – Calypso – Garlic and camembert colby (yarg style) wrapped in vine leaves. |
| Best Feta – Roe-Mhy Goat Dairy – Greek Herb |
| Best Flavoured Yoghurt – Roe-Mhy Goat Dairy – Cajeta (Toffee) |
| Best Plain Halloumi – Roe-Mhy Goat Dairy |
| Best Flavoured Halloumi – Roe-Mhy Goat Dairy – Chilli |
| Cottage Cheese |
| Best Low Fat Plain Smooth Cottage Cheese – Farm Hill Dairy |
| Best Medium Fat Smooth Cottage Cheese with added ingredients – Lancewood – Cheese & Chives |
| Best Full Fat Plain Smooth Cream Cottage Cheese – Farm Hill Dairy |
| Best Low Fat Chuncky Cottage Cheese with added Ingredients – Lancewood – Crystal Valley – Cheese & Chives |
| Best Low Fat Chuncky Cottage Cheese without added Ingredients – Farm Hill Dairy |
| Best Full Cream Plain Chunky Cottage Cheese – Lancewood |
| Cream Cheese |
| Best Medium Fat Flavoured Cream Cheese – Lancewood – Crystal Valley – Sweet Chilli |
| Lactalis SA – President – French Herbs |
| Best Medium Fat Plain Cream Cheese – Famous Brands |
| Best Full–Cream Flavoured Cream Cheese – Lancewood – Sweet Chilli |
| Best Full Cream Plain Cream Cheese – Meze Foods |
| Yoghurt |
| Best Low–Fat Plain Yoghurt – Clover SA |
| Best Low–Fat Flavoured Yoghurt Smooth – Clover SA – Mixed Fruit |
| Best Low–Fat Fruit Yoghurt Fruited Variants – Dairy Corporation – Crystal Valley – Mixed Fruit |
| Best Medium Fat Plain Yoghurt – Denmar –Bulgarian |
| Best Medium Fat Flavoured Yoghurt – Denmar – Vanilla |
| Best Medium Fat Fruited Yoghurt – Denmar – Cape Fruit |
| Best Drinking Yoghurt Smooth – Clover SA – Pineapple |
| Best Drinking Yoghurt with Fruit – Clover SA – Bliss – Strawberry & Cream |
| Best Drinking Yoghurt with added ingredients – Clover SA – Bliss – Choc Chip |
| Best Full Cream Plain Yoghurt – Lancewood – Pick ‘n Pay |
| Best Full Cream Yoghurt with added ingredients – Clover SA – Fruits of the Forest – Strawberry |
| Best Double Cream Plain Yoghurt – Sundale Dairy |
| Best Double Cream Yoghurt with Added Ingredients – Clover SA – Bliss – Vanilla |
| Acidified/Flavoured/Fresh Milk |
| Best Acidified Full Cream Milk (Amazi) – Dairy Corporation |
| Best Medium Cream Amazi – Sundale Dairy |
| Best Full Cream Cultured Buttermilk – Denmar |
| Best Full Fat Flavoured Milk – Denmar – Toffee |
| Best Low–Fat Flavoured Milk – Denmar – Cream Soda |
| Best Full Cream Pasteurised Milk – Denmar |
| Best Low–Fat Pasteurised Milk – Woodlands Dairy – Spar |
| Best Full Cream UHT Milk – Woodlands Dairy – Woolworths |
| Best Low–Fat UHT Milk – Woodlands Dairy – Woolworths |
| Cream |
| Best Fresh Pouring Cream – Woodlands Dairy – First Choice |
| Best Fresh Whipping Cream – Dairy Corporation |
| Best Cultured/Sour Cream – Farm Hill Dairy |
| Best Fresh Double Thick Cream – Farm Hill Dairy |
| Dairy Blends |
| Best Dairy Fruit Juice Blend – Clover SA – Tropika – Pineapple |
| Custard |
| Best Custard – Clover SA – Bliss – Vanilla |
| New Innovative Product |
| Best New Innovative Product – Die KaasKamer – Potted Cheese – Whisky |
