Albany’s Futari Wagyu scoops major win at Perth Royal Branded Meats and Smallgoods Awards

This year’s Perth Royal Branded Meats and Smallgoods Awards attracted a record 259 entries from 37 exhibitors, with participants from across WA and the eastern states. Categories ranged from bacon to biltong, with the Perth Royal Food Awards cementing the event as a premier platform for showcasing exceptional quality produce. Head judge and Princi Smallgoods founder Frank Vizzari said the standard of competition was impressive. “Our job judging was incredibly difficult,” he said. “You don’t wake up one morning and say, ‘I’m going to make smallgoods’. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and a lifetime of experience.” BRANDED MEATS Perth chef and Brown Street Grill owner Stuart Laws led the Branded Meats judging panel, with entries assessed on visual appeal, tenderness, juiciness, flavour, and overall satisfaction. Futari Wagyu, based on the South Coast near Albany, cleaned up with awards for Champion Export Beef, Champion Single Origin Beef, and overall Champion WA Beef. New South Wales-based Stockyard Beef, farmed on the Northern Tablelands, was awarded Champion Grain-Fed Beef for its Stockyard Gold produce, and Champion Wagyu for its Stockyard Silver. Stockyard Beef also won a gold medal for its Stockyard Black produce. Overall Champion WA Pork was awarded to Corrigin pig farmer Linton Batt’s Black Label Berkshire brand, which claimed gongs for Champion Open Pork and Champion Heritage Breed. Bunbury-based Amelia Park was crowned Champion Export Lamb and Champion WA Lamb, and awarded gold in the Export Beef Category. SMALLGOODS Smallgoods entries were assessed on criteria such as flavor, colour, craftsmanship, texture, and firmness. The champions represented a proud mix of first to third-generation WA butchers, each bringing a rich cultural heritage to their craft. Malaga-based McLoughlin Butchers claimed three trophies including Champion Ham for its Shoulder Ham, Champion Cooked Product for its Slow Cooked Gammon Ham, and Champion Continental Smallgoods Product for its Irish Black Pudding. McLoughlin Butchers was also awarded gold for its Irish White Pudding. Bibra Lake-based The British Sausage Company earned the coveted Champion Bacon Trophy for its British Smoked Back Bacon. Eurostyle Smallgoods, also based in Bibra Lake and founded by Croatian butcher Steve Hlevnjak in the early 1980s, was awarded the Champion Specialty Dried/Cured Smallgoods Product for its Dry Speck pork belly, which is dry cured using rock salt, garlic and pepper. Eurostyle Smallgoods was also awarded a Gold Medal for its Cajna Salami and Cheese Kranski. First-time entrant WA-owned The Jerky Co claimed the Champion Jerky/Biltong Strips trophy for its Great Southern Outback Spiced Jerky. The Jerky Co also won a swag of gold medals for its South African recipes including Exotic Truffle Jerky, Chilli Jerky, BBQ Biltong, Smokey Biltong and Exotic Truffle Fatty Biltong. Esperance’s Pink Lake Butchers won nine awards including gold for its Coppa, Biltong and Chilli Biltong. Inglelood-based Mondo Butchers and Smallgoods took home gold for its Coppa Mild, Coppa Mild Sliced and Mild Cacciatora. Greenwood-based Barbaro Butchers claimed gold for its Country Bake Leg Ham, Casalingo Salami and Roast Pork. Re and Sons Specialty Meats, based in Malaga, won gold for its Prosciutto, Toscano Salami and Felino Salami Mild. Perth-based Mondo Doro Smallgoods won gold for its Middle Speck Bacon; Yanchep-based Coastal Meats won gold for its Coastals Signature Bacon; and Futari Wagyu won gold for its Futari Manzo Marmorizzato Bresaola — an aged, air-dried salted beef. Gold medals also went to Applecross-based Nick’s Jerky for its Chilli Jerky, Bicton’s P.Princi Butcher for its Fennel Salami, and Woolworths for its Boneless Crackling Leg Ham.