Margaret River Fresh striploin entered by Western Meat Packers Group was judged Champion Large Producer in the beef category of the 2018 Perth Royal Branded Meat Awards.
The entry had earlier won gold in Class Five for Pasture Fed 52 Weeks Grass Finished Beef.
According to Royal Agricultural Society of WA Councillor in Charge, Jo Pluske, the Perth Royal Branded Beef competition had some excellent entries, with all eight receiving a medal, but only one gold was awarded.
“The outstanding Margaret River Fresh entry from Western Meat Packers Group had sensational taste and very good overall liking,” Dr Pluske said at the awards ceremony last week at Claremont Showgrounds.
“While other entries were extremely tender, they lacked a little in taste and so did not score so highly,” she added.
Gold is awarded for entries gaining more than 90 points out of a possible 100 that are allocated for taste (30), juiciness (10), flavour (30) and overall liking (30).
Speaking after the award presentation, Western Meat Packers Group Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Fuda, said the award reflected the company’s commitment to offering a premium beef product sourced from one of the world’s premium clean and green food bowls.
“While the Margaret River region has long been globally recognised for its fine wines, it is now also acknowledged for its fine food and our Margaret River Fresh branded beef is helping lead the way by giving Australian and overseas consumers a taste sensation second to none,” Mr Fuda said.
“In all of our export markets, including Japan, Korea, USA, Hong Kong and Singapore, there is strong demand for sustainably sourced, clean beef products and the Margaret River region is renowned for these qualities.”
The Margaret River Fresh trademark is registered with IP Australia to Western Meat Packers Group and is used exclusively to package the group’s premier products.
Cattle are selected after grazing on their natural pastures and then raised and fattened almost exclusively on pasture, before carrying the Margaret River Fresh brand after processing at Western Meat Packers abattoir located on 250ha in the Margaret River region.
Western Meat Packers Group, which has an annual turnover of more than $150 million, is 100 per cent owned by Rod Russell, who started the business in 1983 and his wife Shana.
It employs 450 people across its Osborne Park processing and packing headquarters, Margaret River abattoir and Bibra Lake value adding facility.