This year, Switzerland supported the ProCheese Awards for the first time – one of the largest festival of cheese artistry in Ukraine, which took place on 27–28 September in Kyiv. The event brought together Ukrainian and international producers, leading experts, and more than 4,000 visitors. As part of the festival, the national competition for the best Ukrainian cheese and the contest for the title of the country’s best cheesemonger were also held.
The organizers of ProCheese Awards 2025 are Ardis Group and the ProCheese Academy. The festival gathered 36 producers – from small artisanal family farms to renowned Ukrainian and international brands. They presented more than 200 varieties of cheese, as well as products and beverages that pair with it, offering guests a journey through a diversity of flavors and combinations.
As part of this event, the the Swiss-Ukrainian Programme “Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine” (Quality FOOD Trade Programme, QFTP) ensured the participation of 20 craft cheese makers, one of whom is a certified organic producer, in the competition and fair. In addition, QFTP supported a free marketing school for cheese makers and created an interactive zone with a short video explaining the importance of quality milk to consumers, with a quiz and prizes.
“Events like ProCheese Awards are an excellent opportunity to highlight the achievements of Ukrainian cheesemakers and dairy producers, as well as their contribution to the domestic market. They fulfill a vital mission – ensuring that Ukrainians have access to safe and high-quality food. It was Ukraine’s small-scale cheesemakers who put the country on the world cheese map by winning numerous international awards. Their participation in global competitions and local fairs has been consistently supported by Switzerland through the Quality FOOD Trade Programme”, – commented Jean-Luc Bernasconi, Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine.
According to him, in addition to supporting the festival of cheese artistry, Switzerland has been ensuring the participation of Ukrainian producers in the World Cheese Awards international competition for three years in a row. During this time, Ukrainian cheeses have won an impressive 34 international awards.
National Cheese Competition
The festival served as a platform for the national competition for the best Ukrainian cheese. A total of 81 cheeses from producers across different regions of the country participated, including dairies located in frontline areas or territories that had been occupied during the full-scale invasion.
The winner was the goat cheese “Povnia” from the Yasna farmstead in the Kyiv region. In addition, 37 cheeses received gold, silver, and bronze awards.
Gold: “Syrni Mandry” – “Tom” cheese, “Mamyn Syr” – “Darvaika” cheese, “Chesnykivska” – “Chesnykivskyi 50 Days” cheese, “Dooobra Ferma” – “Bikoz” cheese, “Syroman” – “Truffel” cheese, “European” – “Brunost with roasted walnuts and dried cranberries” cheese.
Silver: “Harbuzovyi Rai” – “Hoverla” cheese, “FermerOk” – “Posulskyi” cheese, “Jersey” – “Shveik” cheese, “Selyska” – “Selyskyi” cheese, “Chizarnia” – “Dovbysh” cheese, “Dooobra Ferma” – “Lehenda” cheese, “Mamyn Syr” – “Padre Romzha”cheese, “Chizarnia” – “Caciotta z triufelem” cheese.
Bronze: “Molfar” – “Rondel” cheese, “Syrni Mandry” – “Piccolo” cheese, “Shchedra Fermerska Rodyna” – “Gouda” cheese, “Shchedra Fermerska Rodyna” – “Monastyrskyi” cheese, “Chesnyi Syr” – “Gouda” cheese, “Chesnyi Syr” – “Raclette” cheese, “Chesnykivska” – “Chesnykivskyi 1 Month” cheese, “Chesnykivska” – “Norbert” cheese, “Dooobra Ferma” – “Yangol” cheese, “Kosivska” – “Caciocavallo” cheese, “Pastourelle” – “Altin Cheese Gold” cheese, “Cheese Way” – “Bakshtein” cheese, “Selyska Syrovarnia” – “Narcis Karpat” cheese, “Staryi Porytsk” – “Cheddar” cheese, “Dzhersai” – “Alpa” cheese, “WineTime” – “Jersey Noir” cheese, “Mamyn Syr” – “Ferkovanya” cheese, “Syroman” – “Vikhola” cheese, “Lel’” – “Smoked Mini Mozzarella” cheese, “Harbuzovyi Rai” – “Hodz” cheese, “Kyrylenko Family Cheese Atelier” – “Namazka z kozyachiogo syru”, “Zinka” – “Kozyachi shtuchki”, “Syrni Mandry” – “Lvivskyi Cheddar kavovyi”.
Evaluation was carried out by cheese experts according to criteria that meet international standards. The panel of judges included Oksana Chernova (Ukraine), Gregory Giraudon (France), Paul Thomas (United Kingdom/Germany), Richard Paul (United Kingdom), and Jakub Maziarczyk (Poland).
National Cheesemonger Competition
A highlight of the festival’s second day was the final of the cheesemonger competition – a contest for professional cheese sellers. Participants competed in theory tests and blind tastings, created themed one-meter cheese platters and restaurant-style presentations, showcasing their skill and creativity.
The final was held in line with international cheesemonger competition practices, where experts selected three winners. The gold medal went to Bohdan Shevlyuha, cheesemonger of the Good Wine retail chain. Second and third places were awarded to Nataliia Palchak of Stanislavska Dairy and Serhii Tsymbal of Bad Boy store, respectively.
“For Ukrainians, cheese is becoming a new language – one that opens new countries to us, and opens Ukraine to the world. It embodies both our local traditions and bold modern experiments that can surprise even the most discerning gourmets abroad. When we speak about cheese, we speak about creativity, authenticity, and the confidence of our country in its own voice. This is exactly how we want Ukraine to be seen and felt anew – through the prism of taste, beauty, and culture,” says Oksana Chernova, Co-Founder of the ProCheese Awards, judge at international cheese competitions, and founder and trainer of the ProCheese Academy.
The event also featured a fashion show of the cheese-themed clothing collection “Cheese Couture” by Ukrainian designers.
The ProCheese Awards 2025 Festival of Cheese Art was organized by Ardis Group with the support of its general partner – the fresh cheese brand Lel’, its exclusive partner – Lactalis Ukraine, represented by Président, and the Swiss-Ukrainian Quality FOOD Trade Programme. The festival’s official partners also included Bergader, KOMO, and CHEESE CLUB, with the strategic partner being the Union of Dairy Enterprises of Ukraine.
